MIDWAY
CITY COUNCIL honored Hannah McColl on her accomplishments at last weekend’s state MIDWAY CITY COUNCIL honored Hannah McColl on her accomplishments at last
weekend’s state 3A Indoor Track and Field Championships where, competing
as a seventh-grader, she finished sixth in the 60-meter and 11th in the
200-meter sprints. Pictured from left, Councilmembers Sara Himks, Mary
Raglin, Logan Nance, Patrick Hall, Hannah, and Mayor Stacy Thurman.
(Photo by Scott White).
Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler asked the
Midway City Council for approval of a federal grant earmarked for
mitigation against future threats at its March 4 meeting.
The grant would come from the Kentucky Mitigation Council (KMC), which
allocates grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). These grant opportunities, Chandler said, come from the funds
awarded to Kentucky for the major windstorm that hit the area in March 2023.
The grant would also have to have approval of the Versailles City
Council and Woodford County Fiscal Court.
Chandler said his office had consulted with Nesbitt Engineering to
explore the use of “storm rooms” in public parks. Chandler described
these as permanent structures where folks in a park can go for temporary
shelter in the event of unexpected severe weather. The structures – or
rooms – are designed to be locked until remotely opened via an emergency
management process when needed. The ones for Midway would be able to
shelter six people.
Chandler said if the grant is approved by KMC, there were two locations
in Walter Bradley Park where storm rooms would be placed: one near the
dog park and the other at the far eastern edge of the park. He also said
that there would also be locations at Falling Springs, Huntertown
Community Park and the disc golf course.
Chandler said this is all preliminary and if the grant was awarded,
there would be a process to firm up the site locations and possible
add-ons such as a weather radio in the shelter, water bottles and site-
specific items.
To proceed, Chandler said the city would need to commit to paying 13
percent of the cost. The two shelters, which would be purchased directly
from a manufacturer, would cost $25,000 installed, making the city’s
committement $2,400.
Midway Mayor Stacy Thurman said Midway had money in its Public Works
Budget to cover the costs and since the grant allowed for it, could use
city employees in aiding the installation to offset or cover some of the
cost.
The council approved the request. The next step is approval from the
county and the City of Versailles, and assuming that happens, Chandler
said the grant would be submitted.
Hannah McColl
Council honored Midway’s own Hannah McColl, a seventh- grader at
Woodford County Middle School, for her recent accomplishments in the
state high school indoor track championships.
“We have all watched Hannah grow up and all of her accomplishments,”
said Thurman. “She is pretty amazing. In the Thurman family, we follow
Hannah closer than UK sports.”
Thurman cited Hannah’s accomplishments: Kentucky Middle School champion
in the 60- and 200-meter sprints; sixth in the 60-meter and 11th in the
200-meter recent KHSAA State Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“Really amazing,” Thurman said, “Hannah’s 60-meter sprint at the 3A
State Meet last Saturday was the third fastest in the United States by a
seventh- grader this year.” finished sixth in the 60-meter and 11th in the 200-meter sprints. Pictured from left, Councilmembers Sara Himks, Mary Raglin, Logan Nance, Patrick Hall, Hannah, and Mayor Stacy Thurman. (Photo by Scott White).
By Scott White
Managing Editor
Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler asked the Midway City Council for approval of a federal grant earmarked for mitigation against future threats at its March 4 meeting.
The grant would come from the Kentucky Mitigation Council (KMC), which allocates grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These grant opportunities, Chandler said, come from the funds awarded to Kentucky for the major windstorm that hit the area in March 2023.
The grant would also have to have approval of the Versailles City Council and Woodford County Fiscal Court.
Chandler said his office had consulted with Nesbitt Engineering to explore the use of “storm rooms” in public parks. Chandler described these as permanent structures where folks in a park can go for temporary shelter in the event of unexpected severe weather. The structures – or rooms – are designed to be locked until remotely opened via an emergency management process when needed. The ones for Midway would be able to shelter six people.
Chandler said if the grant is approved by KMC, there were two locations in Walter Bradley Park where storm rooms would be placed: one near the dog park and the other at the far eastern edge of the park. He also said that there would also be locations at Falling Springs, Huntertown Community Park and the disc golf course.
Chandler said this is all preliminary and if the grant was awarded, there would be a process to firm up the site locations and possible add-ons such as a weather radio in the shelter, water bottles and site- specific items.