OLIVIA NANCE, an eight-year-old third grader at Northside elementary was honored at Monday night’s Midway City Council, when council named the week of June 17-22 “Olivia Nance Week in Midway” for her courage, determination and resiliency “to do anything she puts her mind and heart on” while coping with the challenge of a leg shorter than the other with which she was born. Olivia underwent a nine-hour surgery at UK Medical Center by Shriner’s doctors to place an external fixator to help lengthen and strengthen her leg. She is going through weekly physical therapy now at Shriner’s in Lexington. “Livi”, her nickname, was also honored for being a great friend and loving protector of her little sisters Nora and Ivy. The Nance family pictured from left, Ivy, mom Samantha, dad Logan holding the proclamation, Olivia and Nora. (Photo by Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift)

 

The Midway City Council named the week of June 17 through 22 as Olivia Nance Week. Olivia is an eight-year-old third grader at Northside Elementary School who was born with a leg condition that has left one leg shorter than the other. Despite this, “She has always been remarkably resilient and successful in her determination to do anything she puts her mind and heart . . . positive disposition,” said the proclamation. The proclamation adds that Olivia loves reading, particularly Mermaid Tales books, word and code puzzles, writing in her journal and running a lemonade stand. It also states that she is a terrific and protective big sister to Nora and Ivy.

Olvia underwent a nine-hour surgery last week at UK HealthCare that was performed by doctors with Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. According to her father Logan Nance, the doctors attached an external fixator which will lengthen and strengthen her leg so that both legs will be equal. Olivia is undergoing regular physical therapy and will have the device in place for several months.

As the resolution said, “Livi (Olivia’s nickname) is a wonderful friend . . . faithful human who is living proof miracles do happen in this world.”

Budget Ordinance

Council heard the first reading of the 2024-25 budget. There is $2,330,700 in estimated revenues and general fund infusions and $757,250 in carry-over dollars for the city to work from in drawing up the new budget. In the proposed budget to be enacted by the ordinance, $1,458,800 is appropriated which does not include appropriations from the restricted accounts for roads, sewers and water operations. With these, the proposed budget appropriates $425,850 from the street fund, $357,700 from the sewer fund and $358,000 $725,470 from water revenues.

This will leave healthy balances in the city’s accounts.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said the budget doesn’t deal with possible shortfalls in the bond amount of the new fire station, and an amendment can be expected. Vandegrift pointed out when the bond was passed to fund the new fire station it covered the cost. However, with the pandemic and inflation, the cost has risen above the original amount. “We hope (the bond) will be enough, but we have to anticipate we will need to amend the budget to account for any excess needing to be covered.”

The budget will be approved in time before the next fiscal year begins July 1.

Change order

Council approved a change order for $37,037 for the purchase of a back-up generator in the new fire station project at Midway Station which represents about one-percent of the overall cost of the project. A generator was not included in the bid package the city advertised and awarded the bid on. This will help assure the use of the facility as a warming station in winter months and provide back-up power to key infrastructure according to Vandegrift . He also said given the cost of many of these generators can approach $100,000, “this is a good price.”

Bourbon & Blues Festival

Zach Rankin reported the Bourbon & Blues Festival was a success with no snafus. Though hard numbers are not available yet, the informal reports show visitors came from over two hours away including from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Louisville and Corbin plus there were large numbers from surrounding counties and communities. 

Rankin said, “We pulled off a wonderful one-day event.”