Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift gave an optimistic annual report at the Jan. 21 Midway City Council meeting, pointing to endless opportunities to improve the quality of life for the people of Miday. 

“When I came back (as mayor in 2024), I said that the challenges we face now are different than when I was first elected in 2014, but that our opportunities are endless, and thanks to the great character of the people of this city, I’m endlessly optimistic that they’ll be met,” he said. “Those feelings are just as true eight months later as they were when I wrote them. We’re in an era of our city where we’re fortunate to say that our government is making the largest investments ever on behalf of our citizens, our businesses, and our future.” 

Vandegrift spoke about the city’s increased finances and the opportunities that come with it. 

“As our industrial park began to take off and new jobs came, we began to see a steady and dramatic increase in occupational taxes – our largest revenue stream,” he said. “This presented a new conundrum – albeit a good one to have: What should we do with this newfound income? On one hand, we could simply pile up our cash and brag about it – something I admit I was at times guilty of myself. On the other hand, we could get to work on updating and improving our infrastructure, our services, and our overall quality of life. We chose the latter.”

Pointing to Midway’s outdated and even malfunctioning infrastructure in some places, Vandegrift said the city has already begun to aggressively resolve these issues — like replacing 100-year-old sewer lines, aging water lines, creating a sidewalk replacement cost-share program, paving roads, rebuilding storm sewers and working with the volunteer park board to beautify and transform all of the city parks.

The new fire and EMS station topped Vandegrift’s list of 2024 accomplishments.

“Before 2018, every ambulance called to Midway had to come from a station in Versailles, trekking the always challenging and at times treacherous Midway Road and Leestown Pike. Residents still feared the dreaded middle-of-the-night medical emergency or the horrific car accident,” he said, noting that the city has long needed a 24-hour ambulance service. 

“Through collaboration, we finally found our path forward and it required the largest single investment in the city’s history, and accomplished two goals at once. By working closely with the Woodford County Fiscal Court, we came to an agreement where we funded and own the new facility and Fiscal Court would fund the staffing of the personnel,” he said. “This investment was made for our citizens, our businesses and our visitors, but it’s also made for our first responders. It’s rare when a city government of a small town can take steps that will save lives, but that’s exactly what has happened here.”

Calling it a major investment, Vandegrift said this year will be highlighted by the switch from Kentucky-American Water Company to the Frankfort Plant Board as the city’s water source. 

Vandegrift also forecasted, that due to the fire station being built and the water source switch, the spring budget will have some changes. 

 “We’ll need to tighten our budget temporarily, in the name of fiscal conservatism and pragmatic spending,” he said. “The budget I’ll present to this council in the spring will reflect that to make doubly sure we maintain our reserves and so we can still plan for contingencies.”

In conclusion, Vandegrift said, “The condition of the city is very good. We are a safer, more prepared town and we’re removing all impediments to our future financial freedom, a future where we don’t have to hope for the benevolence of profit-seeking entities, but rather can set our own path in every single facet of our local economy. 

“Recently, we were named by island.com as the ‘Most Underrated City in Kentucky.’ We who live here and work here know we’re not underrated because we understand the history of this city and its tendency to overperform. . . . There’s still plenty more to do and additional challenges to be met. Those of us living here now are the current stewards of a long line of forward-thinking, caring citizens who’ve shaped this city from a train stop during an industrial revolution to a modern model for small-town living. . . . After all, Midway is, as it always has been, a small town that does big things.” 

Midway Merchants Association

Cortney Neikirk, president of the Midway Merchants Association, went over the schedule of events planned for 2025, and the City Council passed the necessary approvals.

Neikirk requested funding from the city for the cost and maintenance of the roof line lighting in downtown Midway along Main Street. This led to a robust discussion in which Vandegrift said he would include $2,500 in the next budget as a contribution – 10 percent of the total cost of $25,000. 

Neikirk said she is working with the Woodford County Tourism Commission, which is helping to fund the same project in downtown Versailles, and others as possible funding contributors because the association does not have the funds to make up the shortfall.

Appointments

Vandegrift got approval from the City Council to reappointment Bart Schockley to the county Board of Adjustment and Michael Michalisin to the county Economic Development Authority. It also approved the appointed of  Jason Butler to the Midway Parks Board.