Coyle attacked for recent property valuations on social media

 

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift spoke strongly in defense of the work of Woodford County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) John Paul Coyle at the Midway City Council meeting held Monday, May 4. Midway residents recently received their assessment notices from the PVA on May 2. Since, Vandegrift said there have been many complaints and inappropriate comments made on social media and to the city’s administrative office.

Vandegrift, in stern terms, said the comments about the new PVA valuation were not only inappropriate but wrong. 

“I understand the idea of sticker shock. But there have been no valuations since 2018 because of the pandemic,” Vandegrift said. “I understand it’s OK to be upset, but it is not appropriate to attack the PVA . . . I know John Paul Coyle. He is a really good man. He lives and breathes Woodford County – his father was a three-time county judge and two-time sheriff. I know this part of his job gives him no joy, but it is his job. So, when I see ‘this is meant to kick Woodford Countians out of Woodford County’ that is preposterous. . . . If you know John Paul Coyle, you’d know this is laughable.”

Vandegrift went on to point out, “What this really is, is a reflection of the market. I don’t know many people who want to build houses in Midway. I get it. But we need to stop and ask ourselves a question. We don’t allow any kind of home building. Are we OK with property values going up and up every four years? On top of that, from the last census, we have a near zero percent vacancy rate on houses, so if people want to buy or rent there’s nothing unless existing ones go on sale (at these high market values) . . . which is the data the PVA is required by law to use in doing the constitutionally required valuations.”

Councilmember Kaye Nita Gallagher pointed out that had the council not lowered the property tax rate by half in 2018, the taxes on the new valuations would be nearly double. 

“A few months ago, during a council meeting, we warned people that due to COVID the rates would be high since there had been no valuations for several years,” she said. “A lot of people didn’t get the message.”

Farmers Market

Adele Dickerson, a member of the Woodford County Farmers Market Board, received approval from the council to move the market from its prior location at Friedman’s parking lot to Church Street, which is a one-block road running between E. Bruen and E. Cross. The market will be open on Mondays, starting May 19 and running through Oct. 26, from 2-6 p.m. 

Parks Board budget

Parks and Recreation Board chairs Jeremy Devine and Cecelia Gass proposed a $32,000 budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The services will include $12,000 for invasive plant control, $4,000 for structure maintenance, $2,250 for gravel path maintenance, $4,000 for Blue Jay Park maintenance, $5,500 for pruning and maintenance of trees, $2,250 for removal of trees from the tree nursery at the cemetery for replanting in the park, $900 for signage and $1,100 for general supplies.

Gass said they hope to be able to move eight trees from the nursery. She also said more involvement from Nelson Wright and his crew of city employees, in addition to volunteers, “has been a significant help to us. They do things like mowing, mulching, storm clean-up and interact with our contractors.”

Devine highlighted some of the improvements and work completed during the last fiscal year. This included the completion of the dog park renovation so it is no longer in a flood-prone area, along with a water station for the dogs. She also noted the new trees and fencing at Blue Jay Park, refurbished and repaired trails and new fencing and signage. 

Devine emphasized that Blue Jay Park is turning into a real jewel, and the board expects its use to rise.