The Midway City Council adopted its FisThe Midway City Council adopted its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget at the June 2 meeting. 

In summary, the total General Fund revenues available, plus the prior year carryover, is $2,579,133; the street fund is $458,032; the sewer fund is $411,658; and the water fund is $716,565. The appropriations from these funds are $2,221,161 General Fund (which includes payments on a bond issue and debts to Kentucky American Water and two Kentucky Infrastructure Authority loans); streets, $458,032; cemetery and perpetual fund, $270,000; sewer, $353,100; and, water, $610,000. This leaves balances of unappropriated funds of: General Fund, $357,972; cemetery and perpetual fund, $254,816; sewer, $58,558; and, water, $106,465.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift highlighted a variety of projects for the next year, including a part-time grant writer, which Vandegrift said could pay for itself and create more project or program opportunities for the city with grant funds; $180,000 for street paving in the northern sector of the city; $40,000 for stormwater improvements; $32,000 for improvements at Walter Bradley and Blue Jay parks; $15,000 towards a new pavilion at Blue Jay park to be matched by private donations; a new pump station on Newton Street; repairs to the existing Carriage Lane pump station; and work on water lines and replacing key water valves to improve water pressure.

116 E. Main Street

Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Director Steve Hunter provided an update on the ongoing saga involving the restoration of the historic African-American Odd Fellows building located in the heart of Main Street. The neglected state of the building, and its owner’s numerous plans and representations, as several councilmembers noted, have been for several years a thorn in the community’s side and an eyesore.

Hunter said the Board of Architectural Review, which has jurisdiction over historic buildings in Midway, will receive an update on the progress since it issued a conditional permit several months ago. The board provided the owner a deadline of 18 months to complete a variety of specific items such as stabilizing the building so the exterior could be restored; wrapping the building to prevent debris from falling onto common areas; the placement of windows and doors; and, various other tasks. Hunter said he was in Midway to generally look over the site and take photographs for the board’s use. The deadline is Thursday, June 5.

Hunter said he anticipates the owner, who is receiving assistance from the Kentucky Historical Commission, will request additional time to continue to work on the required punch list and begin work on the exterior. If the extension is denied, then Hunter and the Commission’s building inspector will conduct a formal inspection on Friday and issue any notices of violation. If issued, then the violations will proceed through the City of Midway’s code enforcement process.

Vandegrift pointed out that if notices of violation are issued and then presented for penalties via the Midway Code Enforcement Board, then the stronger, expensive penalties adopted in the last year by Midway will be used.