MIDWAY MAYOR GRAYSON VANDEGRIFT proclaimed the week of Sept. 15, 2025, as “Jeremy Divine Week” in Midway. Divine served as the unpaid Midway Parks manager from September 2021 until September 2025. From left, Vandegrift and Divine holding the city proclamation. (Photo by Sonya Conner)

 

Midway City Council approved a 60-day extension of an encroachment permit for 116 E. Main Street at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 15. This historic building was built in the late 19th century for the Midway chapter of the African-American Order of Oddfellows and sits in the heart of the prime tourism section of the town. 

The City Council, on a 5-1 vote, approved the request, which will allow the scaffolding covering the sidewalk to remain in place until Nov. 17. Councilmember Steve Simoff was the only “no” vote, preferring instead a 30-day extension to the encroachment permit.  

The building has a well-known, tortured history concerning its rehabilitation and remodeling, which has long frustrated city officials and led many of them, as well as residents and visitors, to call it an “eyesore.” 

Purchased in 2017 by Nasser “Nass” Alamdari of Lexington, renovation began in 2020, per building permit records. Since then, it has been a subject of controversy involving the Midway City Council, the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission and the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Architecture Review Board, with deadlines set and little progress made.  

In the last year, the project has had two turning points: the involvement of the Kentucky Historical Commission, which began assisting Alamdari with the project; and Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, with support from the City Council, reinvigorating the Midway Code Enforcement Board by working with the Planning Commission, appointing all new members and enacting stronger ordinances with fines. 

In support of the request, Alamdari provided a detailed progress report and said he expects to have the project completed within the extension period and the scaffolding removed. Vandegrift confirmed progress had been made and said, the building “looks a lot better.”

Jeremy Divine honored

Since Sept. 21, Jeremy Divine, a teacher at Woodford County High School and a Midway resident, has served as the Midway Parks manager on a volunteer basis, and the Midway Park Board itself since 2020. Divine is stepping down from this position. In recognition of Divine’s service, the Midway City Council passed a resolution naming the week of Sept. 15, 2025, “Jeremy Divine Week” in Midway.

Vandegrift read the proclamation, which listed some of the board’s accomplishments while Divine was manager, including the addition a smaller canine section to the dog park, the installation of Monarch Butterfly Waystations, the integration of Blue Jay Park into the park system, which included building a new fence around the park and installing a new sign, the planting of native flowering plants on the northside entrance of Walter Bradley Park, the continued maintenance of the paths, and the construction of an ADA compliant access point at the Newton Street entrance of Bradly park.

“One of the things that makes Midway great is the volunteerism spirit of our residents,” Vandegrift said. “(Divine) worked for zero dollars. Sometimes things were difficult, but he just moved on, and we are so proud and grateful for him.”

FEMA award

Vandegrift announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved grants relating to flood mitigation issues, which arose during and after the historic April 2025 flooding. The total amount is approximately $300,000 to $350,000. The money will be used to repair or mitigate a sewer line, road repairs and the reimbursement of overtime incurred while dealing with those floods.

Vandegrift said documents still need to be finalized, but timing details should be announced in the coming months.

Halloween

Council approved Halloween trick-or-treat for Oct. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Midway Fall Festival

Vandegrift reminded everyone that this coming weekend, Sept. 20-21 is the annual Midway Fall Festival. 

“It is really great we live in a town where people want to come and visit,” he said. “Based on cell phone data, we know about 30,000 people visit us that weekend. It really helps tourism and fund(s) the Midway Merchants Association,” which pays for and promotes the event. 

Vandegrift added, every time residents get frustrated with traffic or the crowds, just say, “Fall Fest, Fall Fest, Fall Fest” silently to yourself, which is what he says to remind himself this is a great thing for the community.