Before the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission unanimously approved a subdivision plat on Feb. 12 that creates nine residential lots, a neighbor voiced concern that the proposed lots on Fords Mill Road could increase collisions and lead to mobile homes being there.

“I’m asking the commission to think about the long-term ramifications of approving this request,” said Natalie Blake. “You’ve spent an incredible amount of time in the last year working on changes to the zoning ordinance, which I really appreciate … focusing on preserving Woodford County land. So let’s please not take any steps back.”

The 19.96 acres at 4230 Fords Mill Road (Michael and Anna Weldi) is split-zoned (R-1B single-family residential and R-4 small community). Located in Nonesuch, the lots vary in size from .93 and 3.64 acres along Fords Mill Road and 2.4 and 2.8 acres along Patterson Road, according to the subdivision plat. The plat also shows that only the lots along Fords Mill are split-zoned, with the .93-acre lot completely in the R-1B district.

In response to Blake’s concerns, a representative of the applicants, told the commission that they are going to live on the property and want a nice development. He also pointed out that the minor plat meets all of the legal requirements for approval.

Planning Director Steve Hunter said mobile homes are prohibited in both zones. He said houses constructed on the property, manufactured and modular homes are permitted in those zones, he said.

Commissioner Randal Bohannon was absent.

Plats approved

The commission approved three other plats.

A minor subdivision plat consolidates property on the Midway University campus for a new field house, so a new athletic facility will not split lot lines.

An in-family conveyance plat for 1605 Steele Road – John Richardson (father) to Dylan Adam Reid Richardson (son) –creates a 5.066-acre tract at 1815 White Ferry Road, with a 218-acre farm remaining.

An in-family conveyance plat – Stephen H. and Virginia A. Wurzback (parents) to Rebecca Wurzback Music (daughter) and Nicholas Scott Music – creates a 6.542-acre tract at 83 Elliston Lane, with 15.481 acres remaining at 8090 McCowans Ferry Road.

Postponed

Action on a minor consolidation plat that will create a 37.51-acre tract of land at 208 Curd Road (William and Theresa Goodlett) was postponed at the request of the applicants.

Budget Amendments                                                                                                   

The commission unanimously approved amendments to this fiscal year’s budget, including a decrease in the beginning balance ($143,385 to $138,582), and increases in revenue from building and demolition permits ($88,000 to $140,000) and construction review fees ($5,000 to $45,000).

On the expenditure side, the most significant adjustments were salary and wages (from $221,177 to $226,044), health insurance (from $50,289 to $57,396), and overtime absences and compensated absences ($0 to $3,500), according to the information given to the commission.

Audit contract

The commission approved a two-year extension on an audit contract with Kerbaugh, Rodes & Butler, LLC. The fees for doing the annual audit are $8,250 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and $8,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, according to a letter to the commission.

At the end of the contract, Kerbaugh, Rodes & Butler will have done the commission’s annual audit for five years, so Hunter said he will probably recommend the commission either bid out the contract and hire a different auditing firm or use different auditors within Kerbaugh, Rodes & Butler. He agreed it is a recommended practice not to use the same auditor for more than five years.

Committees

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve committee assignments for this calendar year. Prior to the vote, Chair Whitney Stepp said anyone on the commission can attend any committee meeting.

Comprehensive Plan Committee members are Karen Isberg, Tim Middleton, Chris Sharp and Doug Curl. Commissioner Rich Schien agreed to withdraw his nomination to serve on that committee, with the assurance that any action taken by the Comp Plan Committee will come back to the commission for discussion and modification.

Bohannon, Isberg, Middleton and Sharp will serve on the Advisory Committee. Stating his preference to serve on the Comp Plan Committee, Curl withdrew his nomination from the Advisory Committee. 

Middleton, Sharp and Curl will serve on the Technical Review Committee. Bohannon, Floyd Greene, Schein and Chad Wells are on the Personnel and Budget Committee. Greene and Wells are on the Zoning Administration and Legal Committee.