Due to space and time limitations, last week’s article on the August 25 Fiscal Court meeting only covered the discussion of the Woodford County Fire Protection District. This story completes the coverage of that meeting.
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for America corps member
Since 2009, the annual Bourbon Chase Two-Day team run race has passed through Woodford County. Ragnar Events, LLC, which operates out of Utah and puts on events across the country, has filed a permit with the Woodford County Fiscal Court for permission to again use county roads for the event on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 2 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Based on current information in the race packet on Ragnar’s website, the runners enter Woodford County from Anderson County and traverse the following “exchange points”: Life Adventure Center on Milner Road, Falling Springs Park, Southside Elementary School, Woodford County Courthouse, Millville Community Center, Mill Creek Park (Franklin County), Bluegrass Distillers at Elkwood Farm (Midway) and Equus Run Vineyard and Distillery, where it then leaves Woodford and moves into Fayette County.
A group of residents, mainly farm and equine breeding operations, near Midway along Woodlake and Spring Station Roads are opposing the permit application, saying the event poses grave health and safety risks to both residents and equine livestock. These farms and residents live in the Exchange 31 section of the route, from Mill Creek Park to Bluegrass Distillers at Elkwood Farm.
The race begins on Friday, Oct. 1, in Clermont, at the Jim Beam Distillery, and finishes 206 miles later the next day at Lexington Brewing and Distilling. The teams are comprised of 12 runners using two vans (“ultra teams” are six runners and one van). Ragnar’s application forecasts 3,000 runners, or 250 teams. The cost for each team is $2,195 (Ultra Team cost is $1,275).
A larger group of concerned citizens raised their concerns with the Midway City Council in late spring, but learned that the roads involved were not in that council’s jurisdiction, but were in the permitting power of the Fiscal Court.
Michelle Lyons, who owns an equine breeding operation on the Exchange 31 section, spoke of the community’s concerns with specific examples. Given nearly all of the residents affected were working at their farms at the time of the Fiscal Court meeting, Lyons served as a spokesperson. Judge-Executive James Kay confirmed that he had spoken with area farmer Charlie Nuckols, and agreed Lyons spoke for the group.
“(The current road conditions, made worse by ongoing construction) are unsafe and lead to safety concerns for the people actively running in the Bourbon Chase,” Lyons said. “Some of the participants . . . aren’t courteous and don’t adhere to the safety regulations laid out by Ragnar . . . some (participants) defecate and urinate on our properties, ditch clothing, discard water bottles and property owners are left to deal with the aftermath.”
Uniquely concerning, “these are working farms. We have valuable Thoroughbred assets for whom we are responsible. These are our livelihoods . . . most of the people who run in this race aren’t familiar with or used to being around Thoroughbreds. . . . When they stop on our property, hang over our fences and touch these valuable assets, it creates huge areas of exposure for us.”
Daniel Erwin, the race director for Ragnar, attended via a Zoom connection. He focused on the economic benefits of the race to the county. “The race is a great economic benefit for you,” he said. “One of the stops is right in front of your courthouse, downtown. We understand these events can be a headache, and so we try to be responsive.
Erwin said the race will have new rules for Exchange 31, including working with the police department to get “the right assets in place,” and vans will be prohibited from using the roads in that area. He said those are being included in the digital race packet.
However, a review of the race packet now online, which has several updates, makes no mention of the issues for horses or working farms along the route or the ban on vans.
Kay indicated to Erwin and the folks from the Exchange 31 area that the county cannot act on the permit until District 7 of the Kentucky Highway Department rules on the application before it. However, once that decision is made, the Fiscal Court will be able to vote on whether to approve or deny the permit.
New model airplane field
The Woodford County Air Modelers (Modelers), founded in 1995, is a group of serious, but fun-loving model airplane pilot hobbyists who operate an airport and runway for flying these planes at Woodford County Park. With the support and approval of the Versailles-Woodford County Parks and Recreation Department, the Modelers requested the court to approve a proposed new airport and runway in a different, more open area of the park. The proposal is the subject of a Memorandum of Agreement between Parks and the Modelers, and only now requires approval of the court and entering into a new lease. The current lease on the existing airport and runway expires in March 2027.
During the meeting of the Committee of the Whole, immediately preceding the scheduled regular meeting, Club President Tony Hardin provided a solid and specific overview of model airplane piloting, its regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies, its safety to the public and how the club monitors the use of the airport and runway.
There were questions raised about the ability of the current tenant who farms a portion of the land in the park to continue, and the ability of the court to cancel the lease if that area of the park became better suited for a different use.
Hardin explained that all he was requiring was the court’s general approval so he could begin discussions with the FAA and begin planning the construction of the new location. Kay indicated the matter would be placed on the agenda for the next regular court meeting.
EMS station in Midway
The old Emergency Medical Services station in Midway was discussed in the context of selling it, since the construction of the new location in Midway Station.
As part of the process, the court approved that the land be rezoned to B-5 (Business-5) and then offered for sale. Planning Director Steve Hunter said this could be accomplished, including obtaining the approval of the Midway City Council, by mid-October.
Alan George
In recognition of County Attorney Alan George being honored with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the Office of the Attorney General for his long tenure as a prosecutor, the Fiscal Court gave George a standing ovation. Somewhat surprisingly, George, usually loquacious and never at a loss for words, declined to speak.
Treasurer’s report
County Treasurer Melody Traugott reported that the current money market balance is $10,320,806.54.