Midway began the new year with a new mayor Tuesday night when Stacy Thurman convened the Midway City Council for its first meeting of 2023. New members Verna “Dee” Mason and Patrick Hall joined re-elected members Kaye Nita Gallagher, Sara Hicks, Logan Nance and Mary Raglin on the council. The bulk of the meeting was spent hearing from Woodford County Planning Director Steve Hunter. The last Midway Council asked Hunter’s predecessor, Pattie Wilson, to study and report on the growth of Airbnbs and short-term rentals (STR). Hunter has been working with a subcommittee of the Planning Commission to develop possible text amendments or new ordinances regulating these lodging options. This initial effort will be presented as a motion at the Jan. 12 Planning Commission meeting. Hunter reported that a model ordinance will also be presented in January that Midway, the county and Versailles can tailor to their own situation. Mayor Thurman noted there are competing interests that the council will need to balance in adopting the ordinance for Midway. Hunter advised that the number of Airbnbs and STRs operating in Woodford County is not known because there is currently no regulation of these businesses. Hicks and Mason raised questions about the impact Airbnbs and STRs will have on the inventory of low and affordable housing. Hunter strongly encouraged all of the Midway elected officials and residents to attend the Jan. 12 Planning Commission meeting. Nance raised a question about the current conditional use permit approval process and voiced concerns that the ordinances are too vague. Hunter said that this and other issues will be on the table since a rewrite of the Comprehensive Plan is due this year. Hunter reported that he had already scheduled a meeting with Thurman, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott and County Judge-Executive James Kay to discuss the general scope of issues of the Comp Plan rewrite process. The meeting began with a call to order followed by all present standing for the Pledge of Allegiance and a silent moment of reflection. There was no public comment. Cortney Neikirk of the Midway Merchants Association (MMA) provided details and answered questions about six parade/event permit applications that will require closing Main Street. She announced that the Francisco’s Farm Festival has been renamed “Midway Bourbon & Blues at Francisco Farm” and will be June 9 to 11. The event will include blues bands, bourbon tastings from numerous distilleries, fine art and crafts and lots of food. MMA will also be hosting three summer block parties from 5 to 10 p.m. on May 27, July 28 and Aug. 26. The annual Midway Fall Festival will take place Sept. 15 and 16. And, Santa will be visiting downtown Midway on Nov. 25. All applications were approved unanimously. Thurman announced member assignments to the council committees. She also advised that instead of having a standalone Equity and Equality Committee, this subject matter should be regularly addressed by the full council. Thurman and Raglin reminded the community and council that the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Midway Christian Church with the annual march to begin at 5:30 p.m. The next council meeting will be on Jan. 17.