EDA chair talks about Edgewood Farm plans

Woodford County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Chair John Soper addressed the Versailles City Council about the proposed Edgewood Farm development on Lexington Road adjacent to the Kroger Marketplace, especially about plans for Bluegrass Community Hospital (BCH) to build a larger facility there. Soper said Lifepoint Health, the corporation that owns the hospital, is ready to move quickly to build an upgraded facility which, he said, is a positive economic move for Woodford County. “They (BCH) are an excellent provider” of healthcare here, Soper said, and their expansion plans show confidence in the community’s future. Soper characterized the expansion as a “100-year investment” in Woodford County. The new hospital would anchor the proposed Edgewood Farm development, for which a number of other uses are anticipated (see story, page 2), among them additional retail spaces and an “upscale” apartment complex. However, the approval of the hospital’s plan is “the first thing that has to happen” since there are currently no P-1 (professional office) plots available in the county. Distinguished Young Woman The council recognized Lindsey Carroll, who was the winner of the 2016 state Distinguished Young Woman competition in Lexington on Jan. 16. Mayor Brian Traugott read a proclamation declaring “Lindsey Carroll Day” in Versailles and the council gave Carroll a standing ovation for her achievement. Carroll is the daughter of Dr. Tim and Donna Carroll. Brush chipper Rounding out a brief 25-minute meeting, the council approved the bid of $33,781.25 for a Morbark brush chipper from Encom Equipment of Nicholasville. The bid came well under the budgeted amount of $46,000 for a chipper.