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City Tables ‘Blessing’ For Broadway Watch Program

Robert Moore

Herald Staff

rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com

The Harrodsburg City Commission declined to give their blessings to a neighborhood watch program after commissioners and police expressed concerns about the legality of some of the tactics used by the group’s founder.

Members of the “I Love Broadway” Neighborhood Watch program asked for the city’s blessings Monday. The group’s founder, Andy Miner, a handyman known as “Handy Andy,” laid out their plans. In addition to patrolling the neighborhood, the group, which is made up of residents of Broadway and other nearby streets, plans to meet monthly at local churches and issue a newsletter every month.

While every member of the city commission expressed support for neighborhood watch programs, they were worried about the possible legal ramifications of some of the tactics used by Miner, who has led a one-man gentrification campaign on Broadway, the oldest street in Kentucky. Miner assured the commission the watch would not act as a law enforcement agency.

“We are not vigilantes,” he said.

Miner has outfitted his property with an array of surveillance cameras and has posted pictures online—as well as distributed them to elected officials, reporters and law enforcement officers—of what he calls drug dealers.

Commissioner Scott Moseley brought this up Monday night.

“I assure you with 100-percent confidence they are actual drug transactions,” Miner said.

“It was Sid Dunn’s car delivering wings,” said Moseley. “You took a picture of his car and put it all over Facebook.”

Miner said he had a source in the Kentucky State Police.

When Harrodsburg Police Chief Brian Allen said it would be illegal for a KSP employee to release that sort of information, Miner said it only happened once.

“That’s all it takes,” Allen said.

In June, one of Miner’s neighbors, Lucille Hayden, came before the Harrodsburg City Commission to complain about Miner trespassing on other peoples’ property and posting pictures on Facebook. In particular, Hayden was upset Miner dumped dirt and debris taken from the creek on another person’s property.

At the time, Miner said he was in the process of acquiring the property. Once the police were called, he said he apologized and removed the dirt.

On Monday night, Miner said the woman who complained in June wasn’t really Hayden.

“All I’ve had are positive comments,” said Miner, who presented a petition signed by 36 people who support the neighborhood watch. Miner called his efforts to  clean up Broadway a “spiritual calling.”

Miner also handed out a lawsuit he is filing against a neighbor’s property. Both Harrodsburg Mayor Art Freeman and Mercer County Judge-Executive Milward Dedman are named as defendants. Miner is attempting to take over a house that is delinquent on taxes.

“What is it you want us to do?” Freeman asked.

Miner said he wanted the city’s permission to install a neighborhood watch sign.

Chief Allen asked for it to be tabled until they discussed it further.

“We don’t want you to get yourselves in trouble,” Freeman said. “Give us a little time to talk this over.”

The next city commission meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m.

7 Comments

  1. Betsy Yates on October 30, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    We don’t need a neighborhood watch,this man is a trouble maker!!!! It’s so dead around here you can hear crickets at 7 o’clock!!!

  2. Donna on October 31, 2019 at 10:29 am

    Andy is concerned for the neighbors on Broadway. He is attempting to make it a safe place for everyone. I can assure you as a member of the neighborhood watch there is no adamosity toward anyone we just want Broadway cleaned up and a place where people can feel safe in their own homes.

  3. Michael Nowlin on October 31, 2019 at 10:29 am

    Andy Minor is a great friendly neighbor. Has compassion for other people and their safety, especially those in his neighborhood. A great leader to bring a community together. Oh, and makes a great pot of chili!

  4. Levi on October 31, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    I’ve known Andy for years and he’s genuinely one of the best people that I’ve ever met. He has ALWAYS served his community in anyway he possibly could. Broadway should be thankful someone has taken an interest in cleaning it up. The street is an eyesore. To call it “gentrification” is just bad journalism.

  5. Jim "The Mailman" Steberl on October 31, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    I don’t live on Broadway nor have I ever, but I walk that whole street everyday. Over the many years I have personally saw drug activity and transactions, and on a couple occasions found drug paraphernalia in which I notified 911. On a good note, I have some of the best customers I could ask for , who I look forward to saying good morning to. One of my new customers is Andy Minor. I have gotten to know Andy over the last couple years and just like the other folks that live on Broadway have also witnessed the same things I have. Andy has a huge heart and I truly believe that he wants to be proud of where he is living and is willing to step up and make that happen. The bridge on Broadway project, was great in my opinion, but he had opposition. That street has several homes that need tearing down, and Andy has stepped up again and bought one of the homes in which he has fixed up nicely, but again he receives opposition. I feel he isn’t wanting to buy up and take over Broadway, but to do his part for such a historic street. Not every mail carrier in Ky can say they deliver mail on the oldest street in the state, lol. I am glad to see Andy overseeing the neighborhood watch program and again wanting to see positive changes in the neighborhood. Again, opposition!!! The question is , who doesn’t want Andy getting involved?? As an ex-cop of 12 years, I can pretty much guess. God Bless

  6. Kevin on October 31, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    I’m new to the area and was always told to stay away until I got so far down on my luck I had no other choice but to consider it. first person I contacted in the area was Andy and I must say. His care and concern for the community made me give it a chance alone and I’m glad I did. I feel safe in the area and happy! If someone is willing to do whatever they can to make others feel safe by cleaning up a neighborhood then I’m going to do whatever I can to give the support I can to make his vision come true. Thank you Andy for everything you do!

  7. Barbi cheatham on November 1, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Lol leave law enforcement to law enforcement. An individual citizen acting like a spy or rambo will only end unfavorably for everyone. Its known that this area is well known for drug activities,but realistically speaking drugs are EVERYWHERE. Neighborhood watch might help but highly doubt. My opinion is theyll just make more problems than solve

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