Kentucky: Wayne County - Judge/Executive

May 2008

The first few months of 2008 have been a busy time for county government. We have been putting together a county budget, working on several grants to bring money and increased opportunities into the county, operating our new recycling program, working toward Enhanced 911, planning for the upcoming Farmer’s Market season, and planning many other projects. We also recently held our second annual Job Fair. I am proud to say that the first few months of this year have been very productive for the citizens of Wayne County.

One of the most important aspects of county government is approving a budget. The Judge-Executive and Fiscal Court must pass a budget by June 30 of each year to comply with state law and set the county’s priorities. That is not always an easy task, especially during tough economic times, but I am pleased to report that the Fiscal Court will have a budget approved by early June and will be prepared for the upcoming year.

This year’s budget includes some new expenditures and continues the county’s full support of all our emergency services. One new service is the county’s Recycling program. The budget also provides for an increase in funding for the Monticello/Wayne County Memorial Park and money for a new ambulance for our EMS. Also during this budget, county government will pay off the debt on two ambulances currently in use. The Judge-Executive’s office and the Fiscal Court will continue to support the Farmer’s Market by helping to furnish advertising, signs, man hours, etc. to make sure the Farmer’s Market continues to grow each year. The market was a great success last year and we are looking forward to an even better year in 2008. The upcoming county budget also includes funds to continue the city and county’s joint effort to provide Enhanced 911 services to every citizen.

Free swim lessons and swim nights at the Aspire Center Pool will once again be offered to all citizens. County government will support the program again as it continues to grow each year. Here in the Judge’s office, we have worked with the Aspire Center to extend the pools hours of operation and the number of days they are open so that our working men, women, and families will have more opportunities to use the pool during the hot summer days and nights. Contact the Aspire Center at 340-9362 for exact dates and times.

Through our solid waste department, we recently started Wayne County’s first ever recycling program and it has been a huge success. Presently, citizens can drop off their recyclable items at the trailer located in the Wal-Mart parking lot. If people have a lot of cardboard material to dispose of, it can be dropped off at the Co-op building on the bypass. These services are provided completely free of charge. We encourage everyone to help keep Wayne County beautiful and protect our environment by recycling your old newspapers, cardboard, plastic bottles, etc. Already, over 76,000 pounds of material have been recycled through the program. All of that could have gone in a landfill or even worse, over a bluff or along a road somewhere here in the county. In addition to the Recycling program, we are continuing our illegal dump cleanup and roadside cleanup. More than 160 miles of road have been cleaned since January 1 and 1360 bags of trash were collected. Over 150 people volunteered to help clean up our highways during Pride Spring Cleanup Week. With your help, we will make Wayne County an even more beautiful place to live.

Just like working families, every county across the state is being forced to deal with increasing costs with the same amount or even less money. There are always more needs than there is money to take care of them. One of the best ways for Wayne County to continually meet those needs is by seeking grant funding to help pay for projects and equipment. Applying for grant funding is a never ending cycle so we are constantly looking at every available opportunity that fits a county need. Just this year alone, Wayne County has received over $500,000 in grant funding and donations. New night vision binoculars for the Rescue Squad and EMS, partial funding for a new ambulance, a Recycle trailer, and over $75,000 for roadside and illegal dump cleanup are just a few of the grants Wayne County has received this year. We aren’t satisfied with those alone however. In addition to the grants we have already received, we have applied for hundreds of thousands of dollars for many more projects that could potentially be funded.

On May 13, the County Judge’s Office, along with Community Development, and our local employment office sponsored our second annual Job Fair. Over 15 employers were on hand looking for new employees. A total of 745 people visited the job fair to find out who is hiring and some of those people were hired the very same week. We have no doubt that many others will find work as a result of the Job Fair. Last year, the economic impact to the local economy from the Job Fair was over $300,000. One major employer that participated in this year’s Job Fair was Senture. We are very pleased that the company is going to be hiring several hundred people before the end of the year. They will be a great addition to our community. In these difficult economic times, we want everyone to know that the County Judge’s office is doing everything we can to make sure everyone that wants to work can find a job. It’s not always easy, but we will always help in anyway possible.

Everyone in county government and the Judge-Executive’s office is working hard to move our county forward. We are making progress everyday. Government is becoming more efficient and at the same time offering new services. Our goal is to provide the best services to the citizens of Wayne County for the least amount of money possible. I don’t believe that the people of Wayne County should ever have to take a back seat to any other county or do with less because they live here. I will continue to work as hard as I can to make sure we have the best community possible. As always, if you feel there is something we can do better or if you have an idea to improve the community, please stop by the Judge’s office and let me know. I am always willing to listen. When we all work together, we get the best results.

Only the sitting Wayne County Judge/Executive can appoint a Wayne County Captain Commission.

The reason for bestowing the honor of a Wayne County Captain on any particular individual is for strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others. This commission shows the ability to place others above self.

Trent Vincent

On Sunday May 27, 2007 Gary Collett Sr. of Nicholasville and Lisa Lovely of Morehead were boating on Lake Cumberland in the vicinity of Jamestown Marina.

Lisa Lovely fell from the boat, unbeknown to Mr. Collett who had the boat in idle. When he realized that Ms. Lovely was not in the boat, he immediately turned off the key. He went to investigate and saw her at the rear of the boat, in the water. She was conscious but injured. The prop had hit her leg. He tried to pull her from the water and was unable to do so. By holding her, he was able to keep her chin above water but she was having difficulties not taking in water as the wake would submerge her head.

Mr. Collett saw an approaching boat, let go of one of Ms. Lovely’s hands so that he could motion for help. By waving his arms and screaming for help he was able to alert a passing boat to help in their plight.

Trenton Vincent did not hesitate as he saw what was going on. He dove immediately into the water and tried to assist in removing Ms. Lovely from the water. But both Mr. Vincent and Mr. Collett were unable to remove her. Mr. Vincent dove to see why and discovered that Ms. Lovely’s swim suit skirt was entangled in the propeller of the boat. Coming up for air, and diving again, Mr. Vincent was able to free Ms. Lovely from the propeller. The gentlemen lifted Ms. Lovely into the boat and Mr. Collett wrapped her legs, wounded from the propeller with towels, as Mr. Vincent drove them to the Jamestown Marina. Ms. Lovely was air lifted to UK Hospital where she stayed for five (5) days.

In a phone call from Gary Collett Sr. to the Wayne County Judge’s Office it was stressed that Lisa Lovely would not be alive today, if not for the selfless and courageous acts of Trenton Vincent.