Judge/Executive

Greg Rankin

Address:
55 N. Main St. Ste. 103
P.O. Box 439
Monticello, KY  42633

(606) 348-4241 - Office
(606) 348-6647 - Fax

E-mail:
waynecountyjudge@windstream.net

Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 8 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

From the Judge’s Desk
December 2009

As Christmas and a New Year approach, it is always a good time to reflect on the year we have had and to think about what lies ahead.  Our community has seen many improvements over the past year.  Your county government has started new services and improved existing ones while operating with less money than before.  County government has become more efficient.  Soon, we will begin renovating our courthouse at no cost to local taxpayers.  Great strides have also been made with our recycling program and our county road system has seen major improvements.  Many miles of county roads have been paved this year.  Our EMS has obtained improved equipment and created a new training program for potential EMT’s/Paramedics.  These are just a few of the advancements we have made during 2009.

While we have made great improvements and seen success, we have also endured and are still enduring the worst national economy in at least a generation.  Many people are out of work or underemployed.  Unemployment rates are at all-time highs across the country.  Unfortunately, Wayne County is not immune to this trend.  We are however, fairing better than many counties across the state and country.  Your county government has not been forced to reduce services or raise taxes like many other counties and because we have become more efficient, we will not be forced to do either of those.  Drastic cuts to services and programs during this time would only slow economic growth when the economy turns around.  Here in Wayne County, we have actually been able to provide more services to our community with less money than before and without laying off county employees.  This will help our county grow as we move forward. 

When handled properly, troubles and hard times can bring innovations that would have never occurred had we not been tested.  We have renewed our effort toward economic development during this difficult time and that effort will bring new jobs and development to our community for years to come.  We recently launched a Business Incubator program to help small businesses become profitable and grow.  Statistics show that most small businesses fail within the first five years, but when businesses start out in an Incubator program, 87% of them are successful and grow.  The Business Incubator and Advisory Board will also help us recruit new industry to the community.  Thanks to the help of 18 volunteers that agreed to donate their time and knowledge for the program, we now have in place one of the most innovative business recruiting tools in the State of Kentucky.  The Incubator program will help us diversify our local economy so that we don’t become too dependent on one industry or employer.  Soon, other communities across the state and region will be looking to us to see what we are doing to be so successful.

Many other initiatives go along with the Incubator program to help in our overall economic development.  We are continuing to work closely with some large employers to provide the infrastructure they need to open for business and begin employing our citizens.  Senture and the Otter Creek Academy are two examples of those efforts that will be employing people in the coming year. 

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation (a company with the sole purpose of creating jobs in the region) is working closely with your county government to help provide low interest loans and other business assistance to companies interested in our community.  Locally, we now have two Certified Economic Development Planners on staff in the Judge-Executive’s office to assist businesses.  Also, through a portion of the Federal Stimulus money that was made available, we have partnered with a regional non-profit agency to provide job training incentives to local businesses that hire people immediately.  With this funding, some local employers will be able to bring people back to work sooner than expected or even hire new employees.

For long term economic development to occur, business and government must work closely together.  For that reason, your county government has created a very close working relationship with the Chamber of Commerce promoting our community and making contacts to recruit new business and industry to our county.  Our new marketing and promotion of Wayne County is changing the way people and businesses view our community.  We will become the place to be for start-up businesses that can grow quickly and for industry from across the state and region looking to expand their business. 

Our new EMT/ Paramedic program and our past job fairs are two new initiatives we have created locally to help match people with jobs that are available.  For the first time ever, people interested in becoming an EMT or Paramedic and working in the medical field can now receive the training required here at home.  Your county government is providing that training at a discounted cost to citizens that are interested.  The long term benefits will be that more local people become qualified for jobs that are available in our community and our ambulance service will become an even better service than it is today. 

Economic development does not happen overnight, but we have put in place the tools we need to bring new industry to the county and to help build businesses from within our community.  We have been successful in other areas of government and we will be successful with our economic development plans as well.  Our economy as a whole will begin to turn around in the coming year, and because of countless hours of hard work towards economic development by many people in our community, Wayne County is poised to make great strides in the coming months and years.  We are not sitting on the sidelines waiting for something good to happen to us.  We are working to make it happen.

From everyone in the Judge’s office and the members of the Fiscal Court, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We look forward to a great year in 2010. 

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 ofTrenton Vincent.    

Sister Barbara Walsh

Amid laughter and tears, Wayne County said goodbye to Sister Barbara Walsh, during a special reception in her honor on Saturday, July 19, 2008.  Hundreds of people stopped by the Extension Office that afternoon to share their memories and well wishes with Sister Barbara, who after 26 years of service in Wayne County decided to return home to Massachusetts.
At the front of the meeting room, a slide show ran throughout the afternoon, featuring photographs of Sister Barbara as she ran her School on Wheels, taught Bible School, headed the music program at St. Peter's Catholic Church, and worked with Helping Hands volunteers in local homes. “Thank you, Sister Barbara, from Wayne County, Kentucky” was displayed across the screen.

That's what many people came by to do, to thank the Catholic sister who put a face on Catholic outreach efforts in this area soon after she arrived here in 1982. With her School on Wheels, she took preschool education, which was not offered in Wayne County at that time, to the homes in the hills and hollows.
“Sister Barbara has touched many, many lives and she has brought the love of Christ to all of them,” stated Deacon Tom Wagner with St. Peter's.  Sister Ann Kernan, who heads the Mountain Moms program, talked about her friend during the reception, noting Sister Barbara's life of service to others.

Twenty-six years ago, Barbara's journey brought her 1000 miles away from home.  She brought her whole self that middle-aged woman with more energy than a 20 year old, said Sister Ann.  St. Peter's Catholic Church made a special presentation to Sister Barbara, giving her an antique Kentucky quilt to take back home to Massachusetts.

County Judge-Executive Greg Rankin was among speakers during the ceremony held in Sister Barbara's honor and he presented her with the Wayne County Captain's Award, which is the highest honor given by county government.  “This is for people who have done extraordinary things,” stated Rankin, as he made the presentation. “Thank you for everything out have done for this community. We will miss you greatly.”  Sister Barbara was also presented a certificate naming her an Honorary Kentucky Colonel on behalf of Mayor Kenneth Catron.

Stewart Phillips, the retired director of Project Beam, said that Sister Barbara has been an example of a shining star.  After several emotional presentations, Sister Barbara took the podium. “ I have lived here longer than I lived with many family,” she said. “This has become home. The School on Wheels has brought into areas of this community I would never have gone.”  Sister Barbara has stressed that she is not retiring and that she will
continue working. Sister Barbara plans to continue to teach Latinos after returning to Massachusetts.

”My 26 years here has been a heaven. I love the rural area,” said Sister Barbara. “I think it will be a bittersweet moment leaving this beautiful country God has given us.” 

Article taken from The Wayne County Outlook.