Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG)

Kathryn Barber took over as a Social Services Coordinator earlier this year. In her day-to-day, Kathryn is responsible for approving requests for rental assistance. She has two employees who work under her, so she approves their cases and also meets with clients. In addition, she answers questions from landlords and tenants throughout the day. "Housing is kind of my thing," Kathryn said. "It’s how I know I have a soul at the end of the day. I know I’ve helped people. I was at GreenHouse 17 for over 13 years in the housing stabilization, and I’ve always been involved with housing in some way since I was in college.” Kathryn, whose degree is from the University of Kentucky, did numerous internships in college. Those internships helped her learn that she loves working in housing assistance. Kathryn started off in a housing stabilization program, but the grant was absorbed by the Community Action Council so she went there. Once it ended, she began looking for jobs with the City. She immediately applied once she learned a housing stabilization program was beginning.  “I love the team," Kathryn said. "I love the approach to helping people and I also love the fact that the clients we have, they’re given autonomy to make their own decisions about if they’re applying and how they’re applying. We’re meeting them where they are.” The biggest thing she wants to do through her work is help the community. "I feel like if people have a foundation for any kind of success in life it’s to have a stable home," Kathryn said. "The best way to escape violence is to have a stable, steady home. If children can grow up in a home that is secure, they are more likely to succeed in whatever their endeavors are as they grow and to have a violent free as well. In the long run, it makes for a safer community for all of us.” Kathryn is married and has a son who will be 15 soon. She also has two fox red Labradors and spends a lot of her free time reading. Her favorite authors, among others, are Sarah Lyons Fleming, Colleen Hoover and Kate Chopin. Congrats on your position with the City, Kathryn! 

THANK YOU to our Streets & Roads crews, who have been busy clearing streets since Friday's storm. We appreciate all of the work from our teams in Water Quality, Parks & Recreation, Waste Management, Police, Fire and others for their work responding to the storm and its cleanup.

🎉 A big welcome to the 13 new officers of the Lexington Police Department! Over the last 30+ weeks, these recruits have learned topics ranging from law, operations, patrol skills, investigations, physical training, and more. We are honored to have them join the Lexington Police Department and want to thank them for choosing to serve our community. Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the Lexington Police Department! Congratulations on the well-deserved promotion! #PoliceOfficers #LexingtonKy #NowHiring

We have a new team that will assist the Police Department with mental health-related calls. Mayor Linda Gorton joined the Lexington Police and Fire Departments to launch the city’s Community Crisis Co-Response Team. “This program will greatly help our first responders respond to mental health emergencies,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “With a mental health professional involved, we can provide a more focused approach to the person in crisis.” Earlier this year, Governor Andy Beshear announced that the city received an $850,000 federal grant from the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services to establish a crisis response team. The application for the three-year grant was the collaborative effort of both the Lexington Police and Fire Departments. The grant allows the city to hire a full-time mental health professional to respond directly to mental health calls, in conjunction with the Lexington Police Department. In addition, the grant will provide overtime funding for police officers who have taken specialized training in responding to mental health emergencies, which currently includes approximately 45 officers. Lexington Fire Community Paramedicine recently hired Chris Perrine, who has a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, to work alongside the Police Department in responding to mental health-related calls. Fire Chief Jason Wells said, “With this grant, Lexington Fire and Police Departments will be better equipped to respond to mental health crises with compassion and strength. It’s a decisive step in our city’s evolution of what a first responder does. Meeting our residents where they are, just like we did with Community Paramedicine. These crisis response teams will bring a new and greater level of care to Fayette County.” Assistant Police Chief Brian Maynard said, “Having the Crisis Response Team responding to calls with officers will allow crucial mental health resources to be provided to individuals in need more quickly, and hopefully, help provide the individuals with a path out of crisis.” “The Crisis Response Team will be able to respond with the appropriate resources for individuals experiencing a crisis,” said Fire Captain Seth Lockard, who oversees the Community Paramedicine Program. “This response is going to change the current model, and provide the most appropriate response from public safety.” The Crisis Response Team is slated to work weekdays, when most mental health calls occur, Lockard said. The city receives approximately 3,000 mental health calls a year, with fewer calls coming in at night, or on weekends. Creating the Crisis Response Team has been a joint effort of several government departments. The Department of Housing Advocacy and Community Development and the Department of Social Services have worked closely with the Department of Public Safety to establish the service.

We had a great time earlier this month celebrating the graduation of Community Corrections Recruit Classes 24-07 and 24-08! Congratulations to all of those who graduated! #CorrectionsOfficers #LexingtonKy #NowHiring

💚 This year, the City of Lexington is welcoming 12 new businesses to Green Check, a green business sustainability certification program! An additional nine businesses are recertifying as Green Check members, solidifying their commitment to the program for another three years. New honorees include: Floracliff Nature Sanctuary (Gold), Artworks at the Carver School (Silver), Central Bank Center (Silver), Kenwick Community Center (Silver), Lisa Chiffolo, REALTOR (Silver), Paladin (Silver), Big Ass Fans (Bronze), Centered Holistic Health (Bronze), Lexington Salt Cave (Bronze), Lexington Tool Library (Bronze), Savané Silver (Bronze) and The JunkLuggers of Kentucky (Bronze). Recertifying honorees include: CivicLex (Gold), Living Arts & Science Center (Gold), John’s Run/Walk Shop (Silver), Lextran (Silver), Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center (Silver), Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington (Silver), Wild Birds Unlimited (Silver), Boone Creek Outdoors (Bronze) and Doodles Breakfast & Lunch (Bronze). Green Check businesses demonstrate a commitment to improving the environment through making sustainable choices for their facilities and educating staff and visitors. Rachel Savané is pleased to join the program this year. “When I read an email about the Green Check program, I must admit I felt a zing of excitement because I have made personal green efforts (reduce, reuse, recycle) my whole life,” said Ms. Savané, of Bronze level Green Check business Savané Silver. “Of course, I integrate them in my business to maintain an awareness of my footprint. I am so pleased to live in a city with a conscience. Green Check affirms my choice of place to live, work and raise a family. Let's raise all conscious minds to the endless possibilities of doing better.” Green Check participants have initiated dozens of projects to improve sustainability through the years, including installing bike racks, planting rain gardens, upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, and providing recycling opportunities for staff, visitors and customers. This free, City-run program begins with a personal consultation and completion of the Green Check Sustainability Scorecard. The Sustainability Scorecard caters to organizations across a variety of sectors, including restaurants, non-profit organizations, retail and manufacturers. Although the certification is valid for three years, member organizations are encouraged to pursue higher levels through continued participation and achievement. Since its establishment in 2016, more than 70 businesses have participated in the Green Check program. The window to apply for Green Check certification is open now through Jan. 15, 2025.

We conducted a disparity study to assess whether disparities exist between the availability and utilization of minority and women business enterprises for government contracts. As a result, the LFUCG Minority Business Enterprise Program (MBEP) has implemented new MWBE goals, streamlined required forms and changed procurement processes to create more opportunities for small, diverse businesses and contractors to compete for city’s contracts. This event is an opportunity to learn more about the MBEP changes, get advanced notice of upcoming projects and network. You do not want to miss!

Contractors, do you find yourself not bidding on large-scale projects due to concerns about cash flow? Then this event is for you! There will be a discussion on how to leverage the appropriate lending products to support larger-scale projects and communications strategies that can also enhance your business. The Department of Housing Advocacy and Community Development needs more qualified contractors for various programs within the Divisions of Grants and Special Programs and the Division of Code Enforcement. This event will spotlight ways for contractors to grow their business through participation in one or more government programs, and attendees will learn how to do business with LFUCG, navigate procurement processes, and maximize opportunities.

🛠 Contractors, save the date for two events coming up where you can learn more about our procurement process and upcoming projects! • Building Stronger Connections: Resources for Contractors Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 9 – 11 a.m. at Picadome Golf Course (469 Parkway Dr.) Register at bit.ly/3XucKmo • LFUCG Disparity Study Contractor Community Engagement & Opportunities Event Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Phoenix Building (101 E. Vine St.) Register at bit.ly/47uGp2x #Contractors #LexingtonKY

👏 Jessica Allinder, Procurement Officer, recently became a Certified Procurement Professional by the National Institute for Public Procurement, which required verified industry experience that included passing a four-hour competency-based exam. She was recognized at a conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late August. "Earning my NIGP-CPP certification reminded me of the value in procurement and that my integrity means something," Jessica said. "It opened up the opportunity for me to recently attend the 2024 NIGP Forum to begin earning continuing education hours required for maintaining my certification. I really enjoy what I do, so it was great to experience the camaraderie and networking." Within her role as a Procurement Officer, Jessica ensures that the City complies with federal, state and local procurement regulations. Procurement reviews requisitions and approve purchase orders, manage solicitations for products and services needed throughout the city. It provides advice to increase value, reduce costs, attain Minority/Women-owned businesses and spend money more responsibly.  "My days may also include creating auctions for items that we are selling on Public Surplus or appointments at our surplus warehouse," Jessica said. Jessica began working in Procurement 10 years ago as a staff assistant senior before being promoted to procurement officer. Congrats on this certification, Jessica!  #Procurement #LexingtonKY #LFUCG