In my efforts to learn about KY government, I have joined the KCCMA – – Kentucky City & County Managers Association which are supported by a staff person from KLC – Kentucky League of Cities. Since KY is so large the KCCMA meets quarterly unlike CT City/Town Managers who meet monthly.
The group holds an annual conference in February and attends the KLC Annual Conference in October and has 2 regional meetings. I attended last February and learned about KY Legislative issues and attended a regional meeting in Shelbyville where the City Manager talked about the use of the hotel tax for tourism and economic development.
I also attended the KLC Conference on October 4th. The morning started out with an address of a fellow Truman Scholar – Ryan Quarles, KY Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture. He is the youngest commissioner in Kentucky’s history, but what else is new for Truman Scholars. [ For more information about the Truman Scholarship (scholarship for Juniors in college going into public service) see website https://www.truman.gov ].
He spoke about a new program where farmers send their products not good enough for the grocery stores like too large cucumber or a bruised tomato to the various food banks in KY. The opening session was given by Jason Roberts, Founder of Better Block Foundation which promotes community driven temporary takeovers of blighted blocks in neighborhoods to start the urban renewal quickly.
