Looking for something interesting—and local—to do this weekend? Check out the Jessamine County, Kentucky Event Calendar on Destinationjessamine.com (Jessamine County’s tourism website). You can also find photos and event details on the “Destination Jessamine” Facebook page. Want to rent a county-owned building, like the Blue Building or the Keene Community Center, for a party or get together? Call the office of the County Judge/Executive at 885.4500. Wondering how to use Nicholasville's Utility Payment Express Lane? Visit Nicholasville.org or call 885.9473. Need the contact info for Wilmore Parks & Recreation? Check out Wilmore.org.

Whether you attended a community event, checked on road conditions, or looked for an interesting, fun and affordable way to spend a few weekend hours, chances are that you recently took advantage of information provided via one of the communication venues created, maintained, and/or working in cooperation with Jessamine County Fiscal Court. This issue of Jessamine Matters shares several of the ways that residents and visitors can access Jessamine County information. Before you begin though, we invite you to test your knowledge of local communication sources with our quiz. Good luck!

Jessamine MattersSUMMER 2014 JUDGE/EXECUTIVE

Wm. Neal Cassity

MAGISTRATES

DISTRICT 1Bobby Day Wilson

DISTRICT 2Tim Vaughan

DISTRICT 3Terry Meckstroth

DISTRICT 4George Dean

DISTRICT 5Burch Hager

DISTRICT 6Gary Morgan

Created byRed Hat Creative ServicesContact Mollie McClure at

mcclure.rhc@gmail.com or visitwww.redhatcreativeservices.com

In This Issue............................Celebrating our County .................pg. 2-3County Communications................pg. 3-5Nicholasville and Wilmore on the Web.....pg. 6County Calendar.............................pg. 7

1. Where can overnight visitors to Jessamine County find comfy spots to stay, info on local adventures and tours, and more? 2. How can Nicholasville residents and/or property owners access a building permit form?

3. You have a speeding ticket, and you’re not sure where or how to pay it. Who or where should you call?

4. Where can Jessamine County business owners get information regarding payroll taxes?

5. The vacant lot next door to your county home is poorly maintained. What can you do?

6. You’d like to check visits to local tourism attractions off of your “Jessamine County Bucket List.” What’s a great way to start?

7. Where can you find Wilmore event details—and a regularly updated list of Wilmore businesses—all in one place?

8. When it comes to Jessamine County events, services, and more, you like to be “in the know”—but you don’t always have time to read the newspapers and/or watch the daily news shows. What’s a great way to get this info without having to search for it?

9. You have a question about a Jessamine County service or county event that doesn’t seem to fit any particular department. How can you get the answers you need?

10. Where can you find information about Jessamine County Fiscal Court’s services—and a regular reminder that Jessamine County is a great place to live, work and play?

- Answers are on Page 7

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Jessamine County is a truly unique destination, with incredibly beautiful tourism locations, events that are just as exciting and interesting as those you’d find in a large metropolitan area, a healthy sprinkling of beautiful bed and breakfasts and hotel facilities, numerous parks and avenues for outdoor adventures and sightseeing, and…well, so many other attractions and events that it’s impossible to describe them all in one publication.

So how can we let others know just how unique our county is? “Destination Jessamine, the county’s tourism organization, has recently launched a revamp of its website, Destinationjessamine.com, and it offers a wealth of information that celebrates what makes our county such a special place,” Special Projects Director Mary Kozak said.

“The website is just one of the many ways that Destination Jessamine highlights and shares information about Jessamine County events and attractions. It is one of the most effective venues around," Kozak added.

As part of the website revamp, members of the Leadership Jessamine County class reviewed the site and created a report that suggested ways to make the site more user-friendly and comprehensive, including the addition of a user-friendly map to pinpoint the location of tourism attractions.

Destination Jessamine combined those suggestions with existing plans for a revamp to create a user-friendly site that provides an informative, interesting and useful experience. “The large number of photos in the site design and the videos available on our YouTube channel give website visitors a great way to ‘see’ how interesting and beautiful our tourism attractions are, and the new

map helps them find those attractions,” Jessamine County Special Projects Director Mary Kozak said.

The site also offers the option to submit items to the county event calendar. “The map and the calendar are especially helpful because they provide residents and tourists with up-to-date information they can use to plan their day, their weekend, and even their vacation,” Kozak said.

Occasional promotions also encourage visitors to visit the website and the Destination Jessamine Facebook page, with prizes and giveaways from local tourist locations and businesses.

The website's first giveaways included a gift certificate from Sims Drug Old Fashioned Soda Fountain and a Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest ticket giveaway (age requirement). Upcoming giveaways will include gift certificates from First Vineyard (age requirement), Tickled Pink, and Solomon's Porch.

“Destinationjessamine.com is an appealing and user-friendly site that provides useful, interesting, and fun information regarding Jessamine County’s attractions and events, and we’re very proud of it,” Kozak said.

Other upcoming Destination Jessamine projects include a new tourism video, a brochure that is being distributed along I-65 and I-64, print ads in publications such as Kentucky Monthly, and a portable full color display that highlights tourism locations and events.

Celebrating Our CountyIn This Issue............................

Nicholasville and Wilmore on the Web.....pg. 6

Taylor Made Farm (pictured above) is featured on Destinationjessamine.com's "Places to Visit" and "Tours" pages.

Click on the Jessamine County, Kentucky Event Calendar on Destinationjessamine.com for dates and contact info regarding community events like: the Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest, Wilmore's 4th of July Parade, the 400 Mile Yard Sale, and more!

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The “Destination Jessamine” Facebook page offers updates, information and photos of Jessamine County events and tourism locations. From left to right: Stonebridge Park Concert Series’ Grand Finale in August, Camp Nelson Heritage Park’s “School of the

Soldier” during Civil War Days in September, and Sims Drug Old Fashioned Soda Fountain & Grill.

Staying Current

Check it out! Destinationjessamine.com Features:

• Searchable database that includes updated lists and more extensive information regarding tourism events and locations in Jessamine County

• Blog entries regarding tourism-related events and locations, including regular location “spotlights” and contest promotions

• Links to a “Jessamine County, Kentucky Tourism” YouTube channel

• Jessamine County Event Calendar, with the option to submit items

• Google map with major tourism locations pinned

• Visitors can "pin" and share any Destinationjessamine.com page on their personal Pinterest page.

“One of the best things about the Destination Jessamine Facebook page and blog is the fact that it’s so immediate—we can literally reach out to hundreds, even thousands of people within minutes of posting,” Special Projects and Destination Jessamine Director Mary Kozak said.

Recent Destination Jessamine Facebook posts included:

• “Can you name the event and/or location?” challenges with pictures of Camp Nelson's Civil War Days, High Bridge Homecoming Festival, and the Stonebridge Concert Series• A link to the 2013 Destination Jessamine tourism video• A link to “Jessamine County, Kentucky” on Instagram• Calendar reminders of numerous county events

The Jessamine County, Kentucky blog, also powered by Destination Jessamine, offers more details and photos of county events, tourism locations, and more. Recent blog entries include: “The Jessamine County, Kentucky Bucket List,” a feature of the Valley View Ferry, and features of several community events.

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Visiting Jessamineco.comNeed to know if the Valley View Ferry is open or closed? Want to view an online version of Jessamine Matters? Looking for a searchable map of Jessamine County? For all of the above, visit Jessamineco.com, the website provided and maintained by Jessamine County Fiscal Court (JCFC), offers 24/7 solutions and answers.

The website, created in 1997, is home to a wealth of information and links, including a full list of JCFC departments, a calendar of county events, links to employment applications, Planning & Zoning zone maps, and more. On an average day, over 1,000 visitors browse the site. A sampling of top searches includes those for the Jessamine County Detention Center as well as Jessamine County Government, Courthouse, Recycling Center, and High Bridge, Kentucky. As a result of a major overhaul that was completed in 2012, the website now offers county ordinances, including zoning map amendments, land agreements and easements, traffic ordinances and more. Board meetings and appointments are also available. Another new feature is the searchable map that offers pictorial views and GPS coordinates. “The website is extremely useful for a large number of citizens,” Administrator to Fiscal Court Kelley Woolums said. “Those who prefer not to use the Internet can also call the County Judge/Executive's Office at 885.4500, and we'll be happy to help."

Whether they are looking for a yard sale, visiting a friend, or searching for a new home, everyone loves a good map. That could be why the interactive and searchable map available on Jessamineco.com is one of the most popular features. Another advantage of the site’s map is the corresponding information that viewers discover after typing in specific addresses, including:

- Magistrate- Magisterial District- Congressman- U.S. Senate Representatives- Kentucky Senator- Elementary School- Garbage Service

Whether you are starting a new business in Jessamine County, looking for a local business, or simply wanting to learn more about economic development, Jessamineco.com, Nicholasville.org, and Wilmore.org offer useful information and links. On Jessamineco.com, visitors will discover:

• Jessamine County Community Profile

• Jessamine County Economic Development

• Jessamine County Tax Administrator (contact info, registration forms for business license, payroll and payroll tax reconciliation forms, instructions and forms for net profits license fee returns)

• U.S. Census Bureau Facts

• Leadership Jessamine County …and more!

Linking Outward

The “Jessamine County, Kentucky” Facebook page offers useful and interesting info, including recognition of the Jessamine County Animal Shelter's "Shelter of the Year Award" (front), a "Did You Know" quiz featuring High Bridge Park (right), and news of free Compression Only CPR classes offered to celebrate National Heart Safety Day (left).

Keeping it RealJessamine County Fiscal Court uses plenty of “real world” communications to spread the word about community events, new programs and services. Some of those methods include:

• Jessamine Matters was created by Jessamine County Fiscal Court in order to share important and useful information regarding county services, events, and more. Jessamine Matters is mailed to all homes and businesses in the county at least two times per year.

• A few days before many of Jessamine County’s community events, residents and visitors can often spot useful details such as event times and locations on flashing road signs situated in strategic spots around the county.

• Regular press releases announce new programs, achievements and events.

• Event organizers and volunteers as well as Jessamine County Fiscal Court (JCFC) department representatives and program organizers often appear on local television shows to share important and useful information.

• Banners on the Courthouse lawn, as well as advertisements in the local newspaper are regularly used to spread the word regarding JCFC topics.

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All of this information was shared on the JCEM/CSEPP (Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program) Facebook page—and Deputy Director Johnny Adams couldn’t be happier about that. “Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are an excellent way for us to share important information with residents in ‘real time,’” Adams said. Adams created the JCEM/CSEPP Facebook page in 2011 and a Twitter account in 2012. The Facebook and Twitter accounts are linked together, so if information is posted on one, it is shared in both formats. In addition to real time information regarding weather events, JCEM/CSEPP uses the social media accounts to share public service announcements, local event information, information regarding local road conditions, and more. “Info is also provided by several organizations, like our local police departments and the Citizens Police Academy, as well as numerous individuals,” Adams said.

Residents who don’t use Facebook or Twitter can receive text messages on their cell phones (standard text message rates apply) with alerts, notifications and updates including road closures, boil water advisories, and other information specific to Jessamine County. To receive Alert Jessamine text messages, text “followalertjessamine” to 40404.

Additional information is also available on the organization's newly created web page (visit Jessamineco.com and click on the JCEM tab at the bottom right). “The website is an excellent source for those who are interested in preparing an emergency plan for their family, and for anyone interested

in signing up for our Code RED community notification system, our Reverse 911 programs,” JCEM/CSEPP Director John V. Carpenter said. The website includes a “Make a Plan” tab, with a link to Ready.gov, a website that offers information regarding protective measures citizens may take before, during and after an emergency, how to create an animal emergency supply kit as well as how to develop a pet care buddy system, planning information for businesses, and more.

Visitors to the site will also find information and photos of local events (example: the flooding that occurred on several Jessamine County roadways because of heavy rains during the first week of July) and downed trees and power lines (example: those caused by 40-60 mile per hour wind gusts on Halloween).

“We also communicate by speaking to the general public and school groups on emergency management topics, and when requested, we provide safety training events,” Carpenter said. “Other communication efforts include a recent ad campaign in the Jessamine Journal and a CSEPP billboard on U.S. 27 that encourages preparedness.”

JCEM/CSEPP may also be reached by calling 887.2922.

In the future, JCEMA/CSEPP plans include further development of the agency’s website and the creation of an app that will make instant communication available to anyone with a smart phone. “Our goal is to use communication as a tool to help keep our residents prepared—and safe,” Carpenter said.

In mid-June, 2013, Jessamine County Emergency Management (JCEM) Deputy Director Johnny Adams posted a photo of a storm as it developed over a Wilmore neighborhood. Earlier that month, Adams reported another storm in the Wilmore area and invited residents to post photos of downed trees and other storm damage. And when severe weather hit Jessamine County in early September, a resident who lived on Harrodsburg Road reported that the storm caused nearby lightning strikes and heavy winds.

MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS

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~ Spreading the Word ~From a "Hanging of the Greens Worship Service" on December 1 to an Asbury Equine Center "Christmas in the Country" event on December 5, and a Christmas Eve Worship Service on December 25, the 2013 Christmas season in Wilmore was busy, busy, busy. The season included approximately 21 events at more than a dozen different locations and organized by several different organizations. It’s impossible to know just how many people needed information regarding the 2013 Old Fashioned Christmas events, but one thing is certain: Wilmore’s website, Wilmore.org, was a major force in distributing that info.

To help make that happen, the Wilmore Community Development Board provided the online version of an Old Fashioned Christmas brochure, with information including specific times and locations of each aspect of the general event. A link to the brochure was posted on the website’s home page, and a list of times and locations was also posted on the website’s events page.

“At any given time, the website’s events page probably gets the most visits,” volunteer webmaster Steve Milans said. “The website in general is the perfect venue for that type of information, because it’s always available, even during non-working hours.”

In fact, Wilmore.org offers a wealth of valuable information for anyone with a question regarding any of the dozens of Wilmore’s other county and/or city-sponsored events that occur throughout the year, including High Bridge Homecoming Festival, the Stonebridge Concert Series, and the Fourth of July Parade. The site also offers info on the city’s recycling programs, utilities and public services, and Wilmore’s numerous businesses.

Wilmore’s website was created in 1998, and it’s been evolving ever since. What Milan is too modest to say is that the website’s evolution has been, for the most part, because of his efforts. “I walked into City Hall in September, 2002 and saw that Margaret Morgan, who was Wilmore's Community Development Director at that time, was having a problem with her computer. The conversation turned to the website, and I noticed that the information on the site was out of date. I offered to

work on it for a few months until they found someone else to do it. My wife and I love Wilmore, and I’m a ‘nerdy’ type, so I’ve enjoyed doing it, even though the work has lasted quite a bit longer than just a few months.”

No matter where you live, or how long you’ve lived there, you will eventually find yourself searching for answers—to questions regarding your home’s electric or other utility services, a city code enforcement problem, how to reach the local police department regarding a non-emergency matter, or more.

For those who live in Nicholasville, Nicholasville.org is the place to find quick and easy answers to those questions.

The website is also a great place to look for news regarding city events and other matters, such as the recent news that Nicholasville City Clerk Roberta Warren attained the distinguished title of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC), something only three percent of Kentucky’s municipal clerks have attained. Other city news featured on the website includes information regarding new and/or improved services, such as the new utility payment express lane offered at the City of Nicholasville Utility Office on North Main.

Videos on the site’s News page feature short clips of the 2013 Helping Hands Food Drive, and an explanation of the city's Streets Department's preparedness for the winter season. A Frequently Asked Questions page offers answers to “How do I…” questions such as “…find out when city taxes are due?” and “find out when and where to sign my child up for sports leagues?”

Providing Answers

Visitors to Wilmore.org will find photos and information regarding Wilmore’s attractions, including the Rail-side Museum (above), Wilmore Parks and Recreation info, a link to Wilmore’s Main Street program, and more.

Visitors to Nicholasville.org will find links to information regarding City of Nicholasville forms, programs and events, including the opening of the Jessamine Aquatic Center (above) and more.

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As we gear up for summer, Jessamine County Environmental Services Director Mike Cassidywould like us to remember the importance of storm water management. “Warm weather months are a great time to remind everyone that whatever is filtered off of our streets and lawns—even the chemicals we use in washing our cars on a warm spring day—can ultimately affect the quality of our lakes, rivers and stream water,” Cassidy said. Some tips:

• Spas and pools: Drain your pool only if tests reveal no chlorine levels. Prevent leaks and spills of pool chemicals by storing them properly—and, if at all possible, in a covered area.

• Pet waste: Pick up and dispose of your pet’s waste. Do not dispose of pet waste near storm drains, culverts, ditches or bodies of water.

• Car Maintenance: If you choose to wash your car at home, do so on the lawn or another unpaved surface. This minimizes the amount of dirty, soapy water that flows into the storm drain, culvert or ditch.

For more info on storm water management, visit Jessamineco.com and click on “Environmental Services,” and like “Jessamine County, Kentucky” on Facebook.

Keeping Our Water CleanCounty Calendar

July 4 - Wilmore's 4th of July Parade

July-August - Stonebridge Concert Series

July-August - Gospel on the Green Concert Series

July 7-11 - Jessamine County Fair

July 12 -- Movie Mania at Riney-B Park, "Frozen"

August 9 -- Movie Mania at Rock Fence Park, "The Nut Job"

August 15-17 - High Bridge Homecoming Festival

August 16 - Rock Fence Park Concert Series

August 22 - Visitnich.com Football Bowl

August 23-24 - Visitnich.com Soccerama

September 6 -- Soap Box Derby

September - 6-7 Camp Nelson Civil War Days--Living History

September - 18-21 Jessamine County Antique Tractor Show

Check Your Communication Savvy!1. The “Comfy Spots” page on Destinationjessamine.com lists local hotels and bed and breakfast facilities. The site also features Events, Places to Visit, Unique Shopping, Eateries and Tours pages.

2. Nicholasville.org offers numerous downloadable forms and info sheets, including a Nicholasville building permit application, a list of Storm Water Management tips, and more.

3. Call 887.1005 for info regarding payment of traffic violation fees.

4. Visit Jessamineco.com and click on Departments/Occupational Tax for business information and forms.

5. Visit Jessamineco.com and click on Code Enforcement to complete the Code Enforcement Citizen Request Form.

6. Destinationjessamine.com offers a map that highlights Jessamine County tourism attractions. 7. Wilmore.org offers a list of Wilmore businesses, including retail and antique shops.

8. The “Jessamine County, Kentucky” and “Destination Jessamine” Facebook pages offer an excellent way to stay “in the know” about county events, services, and more.

9. A full list of Jessamine County services is available on Jessamineco.com; you can also call the County Judge Executive’s office (885.4500) for info on county offices and services.

10. Jessamine Matters, the bi-annual newsletter created and distributed by Jessamine County Fiscal Court, shares information regarding Jessamine County services and events—and gives us lots of reminders that Jessamine County is a great place to live, work and play. Want to view Jessamine Matters online? Visit Jessamineco.com—and/or the “Jessamine County, Kentucky” Facebook page!