[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6511797,"mediaKeyId","5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f","parentId",5133813,"title","Public safety chiefs report staffing gains; corrections vacancies fall to 18","audioSeconds",3389,"startMs",231000,"endMs",3620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f&start=231&end=3620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f/thumbnail_231000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511797/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Public-safety-chiefs-report-staffing-gains-corrections-vacancies-fall-to-18","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511797-a25990b9b95afee5adde4472b6194a88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143966&Signature=WtKsGQiXHpLpgwQpJFb4nIMkXNldnhzUG-W3M5lQjSzWmTEWxfjgqbYXAmiIGF907GU-VcU343CkI6tgIvTEOvdsKBTKYW5ISc9QuPJksi69Bce2FS-7LIAm~7UYg4IbnouSVCbc2kx-Huxe656GieiLE5Xc3a0ybsfaXoboIXQaYRGik-vBgQKPnVMcGzY88Eu6Jd1Alf7PES9JTKYElRI~omPRYFjIci-ORQYU4hT-KHOKgOQloscrmJqNyNmCsf~YRs2zMksMBgYxazLj5UwoMbkFSErTmAxGoybIB~yVL46ucq~VCc0shDyr5zhSZVwuNOQlPZuSP5YBDHyd1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-07-03T00:00:00Z","article","LEXINGTON, Ky. — At a July 3, 2025 Social Services and Public Safety Committee meeting, chiefs from Lexington's public safety divisions gave an annual update on recruitment, retirement and retention, reporting notable gains but warning staffing levels will continue to fluctuate.

The update, presented by Chief Colvin (Corrections), Chief Weathers (Police) and Chief Wells (Fire), emphasized a mix of paid incentives, targeted recruiting and expanded wellness and mentoring supports as drivers of recent improvements. \"We pay new employees a $3,000 sign on bonus. You can get $1,000 for bringing a member to the division,\" Chief Colvin said, and noted that police also receive a \"$3,000 lump sum\" tied to state incentive funds.

The chiefs gave several concrete measures and metrics. Chief Colvin said corrections vacancies have fallen from a reported low of 124 vacancies to 18. Police provided digital-recruiting numbers dating to April 2023: 8,302,528 impressions, a unique reach of about 771,000, 27,705 landing-page views and 5,280 completed applications. Chief Wells said the fire division's vacancy count on the slide was 14 and that a recruit class is under way; the department expects retirements in January that will influence future vacancy planning.

Why it matters: staffing in corrections, police and fire affects response times, case clearance and service continuity. Committee members praised the coordinated approach: Councilwoman Gray called the cross-division cooperation \"an honor to work in\" and said Lexington's public safety teamwork is unusually strong.

How chiefs said they achieved the gains

- Targeted incentives: sign-on bonuses and referral bonuses were cited by corrections leadership; police said a state incentive program provided an additional lump-sum payment.
- Broad recruiting channels: chiefs said social media, bus ads, career fairs, partnerships with Fayette County Public Schools and referral by current employees were primary applicant sources. Police cited use of recruitment platforms named in the presentation (Interview Now and Red Tag) and a forthcoming video produced with Studio 46.
- Retention and rehires: departments reported rehiring some retirees in part-time or civilian roles to retain experience and to handle backlog work (for example cold-case follow-up), and increasing safety-officer and peer-support staffing to reduce frontline workloads.
- Wellness and mentoring: all three divisions highlighted wellness programs (behavioral-health services, an athletic trainer, wellness coordinators, peer support teams and family-accessible resources) and early, targeted mentoring for recruits as retention strategies. Chief Wells said the fire division's Brenda Cowan camps brought more young women into the pipeline; police and corrections are using mentoring and family outreach to reduce early attrition.

Council questions and clarifications

Council members pressed for details on uniform stipends (Council member Beasley); chiefs said amounts vary by division and some allowances are bargained through collective bargaining agreements. Chiefs and council members also discussed recruitment of women and community-based recruiting in neighborhoods with lower trust in police; Chief Weathers said Lexington is increasing efforts and cited a diversity recruitment committee that meets quarterly.

Limits and next steps

Chiefs noted planned retirements, upcoming bargaining-unit contract expirations and routine fluctuation in vacancy counts as ongoing constraints. Several chiefs said they will continue to hold multiple application cycles or one continuous application process depending on division needs.

Ending

Committee members commended the divisions for progress and asked chiefs to continue reporting staffing metrics and implementation details at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Social Services and Public Safety Committee - Jul 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a July 3, 2025 Social Services and Public Safety Committee meeting, chiefs from Lexington's public safety divisions gave an annual update on recruitment, retirement and retention, reporting notable gains but warning staffing levels will continue to fluctuate.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511789,"Council schedules Aug. 26 public input session on sober-living ordinance",79,5020000,5099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f&start=5020&end=5099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f/thumbnail_5020000.jpg","/articles/6511789/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Council-schedules-Aug-26-public-input-session-on-sober-living-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511789-47273beb31fb1b6290ed7d9adc54ceb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143966&Signature=mO2wfgk2ziY0pMdlr3j2icrHlpf0JLZPDUhblvx-uFESV6f5YCFk9O9Frv~iLQJIBD2cw8nTiSnD7e5pJCJ5b4wvwMT8FHuQfiScGOyyhXqdejKQ7EjLiF4uhPTwUrJzFSJZ316OUbYEkP0dDXhGTQHmdZMEeiEFC2eBWEKrQLNIohOfTlKN4m~JuDvJAb2NIHG9Nf903Q0PbVCiy-bUsrszJlUUCQYv99tYS9Jnk0Xm8CY0WV59uOZ8zaZNSQ56yKvchQX4bzAiGWebi4WlubuVhjz2w68ezf7Qe7LLWXBcwYJNffb3nStMCWWNgha-JK~6X-zSYShNURFFg-Fb0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Social Services and Public Safety Committee announced a special public-input meeting on a proposed sober-living ordinance to be held Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m., the committee chair said at the July 3 meeting.

The chair said the session will be limited to two hours and public comment will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis; if residents cannot speak during that window the chair directed them to contact the committee by other means. The chair said Council member Morton requested the session and that the chair expects a quorum to attend.

No formal vote was recorded on scheduling; the committee chair announced the meeting and invited council members to publicize the session to constituents.","At the July 3 committee meeting, the chair announced a special public-input meeting on a proposed sober-living ordinance for Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6–8 p.m., limited to two hours and public comment on a first-come, first-served basis. Council member Morton requested the meeting; the committee chair said there appears to be a quorum.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511793,"Public health officials expand 'photo voice' in CHIP; aim to translate community images into policy and services",1339,3689000,5028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f&start=3689&end=5028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133813-7bc7b0aaef6efa0bcc1c64a2440c5e3f/thumbnail_3689000.jpg","/articles/6511793/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Public-health-officials-expand-photo-voice-in-CHIP-aim-to-translate-community-images-into-policy-and-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511793-431f4ea19575410c2de10d5fdc4d1c18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143966&Signature=bxvorImErHzuI0vUpEV7FaWkj8HD6SyqO1M7O7jKMfzbX7kwlYyI~LOAy6RNhAJvkX1eI4PGq-5x4sRC4YShjqZqGMp-A71wHWfirH2V2CVbhfrMNyJ87jM3lHrt72P7OkDTNMGyuE6LKLy8fyz94jlgnaKnVY2cwj7oIXYjgEz6xJv7ugAMlZlQjFgS9oWyf4UyffQPN~d9HULCmoVfbnOlUOrJuNYIQlIZIRmhlE9ZMfP9oyutKmh9rxclnV-A7u--LPpMKwqlx2T4FjPZMPTmGeAya8CMyD1v7iD1sIJSFgFP0i7Ce0RWkpmv7nGWNL4A8jXtg5JNV-WvSk~x0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LEXINGTON, Ky. — On July 3, 2025 the Lexington Fayette County Health Department briefed the Social Services and Public Safety Committee on the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), describing how a photovoice participatory method is centering residents' lived experience in program design.

Jeanette Hart and a colleague identified in the presentation as Christy described photovoice as a method that asks residents to take photographs that illustrate barriers and strengths related to health access and to attach short narratives. Hart said the process moves \"from designing on our own to designing with our communities,\" and credited partnerships with LexArt and the University of Kentucky College of Public Health.

Why it matters: Health department staff said images and participant narratives revealed practical barriers — stigma, transportation, housing instability and social isolation — that affect behavioral health access and helped the department shape specific CHIP objectives.

Key outcomes and pilot ideas

- Resource directory: The health department reported creation of a 400-plus behavioral health resource directory developed with the University of Kentucky.
- Participation and reach: Staff said CHIP membership grew more than 300% over a year; they reported average meeting attendance around 75 people and a one-time release event with more than 100 participants. Survey results presented showed 96% of respondents rated meetings productive or very productive and 90% said they felt comfortable sharing opinions.
- Photovoice examples and derived objectives: Two participant photographs shown in the presentation were titled \"Transportation Barriers to Behavioral Health\" and \"Doors to Recovery.\" The department said those images shaped CHIP objectives to improve resource awareness and transportation access.
- Partnerships under discussion: Staff said they are exploring transportation voucher options with United Way 2-1-1 to reduce travel barriers to appointments and services.
- Next meeting: The department invited committee members to a CHIP meeting on Aug. 21, 12–2 p.m., at the Marksbury Library.

Council engagement and requests

Council members asked how photovoice-derived insights move from community input to formal action. Hart said the health department sees itself as a connector and an advocate: it can perform \"warm handoffs\" to existing services and can build collaborative partnerships, and staff welcomed the possibility of presenting formal recommendations to the council in the future.

Ending

Committee members expressed support for the participatory approach and for a future channel to present data-driven policy or program recommendations to city decision-makers.","Lexington Fayette County Health Department presented its Community Health Improvement Plan work on July 3, 2025, highlighting use of photovoice participatory research, a 400+ behavioral health resource directory, membership growth and proposed partnerships to address transportation and access barriers. Next CHIP meeting Aug. 21 at Marksbur","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public safety chiefs report staffing gains; corrections vacancies fall to 18

Council schedules Aug. 26 public input session on sober-living ordinance

Public health officials expand 'photo voice' in CHIP; aim to translate community images into policy and services