Power Mapping

The commission was formed in 2016, and terms are for four years. The Planning Commission has the authority to evaluate applications and requests for use permits and rezoning, and to provide written findings and recommendations to the Fiscal Court for a final decision. It is unclear how many members are on the Commission, and no official documents stating membership, purpose, and duties were found. A majority of the Court can override a recommendation of the Planning Commission.

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This is the current roster, as determined from watching recent commission meetings. No written documentation about the commission, its meetings, members, or agenda was found. The year in which the member joined the Board is in parentheses by the member’s name where available.

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Bob Yowler (2016)

Chair

Mr Yowler is a retired pharmacist and the former owner of Morgan Drug Store in Bedford, where he resides. Mr. Yowler bought the business in 1983 from the original owner. The store is now closed, and both Trimble County and Gallatin County have no pharmacies at all.

Chairman Yowler supported passage of the Zoning Ordinance in 2109, saying it was a necessary tool for implementing the comprehensive plan.

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Crystal Whitice (2022)

Zoning Administrator

See her main entry as Magistrate.

Ms. Whitice was elected as Magistrate for District 4 in 2022. She was on the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to her election and remains a member. She believes the current zoning ordinance is not helpful for residents; overall it is important to her to protect farmland and bring in industry.

Ms. Whitice presides over the Zoning Board of Adjustments. A December Board of Adjustment meeting heard a request for a variance from a resident to open a gun and hunting supply store on his property, which was approved within 15 minutes. During the meeting, Ms. Whitice recounted a few calls she received and the Board asked questions and clarified use and intent of the change.

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Lance Hall (2023)

Mr. Hall has served on the Henry County Planning and Zoning Commission.

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Michaela Dziedzic 

Employment: Trimble County Solid Waste Coordinator

A County Judge/Executive (or simply, Judge/Executive, and often written Judge-Executive) is an elected official in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky who is the head of the executive branch of a government in a county. The Judge/Executive is an ex officio member of the Fiscal Court, the county's legislature. This body approves budgets, hires staff, passes legislation, administers services and programs, and sets policy. The judge-executive is the chief county officer and manages the county, implementing policy, directing executive staff, and administering county functions and services.

John David Ogburn, Jr.

Email: jogburn.tcjudge@gmail.com

Phone: (502) 525-4075

Description: Ogburn is a Republican. He is starting his first term as Judge-Executive following outgoing Judge Todd Pollock. He maintains a professional Facebook page.

Mr. Ogburn beat the one-term incumbent, Todd Pollock, in the primary by 32 votes. He won the general election against a democratic female candidate with 65%.

During the campaign, he remarked that “planning and zoning ripped this county down the middle,” and the current ordinance should be examined to make sure it is not overreaching but still protects the area from unwanted industry. He is a life-long county resident.

He is listed as a director at Grace Point Baptist Church, Inc. 2020

Stated priorities are:

• Jobs, economic development to increase tax revenue
• Attract more residents and businesses via job creation, tourist attraction, or new affordable housing.
• Unify the county
• Ensure that all citizens have basic infrastructure–many do not have city/running water
• Prevent government overreach
• He wants to examine the current zoning ordinance
• He sees a lack of attractions and entertainment; wants the county to be revitalized.
• Find new ways to generate revenue other than increased taxation of residents.

Position on solar: None found.

Past employment

●  Metso Outotec, Field Service Engineer: 11 years

●  Louisville Gas & Electric Coal Yard, team leader: 12 years

Community and/or board involvement

●  Trimble County Youth League, coached basketball, baseball, and football

●  Trimble County High School, assistant basketball coach

Education

Nashville Auto Diesel School

Current employment: Owner, Ogburn Construction. Co-founder Pharm CBD and Pharm Roadside Market.

He is listed as a director at Grace Point Baptist Church, Inc. 2020

Stated priorities are:

• Jobs, economic development to increase tax revenue
• Attract more residents and businesses via job creation, tourist attraction, or new affordable housing.
• Unify the county
• Ensure that all citizens have basic infrastructure–many do not have city/running water
• Prevent government overreach
• He wants to examine the current zoning ordinance
• He sees a lack of attractions and entertainment; wants the county to be revitalized.
• Find new ways to generate revenue other than increased taxation of residents.

Position on solar: None found.

Past employment

●  Metso Outotec, Field Service Engineer: 11 years

●  Louisville Gas & Electric Coal Yard, team leader: 12 years

Community and/or board involvement

●  Trimble County Youth League, coached basketball, baseball, and football

●  Trimble County High School, assistant basketball coach

Education

Nashville Auto Diesel School

Magistrates

Chris Liter (D) 

District 1

Year first elected: 2018

Email: Chris.Liter@yahoo.com

Phone: (812) 701-3090

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Mr. Liter ran for Magistrate in 2006 and lost the primary by three votes. He lost a 2010 primary to the incumbent by 49 votes.

After the County’s server failed in 2020, Liter opposed the purchase of a new one, suggesting that the back-up server should be used. That same year, the head of the County’s nine-person transportation department was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, and four others were fired for refusing to take drug tests. All Magistrates and the County Attorney voluntarily took drug tests and passed.

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Liter considers himself fiscally conservative with county spending. In an April 2022 interview, Liter said he is concerned about funding for the county’s ambulance service, replacing the county’s road maintenance equipment, building capital maintenance, and keeping county salaries competitive. One of his top priorities is to improve infrastructure in the county including new broadband access and water and waste treatment improvements. He is a lifelong resident of Trimble County and attended Trimble County High School (1984). Liter has a Facebook page.

Current employment: Arkema chemicals, and farmer

Stated priorities are:

• Economic development, tourism
• Roads
• Culverts, ditches–improve these
• Every home in the county should have broadband within the next 4 years
• Maintain ambulances
• Low taxes and no County debt
• Supports planning and zoning, believing it protects property value and can enhance economic growth

Position on solar:  None found

Community and/or board involvement

• Antique Tractor Club
• Milton Lions Club
• Trimble County High School Alumni Football Club

Education: Unknown

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Melissa Gibson Cornish (R) 

District 2

Year elected: 2022

Phone: (502) 663-4042

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Ms. Cornish is one of the first women ever elected as Magistrate, she ousted incumbent Kenny Green. She has lived in Trimble County since she was in second grade. Ms. Cornish ran for office to serve the community by representing her district, and because she has always been interested in politics. She began her first term in January 2023. Cornish, 51, moved to Trimble County when she was in second grade. She currently works as a nurse at Norton’s neonatal intensive care. She has expressed serious concern for drug abuse and the need for education in the community. Cornish also recognizes the need to create more economic opportunity in the region, especially opportunities for youth to access employment and job skills. Cornish has a Facebook page.   

Current employment: Nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Stated priorities are:

• Assist lower income rural communities with health and parenting
• More opportunities for children and youth
• Make the contribution of women in the community visible
• Listening, learning, and transparency
• More forums and community engagement and participation in the county government, including planning and zoning.

Position on solar: None found

Community and/or board involvement: Unknown

Education:  Unknown

Community and/or board involvement: Unknown

Education:  Unknown

​​J.D. Jones (R) 

District 3

Year first elected: 2018

Re-elected in 2022. He is in his second term.

Email: J.D.Jones1137@gmail.com

Phone: (502) 525-9357

Mr. Jones was involved in plans to improve park trails and equipment, speaking to constituents about what they would like to see. In November 2022, the improvements were underway, and Mr. Jones poured concrete for the playground.

Current employment: Unknown

Stated priorities are:

●  Retain the next generation of residents in the County

●  Increase the population of the County

●  Concerned about occupational tax as a small business burden

Position on solar: None found.

Past employment: Unknown

Community and/or board involvement: None found

Education: Unknown

Crystal Whitice

​​District 4

Phone: (502) 663-0200

Description: Crystal Whitice, a Republican, began her first term in January 2023. Whitice defeated incumbent Kirby Melvin in the 2022 election, and is one of the first women, along with Melissa Cornish to serve on the county’s Fiscal Court. Whitice, a 43-year-old Florida native, moved to Trimble County six years ago with her husband, Joel, and five children when he took a job as pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Bedford. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and has more than 20 years of experience in the field. Whitice previously worked as the Judge Executive’s Administrative Assistant. She helps run a food pantry and is very engaged in helping the community. She has also expressed serious concern for drug abuse and the need for education in the community. In an April 2022 interview, she said, “The citizens of the county have expressed concern regarding the newly implemented Planning and Zoning Ordinance. My goal is to address these concerns and represent them in Fiscal Court.” Ms. Whitice is active in Fiscal Court meetings, with the Judge frequently addressing her with questions about contracts, construction processes, and rights-of-way. [Fiscal Court Meeting, November 2022] Whitice has a Facebook page.

Current employment: Managing Partner at Redimere Solutions, an accounting firm. She is also lead pastor at New Life Community Assembly of God in Bedford. She and her family moved to Bedford from Florida about six years ago.

Stated priorities are:

●  She wants to use her professional experience to assist the county’s residents

●  Drug education programs, recovery programs, and mental health resources

●  Youth programs and opportunities

●  A more beneficial and effective zoning ordinance

Position on solar: None found

Community and/or board involvement

●  Planning and Zoning Administrator prior to her election, and remains a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission

●  Church board treasurer

●  Tri County Community Action Agency, board member

●  Runs a food pantry

Education

BA in Accounting

County Assessor (Property Valuation Administrator)

Name: Jill Mahoney

Email: jillm.mahoney@ky.gov

Phone: (502) 255-3592

Context and notes regarding individual (including political party): The PVA is responsible to ensure the fair and equitable assessment of property value in the County for the benefit of state, county, cities. Jill Mahoney has a Facebook page which indicates she attended Western Kentucky University (1993) and Trimble County High School.  

County Clerk

Name: Tina Browning

Email: tina.browning@ky.gov

Phone: (502) 255-7174

Context and notes regarding individual (including political party): The county clerk's office keeps and maintains the following records; deeds, real estate mortgages, encumbrances, articles of incorporation, wills, county orders, ordinances, marriage licenses, county records, voting records, plats, delinquent taxes, fixture filings, title lien statements, fiscal court minutes and notary public bonds. According the Browning’s LinkedIn, she has been county clerk since May 1993.

County Sheriff

Name: Charlie Kelton

Email: c.kelton@trimblesheriff.org

Phone: (502) 255-7138

Context and notes regarding individual (including political party): Sheriff Kelton began his career in 1997 with the Shelbyville Police Department. He attended the Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy. He was appointed to sheriff after the death of the previous sheriff in 2017. The Trimble County Sheriff’s Department maintains a website.