We're back with your May edition of the Kenton County Chronicles, our monthly look at what's happening in Kenton County.
This month we're diving into:
- What you need to know ahead of our transition to Office 365 (Spoiler: You're gonna want to print this one out);
- Giving another round of applause to our animal control officers and dispatchers;
- And previewing this year's Employee Awards Banquet!
Office 365 Rollout: What You Need to Know
We’re excited to announce the County team is beginning its transition to Microsoft Office 365!
This move will modernize our digital tools and provide better ways to work together. With Office 365, you’ll have access to cloud-based email, file storage, and collaboration tools like Teams and SharePoint—making it easier to communicate, share documents, and stay productive from anywhere.
The transition will be rolled out in phases, beginning with our Kenton County email on Sunday, May 25. Below are step-by-step instruction you should follow to ensure a smooth transition when you login.
We will continue to share updates with you as we get closer to the rollover date.
Click here for a printable PDF version of the graphic below, which could come in handy since you will NOT be able to access your Kenton County email until you successfully login to Office 365.
Meet our April Employee Spotlight
For more than two decades, Sevie Alvarez has played a quiet but critical role in keeping the County running smoothly, as senior programs analyst with our Technology Services team.
Driven by a deep sense of gratitude and purpose, he’s helped modernize systems, support vital departments and ensure the infrastructure behind the scenes stays strong.
"Sevie bends over backwards to respond to any requests for improvements staff make for our in-house systems," Technology Services Director Jessica Moss Ramsey said. "His long career behind the scenes is deeply entrenched in the legacy of the programs we've used for the last quarter of a century."
Learn more about Sevie here.
Employee success stories
Technology Services navigates outages
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dustin Brown and Josh Risch on our Technology Services team for their outstanding work navigating a major server outage. Your dedication—especially the long nights, overnight shifts and countless hours behind the scenes—did not go unnoticed.
Because of your quick thinking, perseverance and expertise, critical systems were restored and kept running, minimizing disruptions across the County. We’re grateful for your tireless efforts and proud to have such a committed team keeping everything connected.
She's earning all the badges!
Congratulations to Rhonda Ritzi, our Kenton County Parks & Recreation program coordinator, on being honored with the Appreciation Pin and a 45-year Membership Numeral Guard from Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council!
Rhonda is a dedicated volunteer, mentor and lifelong supporter of Girl Scouts. The Appreciation Pin recognizes her exemplary service that’s made a measurable impact in our area, helping deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in a big way.
She’s not just going the extra mile—she’s blazing the trail. We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition with you, Rhonda!
Kenton County team builds skills for accessibility
Several Kenton County team members recently participated in an in-depth workshop focused on designing infrastructure that better serves individuals with disabilities. The training covered key topics like proper slopes and dimensions for pedestrian facilities, placement of detectable warning surfaces, and how to navigate accessibility challenges posed by existing conditions.
Participants also gained insight into ADA regulations, PROWAG guidelines, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's accessibility efforts. And yes—they even tackled the ever-important art of “porkchopping” (if you know, you know).
Recognizing the dedication of Kenton County Animal Control
The Kenton County animal control team serves all 19 cities and unincorporated areas of Kenton County. Led by Sgt. Taylor Jackson, our team of animal control officers (ACOs) serve as guardians, advocates and problem-solvers for animals in need.
Our entire team was on hand April 22 to be recognized by the Fiscal Court in honor of National Animal Control Officers Week.
Thank you to our team members on the other end of the call
In April, Kenton County proudly celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing the skilled professionals who serve as the critical link between our community and emergency services. These behind-the-scenes heroes are the calming voices on the other end of the line during life’s most stressful moments—providing vital support, coordination and care 24/7.
We’re incredibly grateful for our dispatchers and call-takers who work tirelessly to keep Kenton County safe. Thank you for your dedication, professionalism and service to our community!
Welcome to the Kenton County team
In April, we welcomed several new faces to the Kenton County team, including:
- Brian Blackburn, Public Works
- Christina Runk, Dispatch
- Kenneth Wallace, Public Works
- Kelly Sauer, Animal Services
Meanwhile, six members of the Kenton County Detention Center team celebrated their six-month anniversaries.
- Karin Brooks, JASP clinician
- Patrick Malone, deputy
- Daniel Click, deputy
- James Rogers, deputy
- McKenzie Myers, part-time Home Incarceration Program officer
- Bobbie Richerson, part-time deputy
Fiscal Court highlights
In April, the Fiscal Court recognized Dan Allen as the inaugural recipient of the Ralph Bailey Award. For more than 20 years, Allen led agricultural education and community programs across Kenton County. Known for his collaborative spirit and deep knowledge, he made a lasting impact on residents and local agriculture.
The Ralph Bailey Award honors outstanding public servants who show leadership, integrity, and dedication. It was named after Ralph Bailey, who passed away in December 2024 after more than 30 years of service to Kenton County. Ralph’s legacy includes major civic projects and tireless community involvement.
Consider this your way too early save the date! In April, the Fiscal Court approved plans to host the 2025 Employee Awards Banquet at McHale's on Friday, Oct. 24. We can't wait for another round of games and fun with our entire Kenton County team. More details to come!
And finally, at its second meeting in April, the Fiscal Court also approved this year's Pioneer Award honorees, including:
- Jo Martin
- Ralph Dusing
- Marty Butler
To learn more about this year's recipients, click here.