Lanham named new Corbin Parks and Rec Director; business license fees to be slashed

Wes Lanham, at right, with his wife, was named the new Director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Corbin Monday.

Corbin native Wesley Lanham has been hired to succeed Marlon Sams as Corbin Parks and Recreation Director.

Lanham, and his wife, Jessica, were in attendance at the meeting of the Corbin City Commission when the announcement was made that Lanham had been recommended for the position following two interviews by the personnel board and interviews with numerous others.

In announcing the recommendation, Commissioner Joe Shelton noted that Lanham has a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation and administration from Eastern Kentucky University. While attending EKU, Lanham interned with the Richmond Parks Department.

"He supervised many of their programs," Shelton said. "He has knowledge with buildings and also maintaining ball field facilities," he said.

Lanham brought multiple positive recommendations from his supervisors in Richmond.

Most recently, Lanham has held positions with the Corbin Independent Schools, where he worked as the 21st Century Program Supervisor. At his current position at Lynn Camp High School, Lanham is serving as the FRYSC (Family Resource and Youth Service Center) Coordinator.

"He has expressed some new idea and programs that will be implemented over time," Shelton said of Lanham’s work at Lynn Camp. "He has an understanding of networking and obtaining grants."

Lanham’s starting salary will be $37,000 per year. He will begin work on Dec. 21.

Lanham, a 2004 graduate of Corbin High School, said he is excited at the opportunity to return home and take responsibility for the parks throughout Corbin.

"I’ve utilized these parks," Lanham said. "I played baseball, basketball and football in the leagues. It is something I’m passionate about. I’m just looking forward to getting started."

Lanham said, long term, he would like to build a new Little League baseball field that would house fields for Little League, Jr. League and Sr. League, along with girls’ softball fields.

"This would be an awesome asset for the youth in the tri-county area and for the City of Corbin," Lanham said. "It would be a big step, but it is something I would really like to help make a reality."

Lanham said while the existing facilities are well maintained and adequately serve Corbin’s current needs, part of his job is determining those future needs and offer increased recreational opportunities for the citizens.

While something may change, Lanham said he can easily envision a future in which he retires from Corbin.

"I am so excited for the opportunity," Lanham said.

The commissioners also approved an ordinance amending the business license ordinance, particularly in regard to the license fees.

Mayor Willard McBurney noted previously that under the existing ordinance the city has a scale that increases the license fee based on the gross receipts of the business from the previous year.

The scales vary based on the type of business, such as restaurants, groceries, retail merchants, wholesale merchants, and "additional business, occupations, trades and professions."

The changes to each section combine several levels of the old scale and cut the remaining fee rates in half, at some places.

For example, a restaurant with gross annual receipts between $200,000 and $225,000 will now pay $130 for a license as opposed to $260.

City Commission Joe "Butch" White said this is part of an effort to make Corbin more business friendly. With increasing revenue from the alcohol taxes, the city was in a good position to make these changes.

The ordinance must be read and approved a second time before the changes go into effect.

If the second reading passes, the ordinance will go into affect on Jan. 1.

The proposed changes may be seen at www.thenewsjournal.net

In other business the commissioners:

¥ Approved a $500 cost of living adjustment for full time employees and permanent part time employees. McBurney said this is a one-time lump sum given to the city employees. The amount varies from year to year based on the financial situation of the city.

¥ Approved an ordinance establishing a "no parking" zone on the west side of S. Main Street at the intersection of 21st Street. McBurney pointed out, that at certain times of the day, particularly when school is dismissed from the day, the obstructed view of drivers trying to pull out on to Main Street makes for hazardous conditions. Signs will be placed to indicate the zone.

¥ Appointed Jane Chandler to the Corbin Public Library Board

¥ Appointed Bill Strom to the Corbin Economic Development Board