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Judge Melton: We need to do more on jobs But answers to a recent LCADD Economic Status Survey leads her to conclusion that job situation inside Adair County may have improved slightly while situation for the large Adair County commuter workforce worsened more than than improvements here. Getting jobs remains the top priority here, she, other leaders say. By Ed Waggener Recent upward trends of unemployment figures in Adair County, KY, on the surface, make for pessimistic outlooks. "That's what I had been thinking, too," Judge Ann Melton said, "until I started looking at the overall picture based on a survey Sue Stivers and I filled out for the Lake Cumberland Area Development District." What we found, Judge Melton said, was that Adair County is now seeing why it is so important to provide jobs at home for more of its citizens. "For too long," Judge Melton said, "we've been in a three-to-one disadvantage of workers leaving Adair County to work over those who work at home." Now, she said, thanks in no little way to efforts of the Columbia-Adair County Economic Development Authority, the tide is changing. "But not fast enough to suit me--or the EDA," she said. "Adair County has fared well compared to other counties," Judge Melton said in answer to one of the survey questions. "The Economic Development Authority, Inc., has worked hard to grow what we already have during the last year." She added, "As a result," EDA was responsible for 42 people being employed by getting busineses to employ just one or two more people." The trend has accelerated in recent months, she said, "Of those 42 people, 27 were employed in just the past four months." And that does not include the number of people who gained employment when the Super Walmart Center opened at Holladay Place or the new Duo-County Communications center opened there during the past year. Walmart added 260 jobs Judge Melton cited big growth at Walmart as a major reason why she believes that net employment within the county has actually grown. "They went from just 80 workers at the old store on Jamestown Street to 340 at the new one." According to Judge Melton, there is reason for a strong revival of Columbia as a rising retailing center. "Walmart management tells me they are very pleased with this store, that it has succeeded beyond the company's expectations." And, she added, "Don't expect them to rest on their laurels. What's made Walmart, Walmart, is that they always set higher goals when new ones are easily reached." Only one industry employing 10 or more people saw a very slight reduction in employment. That was at IMO Pump. "They've been a bedrock industry for Adair County," Judge Melton said. During the past year, they report laying off four temporary employees, but they hired four workers to replace four who retired. Everyone else kept their jobs." That's good news, she said. Duo-County added 12 new jobs Judge Melton said that Holladay Place promises to provide a continuing impetus to local employment. "When they opened their beautiful new building there," she said, "they also employed 12 people," and, she said, "Those are good jobs, with good benefits. Duo-County is a leader in the the telecommunications field. I couldn't be happier that they have a bigger presence here." One large employer laid off workers, but they will be called back There's even a silver lining in the news of one large Columbia employer who did have to lay off workers. "We were lucky the day Jim Hadley came to Columbia and opened Majestic Yachts, and we're lucky he's got the grit he has." Judge Melton said that when tough times hit the pleasure boat industry, Majestic Yachts had to lay off 24 of 27 people. "But Jim says that starting soon, laid off workers will start coming back to work, a few at a time." A really bright spot: Lindsey Wilson College Judge Melton said one really bright spot is Lindsey Wilson College. "They are a major reason why we are doing so well in these tough times elsewhere," she said. "Sue Stivers tells me that the overall employment is by maybe 20 or so, and that a big part of that has to do with The Pines at Lindsey Wilson. I am so pleased with the progress there."Housing starts have been bleakest area Judge Melton said that the housing market has been the one area of greatest concern. She estimates the sale of houses to be down about 40%, year over year. She said there have been several foreclosures. This was due, frequently, to people building bigger houses than they could afford from the very beginning." Foreclosures in these areas has caused a sense of unrest, she said.People with money have adopted a "Wait and See" attitude, she said, and blames this on national media fearmongering.There's hope for recovery in Adair County, she said. "There isn't any lack of credit for good applicants here," she said, and added that the market for smaller homes has continued to be good. It's the big houses, the $150,000 and up, which are not moving.It's a time for Adair Countians to look out for each other, she says "I don't want to see anybody - not the local governments nor private businesses - spend money which does not get a return," she said. "But it is a time for us to find ways to take care of the excess unemployment we have." She said that currently, there may be 450-500 more people out of work than is normall the case. "We'd love to see 100% employment," she said. "that's our goal. But that has never happened here." What I'd like to see Adair Countians do is to look to ways to add 450-500 jobs without waiting for the big developments outside the county. I'm hoping that businesses in Adair County will see the labor market as an opportunity to get workers for projects they may have put off in boom times when materials were higher, skilled labor was scarce, and overall costs were greater." If every employer would look at ways to profitably employ one or two of the currently unemployed, we'd have a dramatically brighter future. "We don't have all the answers in this office or Fiscal Court, with the Chamber and the Economic Development Authority, nor can we depend on outside influences to make the difference," she said, "but if there is one thing I hope the people of Adair County know is, we will listen to ideas and we'll try to help implement the good ones." When employers let us know they will try to take up the slack by hiring one or two or more persons, Judge Melton said, "We hope they will let us know. It helps raise the spirits of everyone to hear the good news in Adair County." And when a currently unemployed person decides to become an entrepreneur, to open his or own business, that would be the greatest boost to the local economy. Providing incubation for new starts is a major focus of the County and City governments, of EDA's Executive Director Sue Stivers, and it is a special interest area of EDA Board member Kay Bowman, Columbia publisher Sharon Burton, and City Councillor Linda Waggener. Streamlining and assisting entrepreneurial endeavors, removing roadblocks, providing affordable rentals and services for start-up businesses are among the goals they want to see for Columbia and Adair County. Judge Melton's phone number is (270) 384-4703. Mayor Bell's number is (270) 384-2501. Sue Stivers number at the Economic Development Authority is (270) 384-6020. This story was posted on 2009-07-09 05:38:17
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 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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