Four City of Bowling Green employees with approximately 120 years of combined experience will be retiring
at the end of November.
City Planning Director Rick Ketzenbarger; Mary Beth Genson, a tax specialist in the income tax office;
Randy Firsdon of the water and sewer department; and Ken Taylor, a surveyor in the engineering
department, are all retiring.
Mayor John B. Quinn informed city council of the retirements Monday night.
Municipal Administrator John Fawcett said this morning that the planning director position is considered
critical and that the mayor has appointed Heather Sayler as acting director effective with
Ketzenbarger’s retirement. Her present position of senior planner will not be filled.
Genson is one of two tax specialists and her replacement has already been hired. "It is very
critical that the revenue stream be protected," Fawcett said.
After a 60-day period, Taylor will be hired on an hourly as-needed basis to do survey work. Fawcett said
a recent change in city law allows previously salaried workers to be hired as an hourly worker.
Fawcett said Firsdon’s position will not be filled.
The city also anticipates a firefighter retirement by the end of the year. Fawcett said the position will
not be filled.
Also not being filled are single vacancies in the public works and engineering departments, along with
the assistant information technology position, vacant since the assistant, David McDonald, was promoted
to fill the spot left by the retirement of Chris Jackson.