State-Journal.com - New grants writer says she'll enjoy positive focus

Gayle Coulter Deaton

Gayle Coulter Deaton, a former journalist, is Franklin County Fiscal Court’s new grants writer and community development specialist.

She was hired Thursday by a unanimous vote. Her starting salary is $32,000 a year.

Judge-Executive Ted Collins, in Thursday’s work session, said he had expected 40 applications for the job but only got four – one each from Michigan and Texas and two from Frankfort.

Collins, Deputy Judge Jennifer Wilson and Magistrate Huston Wells interviewed all four.

The two out-of-state applicants, who were interviewed by phone, were surprised at how low the salary is, said Wells. One thought it must be a part-time job, Wells said.

Collins said he believes Deaton can start work Monday.

She’s replacing Ann Northcutt, who resigned Dec. 8 and worked until Jan. 8.

Deaton, 46, a former State Journal city government and education reporter, has spent the past 18 months as an administrative assistant for the Resource Office for Social Ministries.

“Working with ROSM taught me the importance of securing funds for the public good,” said Deaton later Thursday evening.

She says she’s excited about her new position.

“Obviously I want my family, friends and community to have the very best there is when it comes to public services,” Deaton said.

“My job will involve using my communications skills to obtain funding for projects to make life better for Franklin County residents. It’s a job that focuses on the positives while trying to eliminate the negatives, so I think I’ll really enjoy it.”

Deaton said she appreciates Collins and Fiscal Court giving her the opportunity, “and I’m looking forward to working with them on securing funds for their project ideas.”

A native of Louisville, Deaton has a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia. She’s also done graduate work in justice, humanities and law at the University of Louisville.

Besides The State Journal, Deaton worked at newspapers in Shelbyville, Georgetown, Carrollton and Louisville.

She is married to Frankfort Police Maj. Fred Deaton, and she has two sons, Jacob Coulter, an eighth-grader at Frankfort Middle School, and Max Coulter, a sixth-grader at Second Street School.

Northcutt, formerly of Franklin County, lived in Grant County and resigned to go one semester at Northern Kentucky University to complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree in business and technology from Eastern Kentucky University.

Northcutt had worked for county government since August 2007. Her salary when she resigned was $33,592.

In other business Thursday, Fiscal Court held the first reading to rezone 15 acres on Leestown Road from Rural Residential “A” District to Highway Commercial.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church needs its property rezoned to build a new school.

The Frankfort/Franklin County Planning Commission voted unanimously in January to rezone the property. Fiscal Court will vote on the zone change at its next meeting.