Discovering Williamstown: Mayor Henson Talks Growth and Community Spirit
Join us as we sit down with Mayor David Henson of Williamstown, KY, to explore the vibrant community that's thriving right in our own backyard. Mayor Henson shares his insights on his role in fostering a close-knit environment where neighbors genuinely care for one another, and discusses the exciting upcoming events that bring families and friends together. With a focus on maintaining the town’s small-town roots while embracing growth, he highlights the unique stories and connections that make Williamstown truly special. From the much-anticipated Farm to Table event to the nostalgic Marigold Day Festival, there's plenty to look forward to. Let’s dive into the heart of Williamstown and discover what makes it such a delightful place to call home!
Welcoming Mayor David Henson to the podcast, we embarked on a heartfelt exploration of what it means to lead a small town like Williamstown. Right off the bat, it was clear that Henson's connection to the community is genuine. He shared his pride in the city employees who show up daily with a commitment to serve, emphasizing how their hard work contributes to the well-being of the town. His sense of pride did not just stop there; he also celebrated the spirit of the residents, who come together for events that strengthen the community fabric, like the recent back-to-school bash. This tone of camaraderie set the stage for a rich discussion about the challenges and joys of small-town leadership.
As we dove deeper, the Mayor enthusiastically outlined forthcoming events that promise to bring residents together in celebration. The Farm to Table event is particularly anticipated, showcasing local produce and fostering community connections. He also reminisced about the Marigold Day Festival, a long-standing tradition that resonates with many in the area. The Mayor's excitement about these events was contagious, as he highlighted their role in not just entertaining, but also in preserving the history and culture of Williamstown. The potential revival of such events is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the community.
Towards the end of our chat, we discussed the future of Williamstown, especially in light of ongoing developments. Mayor Henson is optimistic about the town's direction, aiming to enhance the hospitality industry and ensure that growth does not come at the expense of the town's charm. He passionately articulated his belief that every resident has a stake in the community's future, advocating for active participation in city meetings and local initiatives. This episode encapsulates not just the essence of small-town life, but also the vision of a leader committed to nurturing a vibrant, united Williamstown.
Takeaways:
- Mayor David Henson emphasizes the importance of community spirit in Williamstown, showcasing how neighbors support each other daily.
- The upcoming Farm to Table event in Williamstown aims to bring families together and foster community connections through shared meals.
- Marigold Day Festival, a cherished tradition since 1971, will celebrate the town's history and memories with a parade and various activities.
- Mayor Henson believes that involvement in local events cultivates a sense of belonging and pride among residents of Williamstown.
- The Mayor's initiative to hold meet and greets encourages collaboration between local businesses and the city to address challenges and opportunities.
- Williamstown is poised for growth, with plans for more hospitality venues and attractions to enhance the town's appeal to visitors.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Interact for Health
- Patriots Landing (Patriots Landing)
- Joe Montgomery
- Grant County Historical Society
- Williamstown
- Williamstown App Kentucky
- The Ark Encounter
Mentioned in this episode:
We Are Grant County Generic Intro
Toad Talk Media
Toad Talk Media is a storytelling-driven media company based in Grant County, Kentucky. We create podcasts, videos, social content, and a quarterly magazine that spotlight local voices, businesses, and community pride. As the production team behind We Are Grant County, we believe in authentic conversations, meaningful connections, and creative content that celebrates small-town life. Whether you're a listener, viewer, or future guest, you're invited to be part of the story.
Transcript
Today on We Are Grant county, we're honored to sit down with Williamstown's Mayor, David Henson.
Speaker A:Mayor Henson is serving the people of Williamstown not just through his leadership in City hall, but through his connections to the community.
Speaker A:Under his guidance, Williamstown is building on its strengths as a place where neighbors look out for one another, where events bring families together, and where growth doesn't mean losing touch with small town roots.
Speaker A:Beyond the title of Mayor, David is also a neighbor, a friend, and a proud advocate for the people and stories that make Williamstown unique.
Speaker A:Today, we'll talk to him about upcoming events that you won't want to miss, the challenges and joys of leading a small town and what makes Williamstown such a special place to call home.
Speaker A:So let's welcome Mayor David Hinson to the podcast.
Speaker B:Well, thank you for having me here today.
Speaker B:I really appreciate it and I look forward to our conversation.
Speaker C:Thank you so much for allowing us to come in and visit because like I said to you when I walked in here, I don't really come into the city building very often.
Speaker C:So to be able to come in, sit down with you and learn a little bit about what's going on, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker B:And likewise, my pleasure.
Speaker C:So what's one thing about Williamstown that makes you proud every single day?
Speaker B:I think the one thing about Williamstown that makes me proud is just the.
Speaker B:Let's take the city employees, for example.
Speaker B:They work hard every day.
Speaker B:They love their job and they love coming to work and they love being part of it.
Speaker B:They love saying, I work for the city of Williamstown.
Speaker B:That means a lot to me.
Speaker B:As I ask them to do things and they say, great, just remove my challenges, remove my roadblocks, and I'm glad to do it.
Speaker B:And that, I feel, is my number one job, the community itself.
Speaker B:You know, I went to the back to the school bash for Williamstown a couple weeks ago, and to see the parents and the students and the school spirit, the community spirit that's there to me was just amazing.
Speaker B:And those are the things that say, yeah, Dave, you made the right decision here.
Speaker C:And that kind of leads into another question that we have.
Speaker C:What do you think makes this community different from others that are in Northern Kentucky?
Speaker B:Well, I have not been a Kentucky resident for too long, but from my observations, it's a very proud city.
Speaker B:It's the seat of the county, it has a history.
Speaker B:And as I talk to people who've been here a long time, my neighbors, you know, there's.
Speaker B:There's a history that they're proud of.
Speaker B:And they, they, they take the time to tell you they want you to know about their city and about how they've come through.
Speaker B:And you go downtown Main street and you see the flags of the veterans that are hanging on the street.
Speaker B:I mean, that is, to me, that gives me chills.
Speaker C:You don't have anything.
Speaker D:I think that's fantastic.
Speaker D:I mean, you know, it's just great to hear, you know, that you're that and you're invested even as someone who didn't necessarily grow up here.
Speaker D:I think you said you've been here eight years.
Speaker B:About eight years.
Speaker D:Eight years, yeah.
Speaker D:So, I mean, I've only been here a couple more years than you, so I'm no full time, you know, Grant county resident newbie.
Speaker D:So I bring that to the podcast.
Speaker D:Michelle's the veteran, the original.
Speaker C:So I've been around for a little while.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:So what are some of the upcoming events that Williamstown does have coming up?
Speaker B:Well, the first thing I'll tell you about is our Farm to Table event, which is next Saturday, next Friday night, excuse me, at six o'.
Speaker D:Clock.
Speaker B:And it's a event that's sponsored by the chamber and the tourism, so I'm not sure which one it is because they're kind of grouped together.
Speaker B:But, but it's a yearly event that goes through the cities of each other county.
Speaker B:And this year is hosted by Williamstown and we're very proud to have it.
Speaker B:And we're going to close down Main street and we're going to set up tables and you know, we'll have it catered and it'll be a nice event.
Speaker B:And it is.
Speaker B:Does raise funds.
Speaker B:We are contributing to the Grant County Historical Society from the proceeds, but it's more of a let's talk to our neighbors event, which I'm really looking forward to.
Speaker C:I've been able to be at a couple of them.
Speaker C:So the first one that they did in Williamstown a handful of years ago, we were able to set up the photo booth there.
Speaker C:And it was just a really fun event.
Speaker C:And then we did another one at Sherman Tavern.
Speaker C:So to see it come back to Williamstown is pretty exciting because it is pretty cool to see Main street shut down, all the lights coming out.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And everybody just having a good time.
Speaker D:And, and with all the new construction and new, you know, flourishing down quote unquote downtown.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:Main street, it's, it'll be even more exciting.
Speaker B:It really, it really will be and we're excited about it.
Speaker B:Then the Next Saturday, the 20th we have the Marigold Day Festival.
Speaker B:Now, again, this is a.
Speaker B:For those of you who don't know, I think everyone listening probably does.
Speaker B:Marigold Day goes way back.
Speaker B:1971, I believe, was the first one.
Speaker B:And it's been a proud tradition and people tell us their stories, their memories.
Speaker B:And last year, the former mayor started up again, and we really felt we wanted to carry on that tradition.
Speaker B:And so we grateful to a person by the name of Caitlin Bentley Thayer, who is the senior program manager of Interact for Health.
Speaker B:And she has.
Speaker B:She was generous enough to give us money to sponsor the Merry Go Days.
Speaker B:And not only that, she also came up with an idea to do a documentary.
Speaker B:And this documentary is for people to record their memories of Merrigo Days throughout the years.
Speaker B:And we're going to expand it to other memories.
Speaker B:But we thought we'd start with this.
Speaker B:We had former mayors come in, former Marigold Day Festival chair people, just old timers, if you will.
Speaker B:And they brought in pictures and they told their stories and their memories and of Merrygo Days.
Speaker B:And to me, that is just.
Speaker B:That's something special.
Speaker C:That is pretty awesome.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:Like, when I think about when we moved here in 85, that's the first thing that I remember, like, going.
Speaker C:Because when I was putting all this kind of like this agenda together for today's conversation, I was like, what is the first thing I remember?
Speaker C:And it would be Merrygold Day.
Speaker C:That would be the first thing that I remember going to as the family.
Speaker B:And we're hoping that it's a success.
Speaker B:We believe it will be.
Speaker B:We're going to start off with the parade.
Speaker B:We'll have the fire trucks and there'll be an old antique, excuse me, antique cars.
Speaker B:And I think it's going to be some Mustangs and some Jeeps.
Speaker B:They'll go down.
Speaker B:And our Entertainment starts at 11 with Marty Brown.
Speaker B:And then we'll have the Kentucky Cloggers.
Speaker B:And then top, this band will be in the afternoon and there'll be vendors.
Speaker B:And it's.
Speaker B:We're really looking forward to it.
Speaker C:Yeah, it sounds exciting.
Speaker C:I'm.
Speaker C:I like the fact that it's being kind of revived and coming back because it was something that was pretty fun.
Speaker B:And then on the 27th, we have the bluegrass festival downtown Williamstown, and that's from 3 to 10pm so we're really looking forward to that.
Speaker B:Just another event that we're having downtown.
Speaker B:If you look in the weekends now on Main street with the restaurants that are open, it's filled, parking lots are filled, People are Walking.
Speaker B:And this is another entertainment value to me.
Speaker B:People come and bring their chairs, their families.
Speaker B:So that's always exciting.
Speaker B:We've had two or three concerts downtown this summer, and they've all been pretty popular.
Speaker B:I'm also featuring a mayor's meet and greet on the 29th with the business community.
Speaker B:And there are some saying, well, what about everybody else?
Speaker B:And we're going to get to everybody.
Speaker B:We're going to have several of these meet and greets.
Speaker B:And my purpose for this is for each group that we have to get their perspective of where we are as a city and where it is we want to be and what's the vision and how we're going to get there.
Speaker B:So we're going to do things like a SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and threats.
Speaker B:And what are some of the things that we have in town that we can promote?
Speaker B:Things like the.
Speaker B:We have the arc, and that's a strength.
Speaker B:People come here for the Ark, and people come here for places like Patriots Landing with Joe Montgomery and what a great job he does with the community.
Speaker D:We had the opportunity to speak with him, and Joe's an old friend of ours, so we.
Speaker B:Yes, he's exciting just to listen to.
Speaker B:Yes, he really is.
Speaker B:And there are other lake, you know, Williamstown Lake.
Speaker B:And so those are our strengths that we can build on and opportunities.
Speaker B:Well, what is it that we can do?
Speaker B:I mean, there's talk of a museum coming in up by across from the Ark.
Speaker B:There's some hotels still coming.
Speaker B:And, you know, is that what we're looking for?
Speaker B:Those are the things we want for our city weaknesses, you know?
Speaker B:Well, we're still a small town and we still don't have all the things a big city has.
Speaker B:So how do we leverage some of these things?
Speaker B:You know, tax base and things like that and threats, you know, the economy can fall at any time, and what if it does?
Speaker B:Are we diverse enough to survive things like that?
Speaker B:I mean, Covid took its toll on everybody, and hopefully we don't have that again, but who knows?
Speaker B:So I am trying to get a perspective from different groups, in this case the business community, of what their expectations are, what they would like to see, what are the roadblocks they have, and how can I remove those roadblocks?
Speaker B:And it's, you know, it's not a, pardon my French, a bitch session.
Speaker B:It's going to be positive, and it's going to be, here's what we want to do, and we're not going to leave it to one meeting.
Speaker B:We're going to.
Speaker B:We're going to take the information we get, we're going to put it together.
Speaker B:We're going to put a plan of action together.
Speaker B:We're going.
Speaker B:We will match it with other group meetings that we have and try to come up with, in the end, a comprehensive plan for the city of Williamstown.
Speaker B:And at that point, you know, show the public and hopefully decisions that are made well after I'm gone from this office can be made based on this vision that we set forth.
Speaker C:It sounds exciting, and I like the fact that you're kind of breaking them up into smaller groups so that everybody would be able to have a voice and, you know, an easy conversation.
Speaker C:Now, based on that meeting, that meet and greet that you're getting ready to have, is it only for businesses currently in Williamstown or is it businesses across the county because they would all, like, maybe have an impact on stuff in Williamstown as well?
Speaker C:Or how's that?
Speaker B:Well, right now is basically for the businesses in Williamstown.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I'm not saying, oh, no, you can't go.
Speaker B:Yeah, we're not doing that.
Speaker D:We're going to check your business license at the door, make sure.
Speaker B:And actually, I'm hoping for a big turnout, and I'm hoping people come and really want to participate.
Speaker C:Sounds exciting.
Speaker D:And I think that, like you said, the benefit of having the smaller groups is maybe people feeling more comfortable addressing some of their concerns in a smaller setting, as opposed to one giant town hall where you're competing.
Speaker D:Different voices, different concerns.
Speaker B:Everybody has different worlds, right, and different issues, and they come from different paradigms.
Speaker B:And so if you can break it down into groups, industries, if you will, they pretty much have the common challenges, so they can speak.
Speaker B:Knowing each other has basically the same challenges, and we can address them, and then the next group will do the same.
Speaker C:So that kind of leads us into, like, community engagement.
Speaker C:You've kind of addressed how you plan to do that.
Speaker C:But what are other ways that residents may be able to get involved?
Speaker C:Is it through volunteering or sponsoring something or just showing up to events?
Speaker C:Like, what is a good way that they can get involved?
Speaker B:Easy answer.
Speaker B:All of the above.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So we have city council meetings, and most of the time there's four or five people in the audience.
Speaker B:Now, I know there's some listening on the TV and all that, but I would like to see more participation at the city council meetings.
Speaker B:Once a month, we do, like a people's forum, and they're able to come up and address any issue they would like and talk about it or just comment.
Speaker B:But there are other ways too.
Speaker B:Yes, there are organizations, there are boards that they can join or be part of.
Speaker B:I just recently joined the Kiwanis and I would tell you I was not that familiar with the Kiwanis, although I know they've been around forever.
Speaker B:But just to hear what they do and how they help and contribute to the local business in the schools and the children, it's really inspiring.
Speaker B:So I'm glad I did that.
Speaker B:But that's something where you meet people in the community, leaders and you can be a leader just by your church group or your boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, you know, local school, and people appreciate that.
Speaker B:So I think you get to meet more people and you become better informed.
Speaker D:I think Grant county has a pretty good diverse group, like variety of some groups that are community service based.
Speaker D:Like not just.
Speaker D:I mean we recently joined the Kiwanis as well, you know, and.
Speaker D:But just seeing some of the overlap and the discussions there, you know, who are they working with?
Speaker D:And I think maybe that is another way that I would say is another strength is making sure that these organizations know what are, you know, aren't necessarily competing, but maybe contributing to each other.
Speaker D:That is a. Yeah.
Speaker B:And I think the more you get involved, the more you see that and people want to work with other people and other groups.
Speaker B:So it's something I think I encourage everybody to do.
Speaker C:So as far as like the events go, we kind of touched on it a little bit.
Speaker C:But you've got the events coming up and we talked about like being in downtown Williamstown.
Speaker C:So what role do the local businesses and organizations play in making the special events successful?
Speaker B:So I think it's imperative that you have their buy in and you have their cooperation and understand that they're there to make money.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:That's why they're in business.
Speaker B:And yes, we do ask a lot about business owners and hopefully we're giving back to them and helping them as well.
Speaker B:I will tell you a couple quick stories like for Merrigo days, you know, there's a piece of property between two buildings.
Speaker B:And Hans Filippo, local business owner, he's allowing us to put a bouncy house for the kids there, you know, and that's his way of saying, yeah, let me help you.
Speaker B:For the farm to table event, he's letting us use one of his businesses that's not being vacated right now to prep to plate food for the farm to table.
Speaker B:So besides, you know, financial donations or in kind donations, there are donations like that.
Speaker B:And he's not the only One, There are many others, and I can't go through all of them because I'm sure I'll miss one.
Speaker B:But the fact that they participate in part of the.
Speaker B:Part of the town, the community, if you will, is imperative.
Speaker B:And we need them.
Speaker B:On the flip side, you know, I want to make sure that they are in the position to succeed as well.
Speaker C:So that kind of leads us to, like, what message would you have for people that think that it's just a small town, it's just a small event, it doesn't really matter if I show up or if I go or anything like that.
Speaker B:Well, for them, I would tell them they're missing out on a lot of memories, and they're missing out on the opportunity to pass down the history that they have inherited and what they have seen from their lives to their children and their grandchildren.
Speaker B:And that is how.
Speaker B:That is how a culture like Williamstown maintains itself and continues to grow and has that feeling, because there are memories, and someone's got to pass down the memories.
Speaker B:So if anything, they are missing that.
Speaker B:And I would encourage people to get out, even if it's for a short period of time.
Speaker C:That's a very good answer.
Speaker C:Because, I mean.
Speaker C:I mean, as far as Marigold Day goes, that's what comes back to my mind all the time.
Speaker C:And everybody that knows me will tell you that my memory is not that very good, but I do remember, like, going to Marigold Day, and I do remember doing some of those things.
Speaker C:So that was a really good answer.
Speaker C:I like that one.
Speaker C:So what are some of the biggest challenges that you may have to pull off some of these events?
Speaker B:That's a great question.
Speaker B:So, you know, we.
Speaker B:When we went into this year, since I became mayor, I'm a person who understands my limitations and understand that if I'm involved in every detail of everything, then we're not going to get anywhere.
Speaker B:So it's important to have a great team around you, great people who are willing to participate and help.
Speaker B:And we were able to get that.
Speaker B:I mean, Jason Payne, who was our new zoning administrator, who was on the city council, he volunteered to chair the Merry Go Day Festival along with Jenna Austin Smith.
Speaker B:He put a team together which included many people in this building.
Speaker B:Brandy hall, my administrative assistant, Ms. Tammy Steele over there, amongst others, and this Caitlin Bentley Thayer from Interact for help.
Speaker B:She's been a participant along others.
Speaker B:Jamie Baker from the chamber and tourism, Joey from Street Arts down in Dry Ridge.
Speaker B:So he was able to put together this great team, and they've met regularly and They've planned out the details.
Speaker B:I go to the meetings and give my 2 cents.
Speaker B:But certainly we have enlisted people who are willing to help our city employees.
Speaker B:Derek Holland has helped out, and he helps out with the farm to table.
Speaker B:And what's great about it, people like Jamie Baker know they can just call Derek directly and say, hey, I need this moved or I need that.
Speaker B:And he just says, got it.
Speaker B:And he does it.
Speaker B:So with everybody's participation.
Speaker B:And I always tell all my people, you're only as strong as your weakest link because that's your team, and we are a team here, and people are positive and they want to do well.
Speaker C:That's amazing.
Speaker C:So with.
Speaker C:With this team and everybody that you have, making your chain the strongest that it can be, where do you see Williamstown growing or changing in the next couple of years?
Speaker B:Again, good question.
Speaker B:We're trying to get to that answer.
Speaker B:I may have thoughts of my own, and I do, but I want to make sure there's a consensus.
Speaker B:I want to make sure these meet and greets that we're having that I take a step back and I listen to those who are there, and we put together a plan to do that.
Speaker B:I believe we need to continue our growth and in the hospitality industry, you know, we need.
Speaker B:We have the arc, we have other attractions coming.
Speaker B:So what does that mean?
Speaker B:Well, that means hotels, that means restaurants.
Speaker B:That means people need places to stay and other things to do to keep them here.
Speaker B:So those.
Speaker B:That's how I'm looking at things.
Speaker B:And I believe in the end, you know, I'll get other suggestions and we'll put it all together.
Speaker D:I think we talked about that with Joe.
Speaker D:Heads and beds, right?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:I mean, that's how you build, you know, with your commerce and businesses grow with the more people that are here.
Speaker D:And I think that's why some of the projects in.
Speaker D:On Main street in Williamstown are so exciting.
Speaker B:Yep, I would agree.
Speaker C:So I'm gonna.
Speaker C:I'm gonna throw another good one out there for you, I think.
Speaker C:So if someone was listening to this podcast and hopefully they.
Speaker C:Hopefully that'll bring them to maybe want to come visit Williamstown.
Speaker C:But what would you say to them to entice them more to come down?
Speaker B:I think right now I would say, hey, look, have you heard of the Ark Encounter?
Speaker B:And who hasn't?
Speaker B:You know, my wife and I owned a hotel in Corinth for a few years, and we originally bought that because of the arc.
Speaker B:It was just getting.
Speaker B:It's just got going, and we would go outside in the parking lot and we would see license plates from every state in the country and they'd be all over.
Speaker B:And I would say 75% of our guests, especially from May to October into the beginning of November, 75 or more, they're here because of the arc.
Speaker B:So I think, you know, I have met with the leadership of the Ark ARC management team, including Mr. Ham, and, you know, I want to partner with them and I want to make sure that they know that we're here.
Speaker B:And they made a commitment to come to the meet and greet on the 29th.
Speaker B:But there are other things.
Speaker B:The lake, Williamstown lake, is beautiful and we need to get that an attraction where people come in and can spend the day at the lake and relax.
Speaker B:And bass fish, right?
Speaker B:There's a lot of good fish down there.
Speaker B:There's a possible museum coming, which is across from the ark, which is going to be another huge attraction.
Speaker B:So those are the things.
Speaker B:Patriots landing, right?
Speaker B:And what an honor it is to have Joe and his group here.
Speaker B:They actually build those flowers, those flag boxes that go to Arlington National Cemetery.
Speaker B:I mean, that to me is big.
Speaker B:And people, if you go into his shop and you see what he has and how he honors these veterans and these people who have made sacrifices, those are the things we should be talking about and really participate in.
Speaker B:So those are the things I would tell people.
Speaker B:We're a small town, we are, but we are friendly when you come, we welcome you.
Speaker B:I'll tell you a quick story.
Speaker B:About four or five years ago, my mother in law decided that she was going to move from Florida back up here.
Speaker B:And she built a house next to our house.
Speaker B:And when it came with our hoa, everybody's mailbox has to be the same.
Speaker B:It's the same mailbox, everybody, right?
Speaker B:So you may or may not know a gentleman named Eddie Gabbard.
Speaker B:Everybody knows him in town.
Speaker B:He's a retired school teacher, coach.
Speaker B:He's one of my neighbors.
Speaker B:And he's always looked out for us and looked out for me.
Speaker B:So one day I said, eddie, I have to go get a mailbox from my mother in law because.
Speaker B:And I don't know where to get them.
Speaker B:So he goes, come on, get in the truck, let's go.
Speaker B:So he takes me down to the place and we buy the mailbox and bring it up and I put it in my mother in law's garage.
Speaker B:Now, at the time I was still working, I wasn't retired yet.
Speaker B:And I work a lot of hours and it was like there for one week, maybe two Weeks.
Speaker B:And it was still in there because I hadn't had a chance to.
Speaker B:I come home one day as I'm going into my road to my house, I see Eddie out there with two or three of my neighbors and they're literally putting the mailbox in the ground.
Speaker B:They said they did it, and I'm saying that's what neighbors do.
Speaker B:And it was overwhelming to me because I felt so grateful.
Speaker B:He just took it upon himself to do that.
Speaker B:That's what Williamstown is about, I believe, and I see it every day.
Speaker B:So I'm proud to be the mayor.
Speaker B:I really believe I want to lead the city going forward.
Speaker B:And it's not about me.
Speaker B:I was retired.
Speaker B:I mean, I was done working, but I just felt this calling and I felt that it was at this point the right time, right thing for me to do.
Speaker B:And I'm thankful I did it.
Speaker B:And I'm thankful God allowed me to do it.
Speaker D:You sound kind of like Michelle in retirement.
Speaker D:I think she's just as busy as she ever was.
Speaker C:I've retired in August.
Speaker C:Haven't been retired very long, but I've been busy.
Speaker B:Well, I thought I was going to retire and just, you know, take it easy.
Speaker B:And I found out that's not me.
Speaker B:I can't do that.
Speaker B:I just can't sit down and watch shows.
Speaker B:I got to be out there and I like what I do well.
Speaker C:I mean, I knew when I retired that I would continue with the photography that I do.
Speaker C:And I knew that I was going to start the podcast.
Speaker C:I figured I'd still have some free time.
Speaker C:I really haven't found the free time yet.
Speaker A:We'll find it eventually.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:With the events and everything that you've got going on with Williamstown and things like that.
Speaker C:Where can people find out information?
Speaker B:Wtown KY.org is our website and you can, you can see all the events there.
Speaker B:You can see what's going on with our city government and breakdown of the departments.
Speaker B:We also have an app, Williamstown App Kentucky, that you can download and it has all that information on the app, which is good because you can see right from your phone, you know, council is being scheduled or should there be a water boil advisory or should there be a snow day, things like that.
Speaker B:So it's all there.
Speaker D:And luckily with our technology, we can include all of those links in our episode notes.
Speaker C:So thank you, Mayor Henson, for joining the We Are Grant county podcast.
Speaker C:And we want just to remind listeners that they can support local show up celebrate what makes Grant county special.
Speaker B:Thank you so much.
Speaker B:I really appreciate you having me on.
Speaker B:You know, whenever I can tell a story about the city, I'm anxious to do that.
Speaker B:And I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me today.
