The Fayette County Commissioners have selected Jack Krakeel to serve as the interim County Administrator, following the resignation of Chris Venice on April 18.
>Krakeel’s career in public safety spans 30 years, 22 of which have been with Fayette County. He has been at the helm of Fayette County’s Division of Public Safety since 1994. His responsibilities have included direction of Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, E-911, and Animal Control.
>Jack Krakeel has been an active member of various professional and local civic organizations for many years. Moreover, he has been a sought-after participant in many regional, statewide, national and international initiatives relative to exploring new and improved ways to deliver public safety services. Among the numerous awards and special recognitions he has received over the years, Krakeel was designated as “National Fire Chief of the Year” in 2000 and was selected to receive the national “James O. Page Award” in 2006 for his contributions to the field of Emergency Medical Services.
>Chairman Jack Smith said, “We are very fortunate to have a person of Jack’s background and capabilities to ease our transition to a new County Administrator. With an MBA, 30 years of experience in his field, and many years of being responsible for the largest division of our county government, we are confident he will meet the challenges of our operation head on. With his dedication to Fayette County and his caring personality, it is easy to see why he is the natural choice for the Board of Commissioners. In the words of those who have worked with him, ‘He’s a manager's manager’.”
>Upon being selected to serve as interim Administrator, Krakeel said “It is certainly an honor to have been asked to serve in this capacity. I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners, County Officials, and Department Heads in meeting the challenges ahead. I am committed to ensuring that during this time of change the citizens will find the transition to be seamless and that our services will be responsive to their needs and consistent with their expectations.”
>Mrs. Venice tendered her resignation following a meeting at which the Board of Commissioners concluded “… it is in the best interest of Fayette County to make a change at this time.” She had served as County Administrator since the departure of Chris Cofty in early 2005 after serving in the County’s Department of Planning and Zoning for 18 years. A search for a permanent County Administrator is planned to begin in the immediate future.