Jill Cain Bailey is coming back to run Fort Wright's city hall, less than two months after retiring from the same job.
The city announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, that it re-hired Bailey as city administrative officer (CAO), the top staff position overseeing daily operations. She starts Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Bailey beat out roughly 50 applicants in a two-round search, reported by the NKyTribune. Eight candidates advanced to initial interviews. Two finalists sat for a second round that included all six council members and the city's police, fire and public works department heads. The mayor, council and all three department heads unanimously recommended Bailey.
"Apparently, I'm just not very good at retirement," Bailey said in a city press release. "After spending more than 31 years in municipal government, I realized how much I missed the people, the challenges, the pace, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day."
Bailey first joined Fort Wright in May 2018 after 23 years as Taylor Mill's city administrator. She held the Fort Wright post until Aug. 31, when she retired. The city council honored her with a proclamation declaring that date Jill Cain Bailey Day, passing it 6-0 at the Aug. 5 meeting, according to council minutes.
At that same meeting, Councilman Bernie Wessels called Bailey the best CAO Fort Wright had ever had. Mayor Dave Hatter called her "a walking encyclopedia of knowledge for the city," the NKyTribune reported in August.
The city estimates her return will save roughly $15,000 annually in health insurance premiums. Wessels called it "a win for our tax paying residents and businesses."
Bailey explained in a July NKyTribune profile that the pension system's structure drove her retirement timing. She has won the City Administrator of the Year award three times and is a past president of the Kentucky City/County Management Association.
Fort Wright lists its next regular council meeting for Wednesday, Nov. 4.
