FORUM: Turner, Dykeman talk plans for clerk’s office

Published 8:03 am Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Candidates for Clark County Clerk discussed efficiency in the clerk’s office during Tuesday night’s candidate forum.

Michelle Turner and Wyler Dykeman are running for the office as registered Democrats.

Turner started as a janitor in the courthouse in 1996, she said. In 2002, she went to work in the clerk’s office and has been there since. Turner, the incumbent, took the county clerk office in 2015.

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Dykeman graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1996 and went on to Western Kentucky University to pursue a bachelor’s in marketing. Dykeman said he started his career in the Clark County Property Valuation Administrator office and worked as a deputy PVA for nearly 12 years. Dykeman said he worked side by side with every branch of local government, including the county clerk’s office, in his role in the PVA office.

“My career has given me a front-row seat to how local and state government operate,” he said in his opening statement.

Turner said she started the Saturday hours, which run from 9 a.m. to noon.

“I think it has been a great asset for Clark County,” she said.

Turner also noted the office now takes credit cards, has a website and 24-hour access to the deed room.

Dykeman talked about pushing more technological advances to make transactions faster as well as broadening online services.

Turner said she plans to keep the Saturday hours.

“Not only does it bring revenue from other counties but a lot of people can’t make it from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,” she said.

Dykeman agreed Saturday hours were a good start, but he said there is more that can be done.

“How can we expand upon that such as things like — can we do a curbside service for the elderly and the handicapped?” he said.

Dykeman also said the county clerk’s office needs to be budget-conscious.

“…And make sure that we can push forward but retain within our budget and not overextend ourselves,” he said.

Turner said her most significant accomplishment has been taking care of the people of Clark County as well as opening the Saturday hours.

“Trying to make it a pleasant experience for everyone who comes,” she said. “Not everyone wants to pay their taxes, believe it or not.”

Dykeman said if he’s elected, he hopes to make the county clerk’s office a benchmark across the state. He has a vision for the clerk’s office to make it more efficient so people want to come to Clark County and bring their business.

“People who want to move here, they’ll see efficiency and think this place has got it going on,” he said.

Turner said she couldn’t do what she does without the help of her staff.

“I have a passion for the job,” she said. “I love it. I love the people. I love waiting on everybody.”

Turner said she hates having lines in the office and is always willing to work the lines and ask if anyone needs help.

“We try to be as efficient as we can,” she said.

Turner said if she is re-elected, she will continue to serve all people in Clark County equally.

Dykeman said he is running for county clerk because he believes that as a county, we need to push forward.

“There are things we can do more efficiently,” he said. “There are things we can do faster and better.”

About Lashana Harney

Lashana Harney is a reporter for The Winchester Sun. Her beats include schools and education, business and commerce, Winchester Municipal Utilities and other news. To contact her, email lashana.harney@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0015.

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