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Posted 1/16/08

The City's Public Relations Program

Monday, I spent some time with the Daily Union outlining the City’s Public Relations program. In 2004, the City began a Public Relations program in conjunction with the Sundown Salute promotion. That grew into having a permanent professional program that provided information on the City’s programs and services. In addition, we needed someone trained to handle and manage a professional website. Many of these tasks were being completed by existing staff in a fragmented way.

Carol’s early involvement with the city was her work with a class of art students at Kansas State University several years ago to create the city’s logo. Carol was director of the Kansas Center for Rural Initiatives at the time, part of her almost 20 years of involvement helping small communities throughout the state. Thanks to Carol, that logo and tag line now appear on every document the City produces. You see the wonderful patriotic emblem of the flag and the arch on everything we do. A few years ago, she worked with an advertising class at K-State to create the Sundown Salute logo, now trademarked.

She created, in conjunction with the Economic Development Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Tourism Bureau, a professional presentation folder that used our tag line of Come Home to Junction City/Geary County.

In addition, she has put out to bid our printing services to lower costs by bundling jobs. Carol became responsible for negotiating advertising rates in the newspapers and on cable television. She handles production of videos and photography for City events and facilities. Carol has produced informational brochures for the various City departments. She has submitted departments for awards, both state and national. Carol is responsible for producing the City’s annual report. She works with acquiring promotional items for the City used at various events. Carol created the Junction City/Geary County Day at the legislature in Topeka. She coordinated the meetings with all of the departments within the State of Kansas. Carol worked on coordination of lobbying trips to Washington DC. She prepares the annual legislative agenda for the City Commission and sets up the meetings for the discussions with the local legislators. Carol participates in meetings with other entities in the community that have public relations programs. Carol is instrumental in creating the first Citizen’s Institute. The Institute will be another means of getting information to the citizens about our organization. Carol created the “Mike & Mick” show for our website. She was the one that encouraged me to start writing a blog.

Her professional work has resulted in the City being chosen by the National League of Cities to showcase two of our programs. In 2006, we showcased our wonderful “Discovery Days” recreational program. In 2007, we showcased our “Blight Buster” program in the Police Department. In addition, her efforts resulted in the City’s Mutual Self Help Housing program receiving a state award from the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation.

Yes, Carol lives in Manhattan. She serves on the Junction City Arts Council Board of Directors. She is a member of the Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee and assists with the annual Founder’s Day celebration. Her living in Manhattan does not violate any policy of the City. Our City policy requires employees to live within 30 miles of the City. Carol just became a City employee on December 17, 2007. The City hires the most qualified person for the job. Carol has many years of experience through her association with Kansas State University working with Kansas communities. Her knowledge and contacts through out the State and region are invaluable. There are few programs that the City has implemented that have had the impact the public relations program has had. We are regarded throughout the State of Kansas as a community on the move. Much of that publicity is due to the efforts of Carol Gould and HK&Associates.

The public relations program is reviewed by the City Commissioners annually in the budget process. The program was scaled back in the 2008 budget. It will continue to be reviewed as future budgets are prepared.

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