BELLEVUE — One of the first things Diane Collins will do as the first full-time downtown coordinator is a bit of self-schooling to learn all she can about this river city.

        “I really don't know a lot about Bellevue, but I'm learning,” said Ms. Collins, who grew up in Erlanger and graduated from Lloyd High School and Morehead State University. “I've been going to the library and other sources to get books and information about the city.”

        City Administrator Don Martin said Wednesday that Ms. Collins' initial lack of knowledge of Bellevue's history is just what the city wanted.

        “We were looking for someone from outside the city, someone who would come in with no preconceived ideas and be able to take a fresh look at everything,” he said. “Diane is just what we had in mind.”

        Ms. Collins, who lives in Florence, will oversee Bellevue's historic preservation and Renaissance Kentucky programs, much of which will be directed to Fairfield Avenue and the central business district.

        “As soon as possible, I plan to spend time in the business district with (Mr. Martin), meeting the business and property owners,” she said. “I want to find out what we can do for them and what they want to see from us.”

        Mr. Martin had temporarily taken on the additional chore of the Renaissance Program and its grant applications, a job previously handled by former Mayor Tom Wiethorn. The downtown coordinator works almost entirely with grant money rather than drawing from a city budget.

        “I can't devote the time needed to do the job properly,” he said. “I knew we needed a full-time downtown coordinator, and City Council agreed.”

        Mr. Martin said having the mayor as the historic preservation officer created some internal problems. “That office is under my jurisdiction, but if I didn't like something the historic preservation officer was doing, what could I do?” he said. “It was the mayor.”

        Bellevue interviewed nine candidates for the job before eventually selecting Ms. Collins. But the final decision came only after the Kentucky Heritage Council gave its approval, which included a $7,000 grant to help pay her salary. Another $7,500 grant came from the Kentucky Renaissance Alliance, with Bellevue matching both grants.

        “When I first talked to the Heritage Council people, I was told I didn't have the necessary education background because my degree is in design and not of a historic nature,” Ms. Collins recalled. “But when I spoke to them the second time I mentioned that I had been working in zoning administration for two years, and that made the difference.”

        Since 1999, she has worked for the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission as the zoning administrator for Kenton County. Prior to that, she worked on the design staff at B.O.L.D. Homes Inc. in Boone County, in areas of zoning and building permits as well as design.

        “I really enjoyed my time with the planning commission,” she said. “But I look at this position as the next step in what I was doing with the commission,” Ms. Collins said. “I can learn and grow with Bellevue.”

        Bellevue entered the Renaissance Kentucky initiative in 2000 as a bronze-level city, and advanced to silver level in 2001.

        Mayor Jack Meyer said the city could have stayed at the bronze level for several years and not have been able to take advantage of the greater financial benefits of being a silver-level city. One of the requirements for a silver-level designation is having a full-time downtown manager.

        Bellevue is making the most of its riverfront (much like neighboring Newport and Covington), developing three new restaurants on the Newport border and preparing to open up a vacant stretch of land to the east of the restaurants for office buildings and upscale condominiums with river views.

Houses could replace English Woods
IRS is after Fiorini's properties
Their love grew into a multinational force
Legacy leaves tiny Rabbit Hash stunned
Area organ donations dropped in 2001
City OKs occupancy-tax hike
County OKs sewer settlement
Ohio law agencies adopt intelligence-sharing system
Pepper brokers compromise deal between ReStoc, city
Practical side to Valentine's Day
Silverton corner to get new look
Tristate A.M. Report
Ujima fest loses city donation
Wyoming schools seek help from levy
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Valentine's Day
RADEL: Attention: UC
Answers on Wharf project not enough for neighbors
Audit: District cutting costs
Building plan goes to voters
Chamber seeks sponsors for Mason tennis tournament
Class focus is military history
District cutting costs
House for $85? You bet
Roach foes have signatures
Councilwoman to run with Taft
Former housing official convicted of theft in thousands
Parent decries plan for group-home inspections
Abortions decline since 'consent law'
Attorney general dumps racing commission
Bellevue downtown coordinator aboard
Coalition regroups on school problems
Kentucky News Briefs
Tougher driver's-licensing laws urged