Fayette County's

government is looking for a few bright ideas from its employees.

And it's getting

them, thanks to a new incentive programs that grants time off and possible

monetary rewards to workers who come up with them.

County Commissioner

Linda Wells came up with the bright idea of rewards for bright ideas.

"I noticed

there were several people who had come up with ideas that saved the county

a lot of money," she said. " I went to Chris [Cofty, county

administrator,] and said, 'We need an incentive for the employees.'"

Cofty and a

staff committee put together the program, which was recently approved

And now the

commission has presented certificates and an award a "bright ideas"

light bulb filled with candy along with time off to the first two recipients.

Diane Blanks,

who works in the office of the tax commissioner, noticed that it was difficult

to find a department's mail slot in the mail room, and suggested that

the slots be alphabetized.

"See if

you can find the tax commissioner's slot," she challenged a reporter

who happened by the mail room. He couldn't.

Blanks received

a half day off for her bright idea.

Sondra Edwards

from the County Extension Service was faced with a different problem.

Part of the

county's customer service policy is to require that employees leave the

closest parking spots for the public. That means that employees coming

and going with large amounts of packages, office supplies and other materials

have to lug their loads long distances, often in the rain, sometimes having

to make several trips.

Not very efficient,

Edwards observed. She suggested setting aside a parking spot for 15-minute

employee loading and unloading, an idea that netted her a full day off,

along with the certificate and award.

"It was

also a safety issue," Wells pointed out when the commission presented

Edwards' award.

A staff committee reviews the ideas submitted and decides

who will get the awards based on criteria such as the value to the organization,

savings in efficiency as well as actual savings of money.

Ideas that save the county money will earn cash awards.