Meet the City of Fort Wright 
Management Team

Jill Cain Bailey, C.A.O., City of Fort Wright

Ms. Bailey was appointed as the City Administrative Officer with the City of Fort Wright in May of 2018.

As City Administrator, Ms. Bailey serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City and is primarily responsible for carrying out the policies established by the Mayor and members of the Fort Wright City Council, overseeing day-to-day activities of the City, and supervising City Department Heads. Ms. Bailey also serves as the Personnel Director, Alcohol & Beverage Control Officer and Public Relations Officer of the City. Additional responsibilities include: economic development, financial management, policy formulation, and special project/construction oversight. She is appointed by Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter and works under his general guidance and direction.

Ms. Bailey is also a member of the International City Management Association (ICMA), Past President of the Kentucky City/County Management Association (KCCMA), Past President of the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA), former Chair of the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Authority; Past Board Member of the Covington–Kenton County Jaycees; Past President of the Erpenbeck Elementary PTA; former Junior Achievement Volunteer; and 2019 graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky.

Previously, Ms. Bailey served as the City Administrative Officer with the City of Taylor Mill for approximately 23 years overseeing the multifaceted suburban community with revenues and expenses exceeding 4 million dollars annually. She also was employed as a staff assistant to former U.S. Senator Wendall Ford and as a Customer Service Supervisor for Huntington National Bank of Northern Kentucky. She is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in Speech Communications.

Ms. Bailey is a recipient of the 2002 City Administrator of the Year Award (Early Careerist Category) by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration; the 2011 Outstanding Women of the Year Award presented by Toyota, NKU, Thomas More College, and Gateway Community College; and a 2008 and 2015 recipient of the City Administrator of the Year Award presented by the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association.

She resides in Boone County with her two children.

Ed Butler, Chief of Police, City of Fort Wright

Ed Butler was appointed Police Chief on March 09, 2020. 

Prior to his appointment as the Fort Wright Chief of Police he served in numerous public sector leadership positions.  In 1991 he started his career as a Police Officer with the Kenton County Police Department where he rose through the ranks before ultimately retiring as the Kenton County Chief of Police on December 31, 2011.   Since his retirement Ed has served as the Chief of Police for the Hamilton County, Ohio Park District, as the Executive Director of the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center, the City Administrative Officer for the City of Fort Wright, and most recently as Chief Deputy of the Kenton County Detention Center.  Chief Butler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Northern  Kentucky University and a Masters of Business Administration from Xavier University.  He is also a graduate of the 195^th session of the FBI National Academy.

Steve Schewe, Fire Chief, City of Fort Wright

Stephen Schewe was appointed Fire/EMS Chief September 12, 2001.

Chief Schewe became a Firefighter for the City of Fort Wright in 1984 and a Kentucky certified EMT in 1985, Over his career he has served as a Firefighter/EMT, Fire Inspector and Fire Lieutenant prior to becoming Chief. He also served as a member of City council from 1992 thru 1998. He holds an A.A.S. in Fire Science, is a National Registry EMT since 1998, Deputy Kentucky State Fire Marshall, Kentucky State Certified Fire Inspector, Kentucky Level 1 Fire Service Instructor, International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Firefighter I and II. He also holds a diploma from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in Basic Firefighter, Advanced Firefighter and Fire Chief. Chief Schewe is also a certified Hazardous Materials Technician.

Chief Schewe has been a lifelong resident of The City of Fort Wright.

Jeff Bethell, Public Works Director, City of Fort Wright

Jeff Bethell was hired as the City of Fort Wright’s Public Works Director on December 6, 2017.

Jeff has been with the department since September 18, 2005 starting as a Maintenance Worker until May 3, 2017 when he was appointed Senior Maintenance Worker. He previously worked for nine years as a crew leader for a local landscaping company. In addition, Jeff also has 22 years’ experience in snow removal.

Jeff was raised in Fort Mitchell, and is the fourth generation of his family raised there. His parents still reside there today. Jeff attended Beechwood School and graduated in 1996. He currently lives in Union, KY with his wife and three children.