The Upper Cumberland Development District’s Solid Waste Planner Lisa Luck is officially retiring.
Luck said she worked on and off with the UCDD for over ten years. Luck had recently been let go and brought back by the development district. Luck said she had no plans to retire for a couple of years but during the brief time that she was not working for the development district, she strongly considered retiring.
“At some point in your life time because more important than money,” Luck said. “And so that is what is happening with me. I have a lot of family responsibilities. I’ve got grandchildren I want to spend time with and quite frankly I just want to get up in the morning and be able to walk outside and be in the yard.”
Luck has helped 14 counties across the Upper Cumberland obtain millions of dollars in solid waste grants to improve landfills and maintain funding for solid waste departments. Luck said being able to help the counties in the Upper Cumberland has been a wonderful opportunity. Luck said her last day is Monday, March 31.
“I feel really good that I’ve been able to help our counties improve their services to the community through grants and through technical assistance,” Luck said. “It’s just been a real joy for me.”
Luck said what she will miss the most about her career is the many friends she has made across the Upper Cumberland.
“That’s a pretty good career,” Luck said. “I’ve enjoyed working with the 14 counties, working with the solid waste directors, and the mayors. It’s just been a real joy to me. I’ve got so many friends, that’s the hardest part for me is leaving all the friends and not being able to talk to them on a weekly, or monthly, or sometimes a daily basis.”
Luck said she has not been able to think about retirement as she has been working tirelessly to prepare newly hired Solid Waste Planner Lilly Hall for the position.
“I just want to make sure that she knows exactly what the responsibilities of the job entail so that she can keep up with it and she is doing great,” Luck said. “So I am so happy that she is going to be up to speed by the time I leave.”
Luck said she would still be working with Putnam County part-time educating people about waste management.
