Following a Jan. 2 executive session, Lincoln County commissioners voted, 3-0, to hire Emily Rabbe as the new Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission executive director. Rabbe previously served as the county planner. She was hired in October 2020. She received a bachelor of science degree in regional planning and development with a minor in geographic information system from Westfield (Massachusetts) State University.

Rabbe also brought several years of experience as an environmental and land use planner specializing in project planning and development in the East End of Long Island, New York.

She succeeds Mary Ellen Barnes, who retired Dec. 31. Barnes will return to the commission as a broadband and economic development consultant later this year, according to County Administrator Carrie Kipfer. 

Rabbe appreciated her recent opportunity working for the LCRPC and is excited about her new position. “It's been fulfilling professionally, and personally, to be the county planner for the past three years. I am looking forward to growing into my new role as executive director,” she wrote in an email reply. “We have a great staff along with wonderful support from the LCRPC Board, County Commissioners, and county government, so it should be an exciting 2024.”

Rabbe and Kipfer are developing a plan addressing the county planner’s vacant position. The commissioners’ next meeting has been moved from Tuesday, Jan. 16 to Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. in the courthouse.