← Back to 2025

Servant to God and people

by Michael Baniewicz
Darin Spence, utility manager for the city of Maysville (right), used a large key to turn off the valve on a water main at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Carmel Street. At left is Jeff Gopp, the assistant utility manager.

The name Darin Spence may not sound familiar to many Maysville residents, but they most likely utilize the services Darin manages for them on a daily basis. As the utility director for the city of Maysville, Darin helps lead the operation and maintenance of its water and wastewater system as well as operating water systems for Washington, Lewisburg, Mays Lick, Wedonia, Stonelick and Pinewood.

In addition to being a servant at home and in the community, Darin serves as an elder at Clarksburg Christian Church in Vanceburg.

Although he originally pursued a teaching career, Darin later realized it wasn’t the best fit for him. He was referred to an open position with the city through a conversation with former Comptroller Romie Griffey.

Darin’s career with the utility department began in December 1995 when he started working part time through a work-study program at Maysville Community and Technical College. Outside of teaching, Darin said his second career choice would have been a forest ranger because of his interest in environmental science. That interest was the reason he pursued the open job at the utility department.

“I ended up getting in the program and loved it,” Darin said. “We did a class called ‘air water and soil’ — loved that class because you got to go outside and get samples. I’m just an outside person. I don’t like to be sitting in the same place all the time.”

After graduation, Darin worked his way up to various leadership positions within the utility department, including water plant operator and wastewater treatment plant operator. The lighthearted conversation and work ethic shared with his coworkers at the department is partly why he enjoys working there.

“It just seems like everybody works together,” he said.

While he did not pursue a formal teaching position in a school, Darin did end up as a teacher and leader in many other aspects of his life.

Darin and Megan are parents to a 19-year-old son with autism. While Waylen was growing up and playing sports there was no opportunity for children with special needs to play sports in a league, Darin said. So Megan started the nonprofit Imagine Foundation in Maysville to “provide opportunities for individuals with special abilities,” according to the organization’s Facebook page. That includes offering seasonal sports, holiday parties and family fun events, all of which are free.

Darin says the foundation has become a large part of the community.

“It gave special needs, not just children, but adults, something to look forward to,” Darin said. “And to see the looks on their faces when we’re having an event it’s just, it’s godly. I mean that’s the only way you can describe it.”

After visiting the Maysville Wastewater Treatment Plant, Darin answered a phone call. He went to the facility after learning that three of the six vertical loop reactors were not working properly. They are mechanisms that treat wastewater using controlled biological processes.
From left, Ronnie Haas, Alix Flinders, Darin and Bradley Cooper, assistant distribution superintendent, monitor a service line at Old Main Street. They were fixing a leak.
Darin (from left), Alix, Charles Chandler and Haas laughed while sharing Chuck Norris jokes in an office at the Maysville Municipal Building. “It just seems like everybody works together,” Darin said. “I try to communicate and be able to joke and cut up, and I think everybody pretty much does that — we do that with each other. It kind of relieves a lot of tension.”
Darin wears a bracelet that reads “Autism Awareness” and has multi-colored puzzle pieces as he checks his emails. Darin said he hasn’t taken the bracelet off for six months.
Darin and Jeff are reflected in water from a service line leak on Old Main Street. “I look up to Darin,” Jeff said. “He’s been a fatherly figure to me now. The amount of knowledge and life experiences that I have learned from him have been great.”
After work, Darin played Connect Four with Waylen while Megan and Addlyn, 11, worked on homework at their home in Tollesboro. “If I could think of one word for me — what I’d like to have on my gravestone — it is ‘servant’ because I’m a servant to God and a servant to people,” Darin said. “First thing, God, second thing, family, third thing, job.”
Darin gave Waylen a kiss at their home. Darin said he dreams of one day turning his farm into a place for special-needs people.
Tyler Applegate talks with Darin while on a hayride during an event sponsored by the Imagine Foundation at R-Farm Pumpkins and More near Maysville. The event also offered attendees the chance to pet animals and enjoy a corn maze.
A waxing crescent moon hung in the night sky as Addlyn (left) Brooklyn Applegate, 11 (center left), Darin (center right) and Megan prepared to leave R-Farm Pumpkins and More after an Imagine Foundation event.