Committees – Page 10 – Easterday Construction Co., Inc.

Linda’s Ride

June 2, 2014May 13, 2014 by Kevin Berger

I had the good fortune to meet Linda Yoder through mutual friends a few years ago. It’s always fun to meet a new dynamic friend, but keeping up with her can make me tired!

I’ve only known Linda since she relocated to Marshall County from Nappanee, initially coming here as part of a green energy, electric vehicle start up. From there she took over the Executive Director positions for the Marshall County Community Foundation and the Marshall County United Way. On Friday, April 25th, I got the opportunity to learn a little about her life in Nappanee.

Culver: Nice Scientists Not Welcome

October 27, 2013October 25, 2013 by Kevin Berger

At the October Plan Commission meeting, the discussion on WECS’s continued. (Previously discussed here.) The Commission could not come to enough of a consensus to formulate a new Ordinance but they did take a series of votes that defined several of the issues. It would appear that proponents of banning WECS’s are achieving most of their goals. If they proceed along their current path, Culver residents would not be allowed to have a WECS that produces more than .5 kilowatts in the lake district, park district, and R1 residential district as well as within 1/4 mile of any of those districts.

I would still contend that the proponents of the ban are too focused on their distaste for the aesthetics of current wind turbine technology and fail to consider the advantages that could come from advances in the field.

Affordable Housing

December 10, 2014August 7, 2013 by Kevin Berger

On Saturday, I sat in on another focus group meeting on the Culver Comprehensive Plan. This one was specific to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council and Fund. It was a fairly good discussion and several achievable goals were added to the consultant’s list for the plan. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more discussion about why goals from the previous plan weren’t met and how to achieve that, but overall I thought it was positive.

As with every single Culver meeting on the Comprehensive Plan that I’ve attended, the subject of affordable housing came up. This is such a nebulous term that is thrown around with people at the table talking about houses currently available in town for $70,000, others talking about the $125,000 to $250,000 range and also the eco-friendly housing project that has been floated around which is looking at the $250,000 range. To help me get a handle on it, I asked a banker friend to break it down. (This is all in big fat round numbers, so don’t get too picky on my math, please!)

Comp Plan Mapping Tool

August 5, 2013 by

If you haven’t done so yet, check out the mapping tool at the Culver Comprehensive Plan site here. The one I did (see right) looks like it’s pretty diseased! Others have done them and only put one or two things on there that were of most importance to them.

Each dot and symbol on the map to the right has a different meaning and text associated with it. If you go to the site, you can look at any of the maps that have been created by others and read the comments they have made. Make your own map. If all you do is reiterate what someone else has said, you will add weight to that issue. If you have specific goals or comments, this is the place to get them heard. Developing a new Comprehensive Plan is a team sport. Get on the team!

Ronald Liechty’s Birthday

July 16, 2013July 15, 2013 by

I was fortunate to be invited to attend Ron Liechty’s 80th Birthday Party at the Conservation Club on Saturday. It was a surprise party put on by his family and it was nice to see the community come out to celebrate with him.

I’ve known Ron for over a decade and I am pleased to call him a friend. My initial introduction was through Easterday Construction’s work on Garden Court projects. Up until this year Ron has been the President of Garden Court. This is a case of a client becoming a friend… A goal I have with all of our clients.

If I hadn’t met Ron through work, I’m sure I would have known him through other associations. It seems like he has been an ubiquitous fixture in Plymouth and Marshall County over the last several decades, serving on various boards and in many cases taking on the leadership and spearheading projects. He is an example of someone giving back to the community. This is an example I try to follow and try to encourage others to pursue.