government

A Paradox

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Kevin D. Williamson

“Our governments and our business and political elites are not mainly made up of stupid people. One of the shocking things about getting to know people in government, whether in elected office or in the bureaucracies, is that they are mostly bright, well-intentioned, and honest. Together they represent a sterling example of one of the most important and least understood of modern social paradoxes: None of us is as dumb as all of us.”

Kevin D. Williamson from his article Davos’s Destructive Elites

Marshall County Job Growth

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Job Numbers - Pilot News 12-20-14Culver government has taken a long break over the November/December holidays.  I know the holidays are tough for scheduling meetings, we are having some changing of the guard on various boards and commissions, and we haven’t found a new Town Manager yet.  <sigh!>  Acknowledging all that, business is moving forward.  The article to the right cites “2,153 new jobs expected state wide over the next few years.”  That number doesn’t seem as big when you consider that Marshall County businesses are projecting the addition of 500 jobs THIS YEAR!  Aggressive Manufacturing Innovations (AMI) is mentioned here adding 250 jobs in 2015.  In Culver, Elkay is projected the need for 100 new employees during their tax abatement hearing last year.

Culver’s To-Do list includes the following:

  1. Complete an Action Plan.  This was discussed at the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Meeting last fall.  This would be the first step in defining steps to implement the Comprehensive Plan, which leads to To-Do list #2;
  2. Complete a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).  This would put dollar amounts on the Action items so that things can be further prioritized and necessary funds can be budgeted.
  3. Address the Housing issue.  The Town Council made promises to Elkay that they would form a Task Force and address the issues, but so far, the Task Force has yet to meet.  I did attend the Affordable Housing Summit in Chicago which was a useful first step, but we’ve yet to have a meeting where I can relate what I learned.  (Which is fading fast in my limited memory!)

Next week the Culver Town Council will convene with the new board members, elect leadership and begin making their appointments to the subsidiary boards and commissions.  Taking the next steps to kick off the Affordable Housing Task Force and hold an Action Plan meeting can’t happen too quickly after that.  Time is of the Essence…

Image Source:  Scan from Pilot News 12-20-14

Culver Action Plan

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In October I pressed the Town Council to move forward with an Action Plan to start implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.  Unfortunately the first meeting scheduled was a bust and at the next Council meeting discussion of another meeting got tabled until after the first of the year.  I understood why the Action Plan meeting was put off until after the first of the year, but I think there are discussions that can be had now.  The Town Board, Plan Commission and Redevelopment Commissions are the ultimate arbitrators of how this moves forward.  I put the following thoughts down in an email to chairs of those entities in hopes of getting this moving forward.

  • I pushed this last month because I thought we should develop an interim plan, with the goal of reviewing an action plan in late May or June before budgets are prepared.  I think the Action Plan needs to relate to the budgets, but there are also things that could happen in the next six months that would require time rather than dollars.  The Action Plan should be reviewed and updated annually before budgets.
  • The Action Plan should be part of the jumping off point for the Capital Improvement Plan.  Having a rudimentary Action Plan in place will give Bob and the new Town Manager a jumping off point at the first of the year.
  • The Redevelopment Commission isn’t hamstrung by the annual budget timing, so they could possibly move forward on some spending items that fall in their purview and are suggested by the Action Plan.

Low/No Dollar Action Plan for the next six months: 

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Affordable Housing Task Force

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The Dream of “Affordable Housing”

At a meeting Thursday evening I was asked why MCEDC (Marshall County Economic Development Corporation) is included in the Affordable Housing Task Force for Culver and I didn’t give you the best answer.  Let me see if I can do better here.

One of the things that came from the MCEDC BEAR meetings was the need for more good employees. In the last six months the unemployment rate in Marshall County has dropped another percentage point to 4.5%.  (Doug Anspach, former PEDC Director, used to say that at 4% unemployment everyone that is able and willing to work is working.)  Since no one is stepping up to address this employment issue, we have added “Workforce Development” as one of our four main action items in the MCEDC strategic plan.  Housing is just one of the issues that needs to be addressed under workforce development. 

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Indiana Regional Cities Forum

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Through my position on the MCEDC (Marshall County Economic Development Corporation) board, I have met Regina Emberton, President and CEO of the Michiana Partnership.  Michiana Partnership is a regional organization that includes Marshall County and they are involved with marketing our area.

She shared the forum information below regarding IEDC‘s (Indiana Economic Development Corporation) promotion of their Regional Cities Initiative.  It’s not something I can attend, but I thought it was worth sharing here.

I truly believe the old adage that “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats”.  We need to work together as a region to grow our economy and our fate is at least peripherally tied to the success of South Bend/Mishawaka.

INDIANA REGIONAL CITIES FORUM

November 21, 2014
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Gillespie Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn
53995 Indiana 933
South Bend, IN 46637

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is holding regional forums across the state to discuss the governor’s Regional Cities Initiative and key findings from the study that benchmarks peer cities around the nation.
We are relying on you as leaders in your communities to invite others who should also attend. You can do so by simply forwarding this invitation. The types of individuals in your community who may wish to attend could include school superintendents, college/university leaders, Rotary and other volunteer groups, chambers of commerce and other business groups, elected officials, community foundations, religious leaders, arts organizations, economic development professionals, and other civic or business leaders. All are welcome to this meeting. 
Please visit www.indianaregionalcities.com to learn more about the Regional Cities Initiative.