Mayor's Blog
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.”
Maya Angelou – American Poet Laureate
Sometime there are families present. Sometime there is food. There are always many cameras and a wide array of smiles. And there is always a massive pair of golden scissors, a long strand of material and representatives from many local businesses. A Jasper Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting is more than a function – it’s a celebration akin to the christening of a newborn baby!
I’ve often said that these simple events are major moments for me as mayor. They represent an idea, an investment, a sacrifice and a belief in the future of Jasper. What the legendary poet laureate Maya Angelou emphasizes in her quote above is confidence. Confidence which enables one to be comfortable in who you are and sets the pathway towards success in life.
Throughout more than 175 years of history, Jasper has become home to a very dynamic business community which has contributed greatly to us becoming highly regarded as a tremendous place to live – with good schools, safe neighborhoods and strong family values.
As workers for the City a day doesn’t go by without a prayer of thanks for your effort and the results it brings to citizens and visitors. Your work is appreciated.
As a community, Jasper has the desire to continually improve, the capacity to care and the willingness to get things done. I thoroughly enjoy living here, and I hope you do, too.
Mayor Terry Seitz
“The major work of the world is not done by geniuses.
It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives,
who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.”
Gordon B. Hinckley – American church leader
Previous columns have provided insight into how Jasper is capturing top-of-mind awareness among people across Indiana and beyond. Most recently we were named in the Top 20 Best Places for Home Ownership in Indiana by a blog named nerdwallet: http://bit.ly/1ib0ijV.
Some of the credit for this increase in the good news about Jasper goes to our community partners in education, tourism, chambers of commerce and foundations. Another contributing factor is our influential corporate citizens. I'm pumped every time I imagine “Made in Jasper, Indiana” marked on products distributed throughout the world. Finally, our public discussions and actions on various projects over the last few years have generated a significant amount of interest from residents, visitors, prospective investors and media.
We are evaluating a significant number of economic development, redevelopment and transportation projects which are on our radar at this time. Our assessments include public benefits, construction or investment costs, ongoing labor and maintenance costs and funding sources as well as prioritizing the projects. Research is being conducted by elected officials, city staff and contracted associates.
A successful outcome will deliver what the public has called for – downtown enhancements, repurposed buildings and increased areas for social activities which will all contribute to drawing workforce to our vibrant economy.
Mayor Terry Seitz
“Leaders need to understand how profoundly they affect people, how their optimism and pessimism are equally infectious, how directly they set the tone and spirit of everyone around them.” --Capt. (Ret.) D. Michael Abramoff, USN, author of “It's Your Ship”
In the quotation above, Capt. Abramoff accurately captures the importance of attitude and how infectious it is. Whether family members, the person at the convenience store counter or co-workers, demeanor makes a difference.
The City of Jasper has taken steps in the last few years which have emphasized building off our current strengths to deliver a greater future. The foundation for development of new ideas, projects and plans starts with the question of, “How might we accomplish this?”. In this manner we assess situations with a proactive perspective – taking an opportunistic approach – then balancing it with our obligations as a municipality.
The result is a community on the move. It seems Jasper is on everyone's radar and for the right reasons. We have growing companies, the state's highest level of employment, low crime, a strong financial position and significant interest in our downtown and riverfront, in part because of our philosophy of optimism. Just recently, a travel blog - Movoto.com - named Jasper as one of the Top 10 Best Place to Live in Indiana. We are the highest ranked community outside of the Indianapolis metropolitan area!
With all of this working in our favor, I believe our citizens are our greatest assets. It is your contributions to our workforce, your charitable support and a desire for keeping a watchful eye over your neighborhoods which makes Jasper hum. And the reason you do it can be found in the title of the Capt. Abramoff's book: “It's Your Ship.”
Mayor Terry Seitz
“In great cities, spaces as well as places are designed and built. The word citizen has to do with cities, and the ideal city is organized around citizenship – around participation in public life.”
Rebeca Solnit, Author
During this semester, several department leaders and I had the privilege of teaching a series call “Our City” for the local Junior Achievement program. During these classes, our eyes were opened to the questions only third grade students could ask, such as, “Are you the President?” And, “Does a fire truck cost more than a thousand dollars?” Or, “Can you do something about my little sister?” We hope our participation helped to set the stage for our next generation to become involved in our community.
In one of my classes I referred to the words used in the quote which opens this month's column – that city is connected to citizen. I firmly believe strong communities are empowered by even stronger citizens – those who have a sense of pride, those who have the ability, as well as the desire, to work. Those who take time to improve the city they call home.
Citizenship entails certain rights, privileges and duties. As Mayor of Jasper, I believe it is the duty of a citizen to understand the importance of their role in government. This includes knowing local government officials and offices. For our part, the public has been significantly engaged with the City of Jasper in four major efforts since 2012: Our Downtown & Riverfront Master Plan; planning for The Parklands; the review of our Zoning & Sub-division Control Ordinances and our Aquatics Study. Thank you for your contributions.
I find all too often that there is a knowledge gap about local government and its purpose so I welcome the opportunity to speak to as many groups as I can about the importance of municipal government. If you wish for me to come to a meeting, just call Jasper City Hall or email me at mayorseitz@ci.jasper.in.us.
Enjoy Jasper!
Mayor Terry Seitz
As mayor of Jasper, I find that we have many more opportunities than we have challenges and that both of them call for action. It has been my directive for city officials, boards and departments to engage the public in our opportunities and our issues as much as possible. We have done so with the help of City employees, department leaders, citizen boards and elected officials.
In fulfilling our role as a public conduit for taxpayers and ratepayers in 2013, we had three major public input sessions on planning - averaging 120 people at each. Our new website enables better connectivity and communication and the investment in new audio and video equipment in the Council Chambers benefits the public and those keeping public records.
Our next steps are to continue action on five areas of strategic focus for the City government:
- A Sense of Place
- Infrastructure
- Effective Governance
- Telling & Selling
- Working with Others
For a complete report on our endeavors in these areas, please read the entire 2014 State of the City Address.
Over the last few years I have become absolutely certain that I was created a happy man; an optimistic man; and that good things occur when optimism abounds. This is true with people and with communities.
February 2014
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
Diana Spencer (1961-1997), Princess of Wales
Over the course of the last few months I am proud to say several letters from citizens have crossed my desk containing words of praise for work performed by City employees. As mayor, nothing pleases me more, although a most unusual thank you card we received a few weeks ago ranks just as high.
Currently, a company by the name of Infrastructure Systems out of Orleans is installing more than a mile of new water line along Third Avenue. It's difficult and dangerous work and their crews have done an admirable job in the bone-chilling weather. Recently, as a funeral procession passed the worksite Infrastructure Systems employees stopped working, took off their hardhats and paid solemn respects. A family member of the deceased sent us a card about the impact of this behavior.
In publicly acknowledging the company and staff at our January Utility Service Board and Department Head meetings, the recommendation was made that our employees adopt a similar action when they can safely do so.
During February, the City of Jasper, in cooperation with the Jasper HomeTown Competitiveness Team, will proclaim and celebrate Random Acts of Kindness – a time we hope you will go above and beyond to make others feel special.
Please look for ways you can do perform Random Acts of Kindness at home, in the workplace and within our community.
Mayor Terry Seitz
Recently, I had the privilege of providing a progress report on economic development from the perspective as Mayor of Jasper. Our success is measured by the following five strategies of economic development.
The terms "quality of place" and "placemaking" are being abundantly sprinkled throughout the world of governments.
It's time for my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving - and everything I like about it: Food, fellowship and no presents! In this Mayor's blog I am listing 10 things for which I am thankful.
