2024 County Elections – Non Partisan Platform – WIP

Uncategorized

Updated July 25, 2023 

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men,
undergo the fatigue of supporting it. –– Thomas Paine

Vision:  Support actions that result in a more perfect County.   

    • Actions include (1) sustaining/maintaining what is working, (2) incremental improvement or (3) major (radical) improvement.  The more the degree of change, the higher the risk of failure. The $50.5+ million dollar phase 1 sewer project an example.
    • How do citizens describe “more perfect” or better? What feedback is needed to assess results?  What is the plan of action and milestones for the improvement? 

Purpose:  Identify criteria for selecting,  electing, and supporting candidates in the 2024 County Elections. 

  1. Brown County Comprehensive Plan (PDF) – 2011.  Update and revise to reflect local area and county needs and desires.  This plan is required by statute, and “should always” represent the voice of the citizenry as to what they want and do not want in terms of infrastructure, development, zoning, and cultural change.   The current plan is vague and outdated. Good arguments can be made for or against a proposed project.   
    1. Example – Helmsburg Revitalization. Citizens developed their own economic development plan and a Community Development Corp (CDC) (501c.3).
    2. The Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD).  Re-examine the BCRSD purpose and role.  The BCRSD board consists of officials appointed by commissioners and council and report to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The BCRSD developed a county-wide wastewater strategic plan without ANY public meetings to obtain citizen input. They then refused to hold public meetings to present “their” final plan. This plan was used to justify an expansion of sewers in the county that represents the most expensive project in Brown County history.  BCRSD Sewer Expansion Project
  2. County Elected and Appointed Officials:  Report on accomplishments at least annually. This includes all offices, boards, and commissions. One-page minimum.
  3. Publish the current Five-Year Plan for Roads and Bridges:
  4. Publish a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for County Infrastructure – Buildings and Grounds.  Identifies priorities for funding which helps prevent frivolous spending.
  5. Financial Plan. Update the County’s Comprehensive Financial Plan at least semi-annually. (The value is following the trends on spending and revenue and comparing actual to planned spending.  Out-of-control spending leads to tax increases and borrowing more money.  
  6. Transparency:
    1. Publish Agendas, Minutes, and Recordings, from all government meetings on the county website. 
    2. Publish the mission and functions of all offices and departments. Include references to the state code that establishes the legal requirements for the respective office.
    3. As part of the budget process, each office should include its list of accomplishments from the previous budget year.
    4. Continue to allow citizens to speak/ask questions PRIOR to a vote or decision being made. Voters expect elected officials to represent them – not their own personal agendas or pet projects.
  7. Septic Ordinance.  UPDATE: Support a revision that supports compliance with the state code and eliminates all county-unique requirements that cannot be justified. The revised county septic ordinance was approved in 2021.  Update: The State declared all county septic ordinances that exceed state standards (including Brown County), as VOID effective July 1, 2023. 
  8. Application of better methods for assessing the extent and scope of problems, recognizing opportunities, and selecting the best solutions. Ref: Brown County Leader Network – Self-Help Support Guide.
    1. We the People (Citizens) are responsible for serving in the role of Jurists. When considering a change, expect that both sides of the argument to be represented, researched, debated, and documented.
  9. Voluntary Term Limits.   Would two 4-year  terms be sufficient to build on lessons learned from previous officeholders, make a positive difference, and add to the lessons learned that can be shared with the new officeholders?  
  10. Citizens:  When identifying a problem or opportunity that may be shared on social media, take action to lead a change.  At a minimum, prepare a one-page SWOT assessment.  And, when proposing a solution, identify the scope and extent of the problem.  Ref: see BCLN Self-Help Support Guide

Additional information:

Brown County has a one-party monopoly on political power – rarely if ever, a good thing. Additional information: Brown County Republican Party (GOP) – Organization and Governance

2020 County Elections – Platform of candidates from the Democrat Party.

“The Brown County Republican Party does not have a local party platform; it follows the state and national platforms” – Mark Bowman. Reference: “Post on GOP Facebook page prompts questions, by Sara Clifford -April 27, 2021. Brown County Democrat,

Leave a comment