I came across an article that identified the “ Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America (2024). Ft. Wayne is listed as the best in Indiana. 

The authors of the assessment used 36 relevant metrics to assess categories across six key categories: 1) Financial Stability, 2) Education, 3) Health, 4) Safety, 5) Economy, and 6) Infrastructure & Pollution.

The “So what?”  The design of our system of government was to enable “We the People” (Top Management) to work towards “a more perfect Union.”   Regarding the term perfection, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi remarked: “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” 

As representatives of “Top Management”, how would we define a more perfect (excellent) county?  What feedback would be used to assess if needed changes are resulting in improvement?  

 A few years ago, the state, via the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), identified and supported the use of Community Performance Indicators (CPI) to support local assessments.  The term “Performance” was later replaced with “Vitality” before the initiative was abandoned.

• • I completed an initial CPI assessment in 2016, which included the decline in school enrollment from 2006 to 2016.

    • A little history – A Letter I wrote in 2016 regarding the first referendum in response to a letter written by David Shaffer – then School superintendent.  The reference to declining enrollments and affordable housing led me to volunteer at the Redevelopment Commissioner (RDC).  

This  CPI assessment was used to support our successful application for a Hometown Coillaboreatiuve Initiative (HCI grant.  This led to the creation of the Brown County Leader Network (BCLN), which includes methods and tools that support continuous improvement.

• • Overview of the BCLN Concept

Regarding the county’s economic base, the following post identifies some strategies for development:

• • RDC Meeting Notes, June 18, 2024, Vision for the Future of the County – Who Decides and How?