Category Archives: Uncategorized

WND: The Great American Rebellion

Uncategorized

World Net Daily (WND). Editors Nore:  Last year, America’s doctors, nurses and paramedics were celebrated as frontline heroes battling a fearsome new pandemic.

Today, under Joe Biden, tens of thousands of these same heroes are denounced as rebels, conspiracy theorists, extremists and potential terrorists. Along with massive numbers of police, firemen, Border Patrol agents, Navy SEALs, pilots, air-traffic controllers, and countless other truly essential Americans, they’re all considered so dangerous as to merit termination, their professional and personal lives turned upside down due to their decision not to be injected with the experimental COVID vaccines.

Biden’s tyrannical mandate threatens to cripple American society – from law enforcement to airlines to commercial supply chains to hospitals. It’s already happening. But the good news is that huge numbers of “yesterday’s heroes” are now fighting back – bravely and boldly.

The whole epic showdown is laid out as never before in the sensational October issue of WND’s monthly Whistleblower magazine, titled “THE GREAT AMERICAN REBELLION: ‘We will not comply!’ COVID-19 power grab ignites bold new era of national defiance.”

Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@wndnewscenter.org.

Follow-Up Questions: Apr 6, 2022, Commissioner Meeting

Uncategorized
decision making

Updated: Apr 14, 2021

April 13, 2022. The Brown County Democrat article on the April 6 meeting: Moving forward: Boards to get COVID-19 relief funds for sewer project after public comments at meetings, By  Suzannah Couch

    • My Facebook comments on the article at Brown County Matters on the topic.  I’m disappointed on the quality of the article. The context for this meeting was provided at the March 23 commissioner meeting where citizens refused to be silenced by the commissioners on the topic and challenged the information used to identify a need. The Democrat did not report on the Mar 23 meeting.  ….

Commissioner Meeting Notes March 23, 2020 – ARPA Funding Requests

Preface

Subject: Continued Funding and support for the BCRSD, Development motivated sewer expansion as opposed to need-based, Longer-term water and wastewater policy.
The issue — (Continued funding for the BCRSD). This is another example of good people caught in a bad system. This leads to moral corruption where people in the system cannot distinguish between right and wrong. I believe there is citizen support for improving the wastewater management system that can result in outcomes where everyone gains, or at least, are not any worse off in the long-term. A first step is suspending any further funding of the BCRSD pending a further review of their value to the county.   Ref: Brown County Leader Network (BCLN).
To: Commissioner Pittman (cc to all commissioners and the BC Democrat)
At the March 23, 2022 meeting, you asked for additional comments or questions regarding the decision to approve $300K for the BCRSD.  I summarized the conversation from the meeting in the following link that includes the audio:
Additional Questions for the April 6, 2022, Commissioner Meeting
Will you delay/pause any decision on further funding of the BCRSD?  You could ask for a complete project plan from the Helmsburg RSD. This will include what “done” will look like and the steps needed to get to “done.”  This will include when the upgraded plant is operational, the number of customers being served and when, and the monthly rates.
The purpose for then Bean Blossom RSD and now the BCRSD was to obtain sewer service for Bean Blossom. This service will now be provided by Helmsburg.  “Mission accomplished.”

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth! — Ronald Reagan

    • Mission Accomplished. Why aren’t you (commissioners and council) phasing them out?  Why not transition them to an advisory committee on overall wastewater management strategy? 
    • Do decisions regarding the BCRSD have to first be approved by the core leadership team of the local republican party?  What role did they have on the commissioner policy to not allow citizen input at meetings?  Who proposed this idea?  Robyn Rosenberg Bowman has promoted development in Bean Blossom, routinely attends commissioner and council meetings, and is co-owner of a real estate company.  And, do any elected officials have a personal or family interest in the development of properties in Bean Blossom?
Regarding the Helmsburg project, is funding for independent and objective professional services identified in support of project management?  Link to an outline from the Project Management Institute on core tasks involved in project planning. Project Management – Planning And Improvement Cycle
Helmsburg and Lake Lemon have compelling needs for support. Lake Lemon has over 200 failed systems in flooding conditions (see floodplain map) and a customer base that supports sewers. An engineering report identified that action needs to be taken regarding the aging Helmsburg plant. Options included replacement or upgrades.
The decision now is to upgrade and extend service from Lake Lemon to the Woodland Lake corridor. Why shouldn’t the PRIORITY for funding be Lake Lemon and Helmsburg?   Given the flood plain maps, why hasn’t Lake Lemon always been the priority?
In Bean Blossom (unlike Lake Lemon) there is no evidence of wide-scale support from the customer base for sewer service. Need is based on speculation, e.g., age of homes and lack of records.  If the BCRSD and county THINK this is sufficient evidence for justifying the need, then why not submit this “evidence” to Judge Wertz, get a warrant and perform inspections on the suspected properties?   Isn’t the deliberate and improper disposal of wastewater a violation of state law?
The attitude of the BCRSD from the beginning of this project (June 2018) conveyed an overall contempt for citizens to be served reinforced by a  “my-way-or-the-highway” leadership philosophy. More recent evidence of this attitude has been the refusal of the BCRSD to respond to a request for information that they are obligated to provide under state law.
The overall attitude (and distrust for motives) may have contributed to landowners refusing to sell land for a plant. Further, the BCRSD will need 190 easements from current landowners — How likely is this to happen without legal action by the BCRSD and along with the threat of eminent domain – a threat that was used in BCRSDs failed attempt to acquire land from Parks and Recreation?
    • Where is the accountability?  The BCRSD spent $220k of 270K provided by the County Council to fund plans for a new plant for Bean Blossom. Approximately 220K was spent BEFORE any land was acquired.  The commitment made to the council to justify the 270K included the expectation that funding would be approved and that construction could start within 18 months.

Conclusion?  Has the BCRSD outlived its useful life as an RSD? The BCRSD does not need a “warrant” to require that everyone within 300 feet of a sewer line be hooked up. Will they have ANY jurisdiction regarding customers being served by Helmsburg?

    • Why not thank the members for their service and transition them to an advisory committee? 

Will the  BCRSD actions delay project funding for Helmsburg and the delivery of needed services to include a reduction of rates for current Helmsburg customers that are paying $92.50 for service?  The State recommendation is a fee in the $65.00 – $85.00 range.

The special interests (including the core of the local Republican Party?) that support expanded sewer service in the Bean Blossom area may desire development  (a want).  But will the lack of wide-scale customer support and speculation as to the need be problematic? What role will federal agencies have on approving projects?  Do federal agencies support funding for development?  No question on the “need” for Helmsburg and Lake Lemon.

Respectively,
 Tim J. Clark 
Additional Information
Watch List – BCRSD. Includes history, risk. and concerns.

    • RSDs – American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding. The proposal for funding was  submitted by the Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD) with a copy to the Helmsburg Regional Sewer District (HRSD). The BCRSD is currently requesting $300,000 from the ARP funds.
    • Copy of the BCRSD Proposal to the Commissioners: Cover-letter-and-proposal-to-brown-county-commissioners.  Areas covered range from Lake Lemon to Bean Blossom.  Bean Blossom includes but not limited to Brownies, Bill Monroe, Staley’s Mobile Home Park, greater Bean Blossom, Little Fox and Woodland Lakes, and Freeman Ridge.
    • Helmsburg (HRSD) Proposal for APR funding. HRSD identifed the need for $515,000 (has since been increased). Commissioners did approve the 25K needed to acquire more land to support a plant expansion.  Dec 6, 2021, HRSD_BCRSD Joint Proposal to Commissioners. Commissioners also approved $40,000 to hook up two customers (Mar 22, 2022 meeting.)
BCRSD – Bean Blossom Project – For the Record

Brown County Regional Sewer

Commissioner Meeting Mar 23, 2022

Uncategorized

abe martin sage of brown county hoosierindianacom

Facebook post and Audio recording, and agenda below.

Update and Assessment: Commissioner Meeting – Mar 23, 2022.

The majority of the time at the commissioner meeting was spent on discussion related to expanded sewer service in the county.

o. Development. Regarding the intent to expand sewer service, if DEVELOPMENT is the vision, then have the courage to come out of the shadows, step up, and admit it. Make your case and reinforce that there is nothing the citizens can do to stop it. And to demonstrate your abuse of power, continue on with the no public comment policy at meetings and continue to ignore the comments that are provided. Let the citizens know that unlike changes at the state level, county elected officials are not required to read the input from citizens.

o. Bean Blossom. “Development” in Bean Blossom is the Main priority for the special interests in the county. These interests are represented by individuals and groups that have a financial interest in the development supported with sewer expansion.

o. Corruption. This “commissioner meeting” provided another illustration that reinforces my assessment of good people trapped in a bad system. A monopoly on political power without radical transparency leads to moral corruption where individuals can no longer tell right from wrong.

o. Republican Party. This was the kind of meeting “Commissioners” wanted to avoid by not allowing citizens to ask questions. The policy not to allow citizens to participate in their government likely came from or was supported by the core leadership of the local republican party that is consistently represented at commissioners and council meetings – especially on critical votes.

o. Tax, Spend, Borrow. The agenda included the commissioner’s support for a tax increase (raising the cum cap fund), approximately $600,000 in new infrastructure spending, and a need for another175K for a new coroner’s office. This increase of the cum cap tax is subject to remonstrance. Of the $600K, $550 was to replace a/c units at the jail and the balance for IT-related infrastructure replacements that are rarely budgeted. These expenses will reduce the balance of the 3 million dollar loan where it was stated that money from the loan would also be used for road and bridge projects.

o. Failure – Capital Improvment Planning. The “surprise” infrastructure spending is a result of a deliberate failure to plan for needed and expected repairs, replacements, and improvements via a capital improvement plan and budget. Such a plan would compete for other desired (pet) projects. And with a monopoly on political power, the policy of tax, spend, and borrow will remain unchallenged. And the consequences of a deliberate lack of planning justify tax increases such as the cum cap tax. These types of increases add up. The income tax rate was doubled in ten years. How fast can property tax rates be raised? This may be negated through the inflation tax – where inflated land values lead to increases in property tax.

o. County Sewer Expansion.  The bigger ticket item was a “verbal” request for approval by the Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD) represented by Clint Studabaker who asked for $300,000 of ARPA funds. The overall intent was to support expanding sewer service to 700-800 homes for an estimated “30 million dollar” (with inflation, likely will be higher) major sewer project to support the Lake Lemon to Bean Blossom/Woodland Lake corridor.

o. Helmsburg – Lake Lemon – the Prioroty for the County. The documented need is for immediate support for the Lake Lemon and Helmsburg corridor. This should be the highest priority for the county. However, the highest priority for the BCRSD is Bean Blossom.

o. Get a Warrant. Unlike Helmsburg and Lake Lemon, there is no documented evidence supporting a need or support from the customers to be served by the BCRSD. The “need” is based on speculation regarding the lack of records and age of systems. If this is all you need to conclude that there is a failed system (s), take this “evidence” to the judge and get a warrant to inspect the system. You can also add in “everybody knows.” I’m sure the several hundred people affected by this action will be more than appreciative of the efforts of the BCRSD and County elected officials who appointed them.

o. Background – BCRSD.  In June of 2018, the BCRSD submitted an application for a new sewer plant in Bean Blossom. They claimed State support and were anticipating quick approval and expected to begin construction within approximately 18 months. They received 270K from the county council to fund the required engineering reports. Local landowners refused to sell the land for a sewer plant and their attempt to acquire parkland for a plant was denied by 0 BCRSD.  DNR. They spent 220,000 of the 270,000 on engineering and regulatory-related reports. They still need landowners to grant them 190 easements and without the support of the citizens, may require the BCRSD to take legal action (eminent domain?) to acquire the easements. There is no documented evidence of wide-scale support for sewers in their area to be served and no documented evidence of “failed” septic systems in the area. If there were, there are many options for working with homeowners to resolve the situation.

o. Bean Blossom not the priority. The “need” and support for sewer service in the Lake Lemon area and the “need” for upgrading the aging plant in Helmsburg gave new life to the bean Blossom project. It allows them to continue their project using an expanded plant in Helmsburg as their new plant. “Some” of the planning that was used for the Bean Blossom project was reported to be used in support of the current Helmsburg Expansion project – no supporting detail was asked for or provided regarding this claim.

o. BCRSD Dissolution. The BCRSD should be dissolved and transitioned to an advisory group. The BCRSD will have no customers. And if the technology allows for smaller size wastewater treatment systems, the residents affected are in the best position to manage these types of systems for their area. Private developers develop these systems for their projects.

o. HRSD – Add members. The Helmsburg RSD Board can be expanded from 3 members to 5 to provide additional support for overseeing the work formerly and allegedly being performed by the BCRSD. If the BCRSD transitioned to a support and advisory role, they can continue to support the new plan with Helmsburg and Lake Lemon being the priority.

o. HRSD – Approvide Funding Requests. The Helmsburg RSD identified a need for 750K of ARPA funds and an immediate need for 175K to develop a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) needed to fund plant expansion. No detail was provided by the BCRSD as to how much of the 300K was to support what should be considered the main priority for the county.

o. Systemis Analysis. I offered (not the first time) to facilitate a more systemic analysis of the “total project” that would address many if not most of the “cultural” and historical issues involved with the issues (refer to the audio of the meeting.)

o. Fascade.  Before I objected (despite the new rules), Commissioner Pittman and Braden – “This is not open to discussion or debate,” were going to vote to approve the 300K. After citizen input, Commissioner Pittman tabled the vote until their April 6 meeting to allow for “citizen input” on the project. He referred to the meeting as a “hearing.” The intent is to provide him with a justification for approving or voting no on the request/project. This is out of the “playbook” that parallels the strategy used to approve the new septic ordinance. The process can represent a façade of “listening and collecting information from citizens” and then declaring that you reviewed the information (but may have not read or studied it or did your own homework) and have decided upon the recommendation of an ad-hoc group to approve their project citing unsubstantiated benefits. The decision is certainly not based on the needs and desires of the citizens that the commissioners want to be silenced at commissioner meetings. On the vote at the April 6 meeting, Commissioner Pittman may choose to vote No on the funding but will most likely be outvoted by Commissioner Biddle and Braden.

o. Number One Priority. The need and number one priority for sewer service is the Lake Lemon and Helmbsurg area. They have a documented need and will contribute to development. The priority for the expansion of sewer service in the Bean Blossom area should be driven by the support of the citizens to be serviced. The current preliminary engineering report included letters of support from 1998. Yep, no typo “1998. Informal door-to-door surveys of residents in the area have identified little desire and interest for sewer service.

o.  Federal Review. The Bean Blossom PER was submitted to the Feds for review and approval but was not complete to the extent needed for a review. The need (as opposed to a want) is approved by state agencies and the Feds likely accept the state’s judgment. However, the feds are required by law (FMFIA) to perform their due diligence. Approving a project without documented evidence of failed systems to justify funding may represent “a material weakness” in their internal controls (violation of the law). In my former federal civil service position, managing an internal control program was another duty as assigned. It will be interesting to see how the law will be applied to this project – assuming the feds still are involved in the review and approval process. I would assess that the Helmsburg – Lake Lemon projects would have no problem justifying a valid need for funding.

o. Gentrification. An expansion of sewers to 700-800 homes – most of which may be unneeded can accelerate county-wide gentrification and a churn/turnover in the real estate market. The income survey from 2017 indicates that 53.1% of county residents are in the low to moderate-income level. Unnecessarily raising their cost of living with a new monthly bill and hook-up fees may force many to relocate thus contributing to the gentrification. Is the plan to build more high-density apartment complexes to accommodate the displaced citizens?

o. Help our Citizens. Note that there are most likely failing systems in the county. And it is likely that people may need financial help to repair and replace a failing system. But given the reputation of the Health Department, fear of admitting the need for help and being evicted would take precedence over environmental concerns. This issue should be addressed. The community foundation could help establish a fund where citizens can contribute to help provide support for those in need.

o. Solutions without Problems. Continued evidence of the corruption of good people caught in a bad system includes pushing solutions without evidence of a problem and the support of the people affected by the “solution.”

A Way Ahead. At the meeting, I outlined a Way Ahead through the application of a decision-making process developed in support of the Brown County Leader Network.
BCRSD – Addition Information

Mar 24, 2022. Facebook Post – Update  Commissioner Meeting

Mar 23, 2022.  Facebook Post – Brown County Matters 

Audio – Commissioner Meeting

  • Ric Fox – IT / AC Funding requirements – 550K for Jail, additional funding needed for IT equip
  • Melissa Stinson – Tax increase – Cum Cap Fund – Taxpayers do have the right to remonstrate
  • Highway – Magnor
  • New Coroners Office – Pittman – Need for up to approximately $175K.
  • BCRSD – Clint Studabaker – Verbal request for 300K of ARPA Funds for wastwater projects – Bean Blossom and Helmsburg
    • Clark objection to the 300K request – Start of Public Debate

“Not open to discussion, not open to debate” – Commisssioner Braden

    • Helmsburg Needs – Kyle Myers. 750K of ARPA funds requested.  Immediate needs: 40K to fund hook-ups (approved) and 175K for a PER – – plan for plant expansion
    • Clark – Suggestions of a better process
    • Bob Cochran – Interested and Concerned citizen
    • Paul Navarro
    • Studabaker …
    • Sherrie Mitchell – Dissolve the BCRSD
  • Decision for the 300K tabled – Jerry Pittman asking for input via emails. Considers this a “public hearing.”
  • Closing Comments

Agenda

Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
Additions to the Agenda or Changes
Approval of Minutes/Claims

County Office/Department Reports (Boards & Committees): 

  1. IT H-Vac System and People Trail  —  Identifed around 600K of needed spending on AC systems for the Jail (550K) and for IT Department
  2. Commissioner’s Update on the Cum Cap Timeline – Proposed tax increase. Citizens have the right to remonstrate.

Highway Superintendent Report:  

  1. Project Updates

 Other Business: 

  1. Regional Sewer District – Request for 300,000 ARPA Funds

Legal:

Commissioners:

ADJOURN – Next Regular Commissioner Meeting Wednesday, April 6, 2022 @ 2:00PM 

Music Center Financial Reports – 2019, 2020, 2021

Uncategorized

bcmc

Financial Reports for 2019, 2020, 2021

County taxpayers contributed “$239,000 in rent in 2021. Commissioners and Council did not demand an itemized list of the services provided. The deal was arranged by Commissioner Biddle under the county equivalant of “emergency powers.”

    • Feb 17, 2021. Letter: BCD. GUEST OPINION: What’s been happening with your county’s finances by Kevin Fleming.  Includes the details regarding the lack of transparency and oversight of Commissioner Biddle’s actions regarding the $239,000 “Rent” payment to the BCMC.  Commissioner Biddle also serves on the Music Center’s management group. 

Federal taxpayers have also provided loan forgiveness and and grants. This included $2.737 million awared in 2022. 

Addition Information

RFI BCRSD Feb 3, 2022

Uncategorized

BCRSD Board Members are appointed by the Commissioners and Council.

Feb 3, 2022, Request for Information. REFUSED by the Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD) Board. Mr. Phil LeBlanc is a member of the BCRSD Board, the Treasurer and the designated Point of Contact (POC) for Information Requests.

I requested a copy of the presentation that was made on behalf of the board by the Vice President of the Board, Clint Studabaker to the County Commissioners on Feb 2, 2022.  The purpose included gaining support for a request for $300,000 from the ARP funds.

Note that the BCRSD was given $270,000 from the County Council to support the developemnt ofa a new Wastewater Plant for bean Blossom. Over $220,000was spent, no land has been acquired and other options appear to be more feasible.

Feb 2, 2022  Agenda Commissioner Meeting.  The audio of the meeting is not available on the county website.

The Law and Regulations. Government organizations are expected to provide requested information within 30 days. If they do not, a formal complaint can be filed with the State Public Access Counselor who will notify the County they are expected to comply. If this fails, the citizen can file legal action and if they win, county picks up all legal expenses and pays a fine.

The Request and Follow-Ups

From: tjclark2036@gmail.com <tjclark2036@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 5:48 PM
To: ‘Phil LeBlanc’ <phil.leblanc50@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners Follow-Up

Phil, why the hard time?  I had a simple request, less than 5 minutes to send me the presentation and under a minute to provide a status on the plan.

From: Phil LeBlanc <phil.leblanc50@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 5:41 PM
To: tjclark2036@gmail.com
Subject: Re: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners Follow-Up

Tim…Last night (2nd Tuesday). Next meeting: April 12.

Phil

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 9, 2022, at 4:48 PM, tjclark2036@gmail.com wrote:

Phil,

When was your last meeting (last night?) and when is your next?  Sometimes these are listed in the Democrat – sometimes not

Tim

From: Phil LeBlanc <phil.leblanc50@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 7:48 AM
To: Tim Clark <tjclark2036@gmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners Follow-Up

Tim…

Request your information at our next Board meeting.

Phil

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: tjclark2036@gmail.com
Date: March 9, 2022 at 6:18:56 AM EST
To: Phil LeBlanc <phil.leblanc50@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners Follow-Up

Phil,

Clint represented the board. Its’s not an individual/independent product.

What’s the status on the WW Strategy? Is it “final” yet?

Appreciate your help,

Tim

From: Phil LeBlanc <phil.leblanc50@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 6:05 AM
To: tjclark2036@gmail.com
Subject: Re: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners Follow-Up

Tim,

I don’t have access to Clint’s Power Point presentation. Talk to him.

Phil

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 8, 2022, at 9:24 PM, tjclark2036@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Phil,

Just following up. Is there an issue?

What is the status of the WW Strategic Plan?

Tim

From: Tim Clark <tjclark2036@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 3, 2022 3:22 PM
To: Phil.LeBlanc50@gmail.com
Subject: BCRSD Presentation to the Commissioners

Hi Phil,

Request a copy of Clint’s presentation that was used to brief the commissioners last night.

Appreciate your help,

Tim

County before Country

Uncategorized

county before country

Updated Mar 14, 2022 1515

FYI – What another county is doing to support  stronger communities.

In Brown Couty, IN we are also working to make our county stonger throught the Brown County Leader NetworkCLN)  – Overview of our concept.

BCLN – Christian Focused PerspectiveBCLN Concept Christian Focus

East River Church
Batavia, OH July 26, 2021

East River Church will be hosting its first County Before Country conference (limited to 200) on 9/2-9/4 at the Batavia Armory in Batavia, OH.

County over Country –  2021 – First Conference (limited to 200) on 9/2-9/4 at the Batavia Armory in Batavia, OH.  Speakers:

    • Pastor Matt Trewhella, author The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates, will be speaking on “The Local Law”
    • Aaron Renn, founder of The Masculinist, will be speaking on “The Priority of Owned Space.”
    • John Moody, author The Frugal Homesteader, will be speaking on “Resistance is Fertile”
    • Pastor CR Wiley, author Man of the House, will be speaking on “The Boniface Option”

 More info:

Continue reading County before Country →

Prayer: Commissioner Meetings

Uncategorized

March 9, 2022. Question for Commissioners. Why is the Prayer said after your meeting opens instead of before your meeting? Copy: commissioners@browncounty-in.us

Jerry Pittman. The Invocation is done after the meeting starts for the same reason as the Pledge…..Because it is part of the meeting.

    • Arron Jeffreys
      Jerry Pittman (Commissioner). The litmus test is in whether or not you would allow time for other religions to perform their invocation. If a Native American family attended your meetings would you give them equal time to pray to their “Great Spirit”? Or a Buhddist? or a Jewish person? Or are meeting attendees required to pray with YOU to YOUR God? That is why the only true fairness is through the moment of silence so every person can reach out to their own source of power. or just organize their own thoughts
    • Tim J. Clark @Arron Jeffreys Another option is 15-30 minutes before the meeting

Interim Report: State of Quality in the County

Uncategorized

BCLN Concept Slide 2

When there are good people in a flawed system,
they system wins most if not all of the time.
Who owns the system?

Overview of the Concept

Updated: March 11, 2022

Commentary. I had an interesting career in the federal government. One of my skills was assessing and developing the capability of systems in producing the best outcomes. As a Reservist, the aim was reducing the capabilty of the systems of our adversaries.

After 911, my team was mobilized for up to two years to support chemical warfarfare (cw) related assessments suporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Our classified reports – published and distributed, assessed that the quality of the CW related intelligence was not credible. The Green Zone with Matt Damon, includes some scenes that brougt back memories.

County Issues.

When I asked questions or pointed out issues at county meetings, I offered to provide additional support. And  as you may know, I document things.

For a quick overview of quality including providing a context for the Brown County Leader Network, more information at my site: Success Through Quality.   I will be introducing what I think will offer a break-thru in the barries to quality improvment thart I expect to have national impacts. This has been a passion of mine since the late 80s.

In my future posts on County Goverment, I will be shifting my focus in support of systemic improvement. In the US, We the People, own the system – We are Top Managment. Until now, we have not had the methods and tools needed to support us in executing our responsibilities. The Brown County Leader Network (BCLN) has developed a self-help based approach and help when needed. Check it out and look over the Support Materials. And yes indeed, there are always things that can improved  and we do – That’s America!

Over the past 5 years, I’ve been attending meetings and learning more about the people and the decision-making processes. It is highly predictable and not always in a good way. Have you ever heard that … put good people in a flawed system, the system will win most if not all of the time?

Deming a-bad-system-will-10091-2  

The genereal motivation for decisions in a flawed and corrupt system includes the following: (1) Decision has already been made; (2) Don’t know the answers or the issues and don’t really care; (3) Basing a decision on ignorance allows you to claim plausible deniabilty; Who cares when things go wrong and they do, but so what?  And likely the strongest motivation is the power. You can make the call because you can despite your questions and the effect the decison may have on others.. Power is addicting to many – they need the hit and withdrawal is never easy. Plus someone can be higher up in the pack hiearchy than you – know your place pup.

County Government? Yes. We have a flawed system. A monopoly on political power without embracing transparency, is a breeding ground for corruption. Not in the legal sense so much but the moral.  Individuals get “assimilated” into the system and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. 

    • An example (and I have many) of this is when I ask for publicly available information on a project that should take less than 30 minutes to provide. Even after follow-ups in writing and during public meetings, I can be forced to go through the State Public Access Counselor after 30 days (adds more costs to the taxpayers) to get the information which adds another 30 days or more. And, if we are playing Bureaucratic Bingo, it can last even longer. The last is time I just asked for the “memos” from Indiana Railroad to the County regarding the Indian Hill Road crossing.  This decision making proces was among the worst.
    • It’s not like I’m new to the process (35 years working within the federal and military bureaucracies). The delays and the games can be perceived as an indicator that something is being hid. It can also indicate support for a tactic that is thought to lead the inquirer to a sense of learned helpless which will prevent future inquiries – citizens – Top management, will just give up and shut up despite their constitutional responsibility, and accept their place.
    • Alpha-Dog Leaderhip. Know your place in the pack and you better not challenge the big dogs.

And, given the exiting system years of observation, I understand why commissioners do not want questions at public meetings that are available online now and for ALL all to see.  Although, having public records on questions submitted via email shoud be an interesting development to follow. Mine are routinely ignored and I do keep track.

There is one issue that I will work off- line at this point. And I think it is the most destructive to to our officials, our citizens, our communuty and our country.

County And Community Capability Maturity And Potential

System Capability

Most if not all traditional problem-solving and decision-making approaches might be  assessed at a capability level of 2 on a 5 point scale. Five (being the best). A level 2 means it “works” at the Ok level, which may be the national average. A pretty low bar. Imagine a professional sports team declaring that they just want to be Ok. How many tickets would they be selling?

The quality approach (with a basic understanding of variability) is designed to get you quickly to a Level 3 and higher if the project is one of your top priorities. And the number of citizens involved is also a success factor.  Example: County And Community Capability Maturity And Potential

An assessment of capability of county systems would likely grade out it at a Level 2.  The so what? A s a general rule of thumb within Quality, the Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ), can range anywhere from 20-40% of budget. There is a correlation between a capability level and the CoPQ. Who is the “top management” in this county?

Do we need systemic improvement?  Yep, Check out the “self-help” materials at the Brown County Leader Network.  A basic SWAT analysis can help an individual or group pick a  topic, do an analysis, identify a needed change and priority, put together a simple timeline and present to the Commissioners for action. And, you could submit an automatic email scheduled to be sent weekly to our Commissioners asking about the status. And, you could attend the meetings – wright your question on a sign – What’s the status?  Maybe extend your walk to Historic Downtown Nashville. And, maybe we get known as a community that loves its Constitution and committment to continuos improvment.

Now, given we have a proven method and process for identifying and making improvements (BCLN), and a new system for demonstrating our commitment to improvement, could make for some interesting and ongoing media coverage.

Note a little irony. Commissioner Biddle requested the County put together an application for a grant –  Hometown Colaborative Initiatie (HCI). Jerry Pittman made the opening statement, grant was approved, and the BCLN developed. It is built on a self-help model – you know your area, you can probably answer most of the questions. And, you don’t quit until you get the desired result. And, its “normal” to go through several cyles and some you may never quit on. Because once you’ve established the change, you have to maintain it and there is a process for that. And, you learn a lot and can have some fun.

We have good people trapped in a bad system we own. You can’t walk away from that.

In summary, we have a county sponsored program (BCLN) for making systemic improvement and an inspired citizenry committed to making the county better – you know “more perfect” – that little footnote in the Constitution. Should be interesting. And yes, could all this be prevented. Sure, but what is the fun in that?

For more information: See Check Out my website Success Through Quality. Main Page summarizes the State of Quality in America.

Revise Our History and Get a New Flag?

Uncategorized
nyt banner


New Versions of U.S History, it’s symbols and icons?

New York Times (NYT)  – 1619 Project. “The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.”

1776 Commission Report. Commissioned by the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump

“Snap Out of it, America!” – NYT
The  essay is part of “Snap Out of it, America!,” a series exploring bold ideas to revitalize and renew the American experiment.

The American flag is a potent piece of national iconography, but its design shifted frequently until the early 1900s. What if it were redesigned today? We asked artists and graphic designers to try. The flags they came up with reflect a mix of approaches. Some are functional designs, others artistic renderings; some represent America as it could be, others how the artist sees the country now.

NYT flag13

Na KimThe colors of our flag are intended to stand for unity, valor and justice. The gray, monochrome flag represents America surrendering to its fall from power and loss of the ideals it once stood for. The American dream is being washed away.

Print

Andrew KuoI’ve designed a flag that acknowledges the emotions that informed where our country has been and the spirit of where it may go, with joy and forgiveness as possibilities. We can’t ignore how we got here, but maybe we can move toward a different, even better place

NJ_NYTFlag_0826

Natasha Jen, Michelle Ando and Veronica Höglund, Pentagram DesignAs graphic designers, our impulse is to work with graphics and see how small moves can make a big change. We decided to work with the existing elements: the stars and stripes. This flag is intended to suggest interdependency and togetherness. The two elements are interwoven to create a “fabric.” Interweaving suggests that we depend on one another and that as a whole, America is a fabric, held together by equality.

NYTN flag1

For nearly 250 years, the American flag has been made and remade, evolving from a unifying emblem into a complex and contested vocabulary of symbols. In this flag, the familiar symbolism falls out of focus, giving way to something ambiguous, vague and difficult to define.

NYTM flag9

Hank Willis Thomas“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Black lives matter; Don’t tread on me; In God we trust A thin blue line; Under God, our vindicator;
Keep America great Progress pride

nytn squares video

Jiminie Ha and With Projects Inc.The flag in its current state is a static representation of the country today. I transformed the flag into an interactive, moving digital flag that mirrors our overall sentiment through the lens of the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. These values would be determined by relevant, collected data and would transform over a given period. The radiating shapes suggest the country’s growth or decline within these parameters.

NYTF flagcollins

Joseph Han, Tom Elia and J.A. Ginsburg, CollinsThe American flag was once a unifying symbol; its red, white and blue belonged to everyone. But now, red and blue are tribal signals, and the flag seems to represent two factions forced to share a piece of fabric. By running a single purple bar across the middle, this flag reminds all of us of the constant potential and possibility inherent in America when red and blue come together as one.