The county income survey in 2017 indicated that 53% of residents fall in the low to moderate income level. This qualified the county to apply for comprehensive planning and for economic development strategic planning grants. (1)
What are the actual and projected average hourly wage trends in Brown County? An economic development strategy for the county was not identified as a priority in 2018 by the new Redevelopment Commission (RDC), commissioners or council representatives (Baker, Critser, Byrd) at last night’s (Feb 8, 2018) RDC meeting. No update was provided on the status of the county’s application for an economic development strategic planning grant.
Indiana Economic Development Corporation – Average and Project Wage – 2006 – 2017.
References – More Information
(1) Brown County Income Survey -(copy sent to residents). The Low to Moderate Income(LMI) level determined by dividing the total number “above” the respective income level by the total number of those below. See also: Overview of the Calculation Process for the Moderate Income Level
(2) IU SPEA Report –Redevelopment Analysis – Brown County. Prepared by Liza Bartlett, Daniel Lopez, Drew Sherman
Brown County Democrat, GUEST COLUMN: A study of tourism and economic sustainability
Brown County Commissioners, Brown County Council and Brown County Redevelopment Commission — 6 p.m., Salmon Room, County Office Building.
Agenda includes establishing guidance, structure and common goals among the three boards for moving the county forward economically; election of redevelopment commission officers; and other business.
Link below to the RDC Annual Report that includes suggested priorities for 2018:
RDC Reports:
Working together towards a more perfect county
As of January 29, 2018, The Indiana Nonprofit database identifies 284 organizations in Brown County – many of which are dedicated to improving the quality of life within the county. This list does not include county government, schools, boards, and commissions. It also does not include other improvement related initiatives such as the Salt Creek Trail Project, Wellness and Heritage Tourism, Leadership Brown County, etc.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 significantly reduced the number of people that can claim a tax deduction for a charitable contribution. This will make it even more important for nonprofits not only to work together more efficiently but also to document and report their effectiveness to potential donors.
“Connecting the Community” aligns with Principle 4.0 — State of the County – Annual Assessment and Report.
The following initial plan is intended to develop a community support network among non-profits. The Plan, Do, Study, Act Cycle for continuous improvement and learning is used as the project management format.
PLAN a change or test aimed at improvement.
DO – carry out the change or test (preferably on a small scale).
Examples of the concept, tools, and plans
The platform and principles for “Independent Voters” is another initiative to raise community expectation for planning and collaboration that support continuous learning and improvement.
STUDY the results. Examine the results. What did we learn? What went went well and what did not?
ACT. Adopt the change, abandon it or run through the cycle again.
References and Background Information
The term corruption is often associated with instances of illegality. A broader description of the term was recently described by Pope Francis. He described corruption as to when a person’s conscience no longer registers right and wrong. He went on to say that:
“The corrupt person cannot accept criticism, discredits anyone who criticizes him, tries to belittle any moral authority who would question him, does not value others and insults anyone who thinks differently. If the balance of power permits, he persecutes anyone who contradicts him.”
America’s founding fathers certainly understood that power corrupts individuals. The founder’s built-in checks and balances on power to help mitigate corruptive tendencies. Their concern was reinforced by John Adams in his statement:
“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.”
The broader description of corruption resonates with me. I have written several guest columns in the Brown County Democrat on the process used to fast-track the Maple Leaf Project.
What was surprising to me was the feedback I received from many residents. They thanked me for the articles and shared their concerns with the process and the project. They also expressed a fear of some form of retribution for themselves and others if they shared their concerns in a public setting. Interesting that when I talked to even more residents to help determine if this (speaking truth about the use of power) was an isolated situation or a common belief within the culture, their perception is that it is common.
Many residents also told me that questioning the Maple Leaf project in public meetings and my articles on the topic would ensure that I would not be reappointed in 2018 to the Redevelopment Commission (RDC) – which I was not. The commissioners and council did not and do not have to provide a reason. I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the county and will continue to do so. More information on the fast-track process for the Maple Leaf project and the 2018 RDC appointments are available at Independent Voters of Brown County IN (all one word).
Share your opinion
Regarding the needs, culture and quality of leadership within the county, Brown Countians have an opportunity ( until Feb 20) to share their opinions in support of Brown County’s Hometown Collaborative Initiative (HCI). The survey is available online at indianahci.org/communities/brown.php I hope you also register for the community forum on March 7.
The HCI Initiative led to the creation of the Brown County Leader Network. A fact and process based approach for supporting improvements.
An individuals support or lack thereof for the platform and principles for Independent Voters can help provide needed insight for selecting quality candidates in 2018 and beyond.
The Brown County League of Women Voters has worked for over two years on a Fiscal Management study that included input from elected and appointed county government officials.
The contract with Umbaugh and Associates for a five-year financial plan is a needed improvement in support of transparency and fiscal management.
It is expected that the plan will be available before next years budget hearings. Other counties have posted their plans on their websites which helps to facilitate public discussions on the fiscal health of the county. A county strategic plan is helpful to provide context for priorities and plans.
In addition to transparency and fiscal management, this 5-year financial plan can support the other four principles of good governance that include Planning before Doing, Continuous Learning, State of the County Assessment and Report and Collaboration.
The county Redevelopment Commission (RDC) has also been working with IU/SPEA Graduate Program in developing a county decision-making model that factors in population projections and trends in debt, taxes and spending. More Information – Financial Decision Support Model
The League of Women Voters has also recently completed a fiscal study (2018) on the county’s financial management practices. A committee is being formed (August 2018) to assess the status on Positions.
The recent county-wide income survey identified the 53% of residents fall within the low to moderate income level that qualifies the county to apply for federal grants. The county has started the process of applying for an economic development strategic planning grant of $40,000. Economic Development Plans_OCRA Technical Requirements
Development of the plan will include community meetings where citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions, provide input and identify what they want and do not want in terms of economic development. A consulting firm has been selected
Thomas P Miller and Associates. Once the application is submitted, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), OCRA has 30 days to approve or disapprove the application.
Commissioners Biddle expressed concern in 2017 (see below) that the status of the OCRA Grant ($400,000) to build the Van Buren fire station may be an issue for the county. Depending on how this issue is resolved, OCRA could delay approving any additional grants. The county may need a Plan B (self-funding?) in order to develop the economic development strategic plan.
Mar 6, 2018. Letter supporting the actions of the Van Buren Trustee
Feb 20, 2018 – Since the Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department had its contract with the Van Buren Township trustee severed in July, OCRA is not recognizing Van Buren … Grants from the Community Development Block Grant program through OCRA and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority are …
Jul 11, 2017 – PIKES PEAK — The Van Buren Township Advisory Board has agreed to a monetary settlement with the Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department, ending … when an emergency call is made could be a little less clear, as both Van Buren Fire and a new entity, Southern Brown Volunteer Fire Department Inc., are …
Feb 28, 2017 – A lawsuit between the Van Buren Township trustee and advisory board and the Van Buren volunteer firefighters and fire board is proceeding to a jury trial — but not for another five to eight months. After meeting with lawyers for the township and the fire department, Brown Circuit Judge Judith Stewart set the …
County’s role
Whether or not the Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department keeps operating as a fire department has an impact on the county as a whole, and not just because of fire protection.When the firefighters, Payne and other volunteers succeeded in October 2012 at getting a $400,000 grant to build the Van Buren fire station, the Brown County Commissioners were listed as the grant recipient, with the fire department as the subrecipient.
The grant agreement with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs says the building must remain a fire station for five years.
Commissioner Diana Biddle said there’s been some concern over the life of this dispute about the county’s liability to that grant if the station folds.
She said it’s even more complex because ownership of the land is in the name of the Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department, which is its own entity separate from township government.
QUESTION FOR CANDIDATES
Should the commissioners and council have held public meetings to ask for input from the citizens on the desirability and feasibility of the Maple Leaf project? If so, why? If not, why not?
Are changes also needed to the Brown County Innkeepers Tax? Revenue from the innkeeper’s tax must be used to promote tourism. The majority of CVC members have to represent innkeepers. Tourism categories include art, history, agritourism, education, culture/preservation, wellness, mountain biking, wine, craft beer, spirits (hard liquor), and entertainment, e.g., just about anything.
The Maple Leaf Music Venue and Performing Arts Center is to be a government-owned and managed venue. The County Commissioners and County Council declined to answer questions or hold public hearings to listen to input from citizens regarding their concerns and desirability of the project. Reference: Maple Leaf Project – For The Record. Chronology of events.
The proposed project was announced on June 20, 2017. Final approval by the commissioners was on December 20, 2017. Although taxpayers may not be obligated for the 12.5 million debt, this could change in the future.
Question. How does the process used to fast-track the Maple Leaf project align with the Independent Voters Platform and Principles of Transparency, Fiscal Management, Planning, Assessment, Continuous Learning, and Collaboration?
Dec 19, 2018. Commissioner meeting – Follow-up on the Appointment/Re-Appointment process. Facebook Post – Brown County Matters. New policies have yet to be documented.
2017 Process for 2018 Appointments. Appointments to the Redevelopment Commission (RDC) are for one year. Commissioners and Council Members can choose to identify a vision and goals for redevelopment and share with the RDC and public. They can select volunteers that support their vision/goals. They can choose not to re-appoint members and/or remove RDC members at any time. They do not have to provide a reason for removal or non-selections. Vacancies and requirements are announced in the Brown County Democrat newspaper.
Reappointments of existing members to boards and commissions that attend meetings and fulfill their responsibilities have been the norm. Commissioners and council can and have selected applicants from each other’s lists of applicants.
Comments: 2018 Selection Process. When you identify a recruitment and selection process that you are going to follow, then don’t circumvent it. The Commissioners can appoint/re-appoint anyone they want. No need to fabricate a story to justify a selection (s).
What the following transcript does not include is the “optics.” When Mr. Harris reinforced his interest in an appointment and asked questions about the selection process, the Commissioners avoided eye contact, shuffled papers and talked among themselves. Commissioner RDC Appointments
2017 RDC Members: Dave Redding, Jim Schultz, Tina Bedey, Tim Clark, Jim Kemp. All but Dave Redding applied for reappointment but he intends to stay involved.
2018 Commissioner Appointments – Jan 17, 2018 (3): Commissioner Jerry Pittman, Danny Key, TIna Bedey. Jerry Pittman attended one RDC meeting in 2017, Danny Key did not attend any. Tina Bedy withdrew her application and the vacancy (per commissioner Biddle), will be readvertised.
Council Applicants (2). Jim Kemp (2017 RDC member) Jim Schultz and Tim Clark (2016 and 2017 RDC members), plus one additional application.
Council Appointments – Jan 22, 2018. Jim Kemp, Jim Schultz. The council followed the established process. The council required RDC applicants to attend their November 20, 2017, meeting and to make some brief comments regarding their desire for an appointment. The commissioners did not follow a similar process.
Question: If commissioners and council can identify vision and goals and can select and remove RDC members, what is the expectation of having a representative on the RDC?
Significant Events. The commissioners and council members unanimously voted to approve funding($12.5 million) for the Maple Leaf Performing Arts Center (MLPAC). The RDC took no official position and remained neutral. Individual RDC members publically advocated for the project (Jim Schultz) as well as questioned one or more aspects of the project (Tim Clark). These individuals stated that they were representing their individual views and not the position of the RDC. Brandon Harris also voiced concerns with some aspects (emergency related services) of the MLPAC project.
RDC REPORTS
Commissioner and Council Policy and Process (not formally documented).
The statement below included in the transcript of the meeting by Commissioner Biddle to Brandon Harris regarding the selection process.
How do you know if a candidate meets your requirements if you do not interview them?
” You know these are 1 year terms and we don’t um, there’s no requirement on our part to reappoint anyone from year to year so it’s real….we had 6/7, 6 candidates on our side. Council had 4 on their side. It’s just a matter of picking those candidates that we think will carry the commissioners and the councils vision forward in terms of economic redevelopment. And that’s what we did.”
HCI is intended for self-identified communities with a total population of 25,000 or less that want to develop a new generation of local leaders; build a supportive community environment for small business and entrepreneurs; or invest in place through creative quality of life initiatives related to public spaces, design, local foods, and tourism among others. A core principle of HCI is that broad-based input and buy-in is vital to the long-term success and sustainability of all community development initiatives.
Brown County Leader Network – Website
December 2, 2018 – Nov 2019 – Grant Application – Capstone Project – Leadership Cooperative
MINUTES
About HCI – BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ENERGIZING COMMUNITIES. Discover current HCI communities, learn how to apply and browse the blog for news and events.
Brown County HCI Team Training – Dates and Topics. — Brochure HCI Brown County Leadership
Center for Rural Development LEADERSHIP VIDEO SERIES – Purdue Rural communities in Indiana are facing many changes and challenges that both threaten and provide opportunities to their economic and social well-being. The Leadership Video Series, created by Dr. Janet Ayres, trains rural leaders to better lead and contribute to their communities.
Over the past three months, more than 400 Brown County residents and workers answered a survey on how their community could be improved. … Two weeks ago, about 50 of them gathered to make sense of the data and suggest specific projects.
Feb 20, 2018. SURVEY DEADLINE: Share your opinions on local issues – Brown County Democrat, In addition, it asks how likely the responder is to remain in Brown County for the next five years. Survey participants can remain anonymous; only general demographic information such as age and education level is collected. The HCI is a mostly state-funded process of learning about one’s own community.
Still wanted: Volunteers to brainstorm, gather data and guide priorities for Brown County, collaborate on projects and learn how to become the community’s next generation of leaders. … Brown Countians who think they might fit this bill are invited to a workshop for the Hometown Collaboration Initiative from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14. It’ll take place at the Brown County Purdue Extension office on Memorial Drive near the fairgrounds.
Independent Voters of Brown County IN 