Make a Life
Weekly update 2/7 to 2/13 #55
As some smaller communities seem to be suffering Seymour seems to be flourishing. Why? I like to think it comes from the heart. As always before I finish this thought, I will share some of my recent week.
Recently, we had some snow, and I got a chance to learn more about how the removal process works first hand. With so many variables I am not sure how to even start this section. Like everything city related we walk in with a plan. In this situation we have had the basics in place for many years now. Every event leads to some slight modifications to improve the process while always trying to keep people at the front of the thought process. Always looking for the best way to keep citizens as safe as possible as well as city workers that are moving the fluffy white stuff. In the event that you see a snowplow out, remember to give them space to work and be patient. Thank you Department of Public Works snow crews for your long hours and dedication to our community.
Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation held their annual meeting not long ago and shared some info about how 2020 looked from the rearview mirror. Jackson County reached a high of 22% unemployment during 2020 and was back down to less than 5% by the end of the year. While the pandemic played a huge role in how 2020 looks, it was nice to see how even with it we had plenty of positives that will lead us into 2021 and beyond.
Throw in meetings with Council, Park Board, Administrative Resources Association ARA, Duke, Police Pension board, Greater Seymour Trust Fund, Jackson County Solid Waste District, and Board of Public Works and Safety, along with various other citizens and organizations and my week was pretty full. Almost always each could be a column by itself which sometimes makes narrowing it down difficult.
One of the items from my week that I didn’t mention was working a fundraiser event at the intersection of 2nd and Walnut Street. Many people would roll down the window and drop some change in the bucket. Then I would thank them for supporting Special Olympics, and they would say hold on let me grab some more. I am always amazed at how much heart our community has. Special Olympics, Anchor House, Boys and Girls Club, or any of the other organizations in our community help serve as reminders of what a vibrant community full of support looks like. When other places are losing businesses during these tough times our area is finding ways to help support each other. Are we perfect and have lost none? No, we have lost a few, and we are still recovering, but the future is bright in several places from downtown, which has around 85% of our first floor commercial spaces currently occupied with more coming in 2021, to the industrial sector, who has growth on the horizon or even several new multi unit rental properties and single family residential under construction around town. Today, I hope you will remember to have faith and help one another when you can. Get involved with a non-profit in the area that works on what is near to your heart when you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”