Problem Solving
Weekly Update 2/26/2023 to 3/4/2023 #162
Can a group of people work for the common good and not agree on the best path to it? Before I wander down this path though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best smalltown in America.
This past week, I delivered the State of the City Address. While looking back is always fun and remembering the awards, the successes, and the great moments of growth here in our little part of the world brings a smile to many faces, it is not the parts that are talked about the longest. Gallup Poll found many years ago the number one reason that people fall in love with their community is social offerings. To help foster that love here Seymour Parks and Recreation has been working hard on its programming. With 93 offerings for all ages, they are creating a chance to get out and enjoy. If you haven’t already I hope you will give them a follow on social media so you can stay in the loop on all the fun they have planned. As for something new, they also are taking a piece of property the city owns and developing a plan for a nature park. Check out The Tribune for the full write up and thank you to everyone that attended in person.
Accelerate Indiana Municipalities was in town recently as we hosted the Mayor’s Roundtable to bring together mayors from around the region to share ideas. With a group of 23, it was one of the largest that I have attended since my time serving. We heard updates on the current legislative session going on at the State House. We discussed various problems that each of us are facing in our hometowns and were reminded that we all have many similarities that are on different scales depending on the population. This was also the last meeting for Vernon Mayor Wright before he completes his 20 years of service to his community. Thank you, Mayor Wright, for all the conversations we have shared over the last three years. They have often been very enlightening and done a great job of broadening my perspective on many topics.
Read Across America is held every year on March 2nd, and this year, I had a chance to read to fourth and second graders at Redding and Brown schools. I read my favorite childhood book Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, even had one young listener share “that was a great story” just after I finished. For those who have not read the story, let me give you a quick recap. Mike Mulligan takes good care of Mary Ann the steam shovel. He is pretty sure she can dig as much in a day as 100 men can dig in a week, but has never been quite sure. As the jobs for a steam shovel go away, he reads that the town of Popperville needs the cellar of the new town hall dug and they head off to win the job and dig the cellar. As the crowd gathers they work a little faster and a little better until the sounds stop and the smoke and dust settle to discover the cellar perfectly dug except for one little detail. They worked so fast and so well that they forgot to leave a way out for Mary Ann. As this had never happened in Popperville before everyone had an idea of how to get the job finished. They argued and fought until one little voice made a suggestion that was ultimately the answer that was selected. I share this because we all have what we believe is the only possible way to get the job done or the problem solved. While we may only choose one way to get to the end, we can’t forget that may not be the only option that could get us there. Keep sharing the ideas, keep looking at the future, and let's keep moving forward together with creative ideas because they may be the answer that gets used. Director Paul Kaufman had this to say about problem-solving, "Being receptive, being able to listen openly and well, is a crucial skill for creative problem-solving."