So it begins…
January 12th, 2015
On Wednesday, January 7 – the first day of the filing period – Deena and I walked to the Dubois County Courthouse to begin my campaign for re-election as Mayor of Jasper. With this action, we add a new dimension to our lives and we look forward to it.
Jasper has become an even better place since January, 2012 and we will be emphasizing my administration’s accomplishments as we hit the campaign trail.
Accomplishment #1: Public Focus and Input
When I came into office the city had just gone through a very painful period of public discord over the power plant. On Day One I asked our team of leaders to re-emphasize and promote public meetings and to look for ways to have more public participation.
- We assembled advisory groups from the public for our Downtown * Riverfront Master Plan, The Parklands of Jasper, and to review our Zoning/Sub-division Control ordinances. Each of these groups not only met in public, they held special sessions for public input – where more than 400 people attended – and more than 100 people were interviewed individually.
- Jasper Arts Commission meetings were moved from the Arts Center to City Hall.
- Regular meeting schedules were established for the Economic Development Commission and the Redevelopment Commission.
- Jasper Municipal Utilities held public meetings with large groups concerning the operations of Beaver Lake and gas service to the Whoderville area.
- A new city website was launched which featured more public documents, more public access capability and more ways for the city to update the public. A new website for the Spirit of Jasper was launched in 2014.
- The Jasper Police Department created a Twitter account @JasperCityPD.
- As Mayor, I produce two public messages each month. The Mayor’s Blog is posted on the city website and a column appears in Jasper Today online magazine. In addition, we started an employee newsletter and I write an article for our staff each month.
- I’ve held City Chats each year since I’ve been in office, appearing in 15 different locations throughout Jasper – both at lunch and in the evening.
- Our city leaders are often interviewed by local or even statewide media. For example, I’ve given well over 100 interviews since taking office.
We want the public to be involved and informed; therefore we will continue this focus throughout the remainder of my first term and, with your help, in my second one.
Blessings,
Terry