Southport Matters Spring ‘10 As Mayor I Frequently Get Credit For Things I Don’t Deserve.
Volunteer spirit abounds in Southport! Our community is fortunate to be filled with kind, caring, dedicated volunteers who give generously of their time, talent and energy for the enjoyment and betterment of their fellow citizens.
Wonder what I mean? Take a look…
Snow is gone, but appreciation remains
Southport’s Department of Public Works is responsible for snow and ice management services on 6 ½ miles of local streets and several alleys, with Marion County DPW and the City of Indianapolis responsible for maintaining primary county roads, that includes Southport Road, Madison Avenue, McFarland Road and Stop 11 Road.
I bet I received nearly a dozen compliments on our snow removal and every one of them belong to our Chief of Maintenance Rob Bettcher and his crew for the outstanding job they did for all of us.
Through what at times seemed like endless bouts of the white stuff this winter, our dedicated street crew was out in the elements, day and night, doing a great job of keeping Southport’s streets and alleys clear. While their job was long and difficult, their hard work made our travels easier and safer, so we say thank you!
BPW members have true servants’ hearts
Hours of hard work addressing issues, solving problems, shouldering stress and never giving up – all of these actions describe my fellow members on Southport’s Board of Public Works. Despite having their own full-time jobs (that account for much more than 40 hours of work each week), Building Commissioner Jim Prosch and Building Inspector Duane Langreck spend countless additional hours (at no pay, I might add) handling all sorts of public works issues.
These dedicated individuals continue to give of their time, expertise and energy month in and month out for the ongoing improvement of our neighborhoods and our entire community. Jim and Duane are the epitome of true public servants. It’s time we said thank you very much!
Taste of Southport – a tasty success
This year’s Taste of Southport event was outstanding, thanks to many hours of hard work, dedication and teamwork. The following Greater Southport Business Alliance (GSBA) members (all family-run businesses) provided their delicious food for nearly 100 guests to enjoy:
Aaron and Erin O’Mara of Augustino’s Italian Restaurant
Alex Wang, Lindy Wang of China Garden Restaurant
Mike and Stephanie Griffin of the Southport Dairy Queen
Brian and Erin Eagan of Gallagher’s Pizza Express
Mike and Marilyn Stewart of Heine’s World Famous Roast Beef
Noel and David Grosze of Yats Restaurant
Special thanks to GSBA President Joan Miller and First Lady Carole Thoman for their hard work. Joan’s selfless dedication of time, talent, energy and leadership resulted in another wonderful event for our community. We look forward to next year’s event with forks raised!
For more information on the GSBA and its mission and activities, check out: http://www.gsbaweb.org/
Police Chief Search and Selection Committee’s Dedicated Work
Often times, large tasks with significant goals are laid at my feet. I am blessed to pass along important opportunities to dedicated volunteers who can contribute their valuable time, talents and energies to achieve the best possible outcome. This scenario certainly was the case with the Search & Selection Committee for Southport’s new police chief.
With University of Indianapolis’ Dr. David Wantz’s facilitation and leadership, committee members spent many hours of dedicated, hard work determining the qualifications for the new chief, establishing the search criteria and spearheading comprehensive interviews of candidates.
The end result was a difficult task for me because they presented me with four highly qualified finalists to consider. But that’s a great problem to have and my final choice was one all of Southport can be proud of: Steve Davis is Southport’s full-time police chief (see the related articles). My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Wantz and the committee members for the outstanding work they did and the thoughtful and inspiration approach they brought to the entire process:
Kevin Bandy, Board of Public Safety member
Bill Bick, citizen and former Southport Chief of Police
Andrew Harrison, Board of Public Safety member
Joan Miller, GSBA president
Eithyel Sandler, citizen
Jesse Testruth, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
Keep Southport Beautiful Team – We Thank You
While the weather didn’t cooperate too well, more than 100 dedicated volunteers, members of Boy/Girl Scout Troop #120 and many members of the Bethel Memorial Church braved the elements to clean up the public areas of our community on Saturday, April 24. Thanks to the time and energy of Southport’s “cleaning crew” and the hard work, caring dedication and leadership of Duane Langreck, Southport looks better than ever. Thank you – great job!
An AfFAIR to remember
Organized by the many dedicated members of the Greater Southport Business Alliance, Southport’s fifth annual Street Fair on May 1 was a day of fun for all. Between the food, games, entertainment, raffles, prizes, wine tasting and retail opportunities, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Special thanks to the GSBA team, led by President Joan Miller. Thanks to Joan and her team, Southport’s quality of life is enhanced with another outstanding event – thank you!
You can be part of the action – send me your email!
If any of these types of committees or fun events sound interesting to you, let me hear from you! I would like to get you involved in future activities. Please provide me with your email by sending me a short note with your interests at Mayor@CityofSouthport.org. I’ll be happy to let you know of opportunities for involvement and provide you with upcoming information.
Mayor Rob Thoman
Mayor@CityofSouthport.org
Dr. Carole Thoman
- Wife, partner, best friend, volunteer
Dr. David Wantz
- Vice-President of Community Affairs, University of Indianapolis
Dave Keiser, President
- Keiser Consulting
Joan Miller, President
- GSBA
Jeff Peters, Director
- Dept. of Budget & Finance; Peters Municipal Consulting
Duane Langreck
- Board of Public Works, Building Inspector, Architect, BSA Silver Beaver
Jim Prosch. P.E.
- Board of Public Works, Professional Engineer
Susan Nelson, APR
- Director of Communication
Steve Davis
- Chief, Southport Police Department
Andrew Harrison
- Board of Public Safety, Emergency Management
Kevin Bandy
- Board of Public Safety, Police & Code Compliance
Mayor Joe Wright
- Beech Grove
Chief Michael Spears
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police
Mitzi Smith
- GSBA, Secretary & Newsletter Editor
Kevin Killworth
- KSM Business Technology, Sr. Consultant
Representative Mike Murphy
- State of Indiana
Dr. Karl Glander
- Orthodontist, Greater Southside Community
Allissa Haganman-Thompson
- Southport MainStreet Committee & Southport Antique Mall
Dana Stone
- Bose Public Affairs Group, Project Manager
Mike O'Connor
- Lilly Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Tom Little
- Perry Township School Superintendent
Jamie McKinney, Project Manger
- Arrowmark Management Consulting
Ryan Achterberg, MCP, MCTS
- KSM Business Technology, Sr. Consultant
Senator Brent Waltz
- State of Indiana
Tom John
- Chairman, Marion County Republican Committee
Jeff Cardwell
- Councilman, City of Indianapolis
Tom Bredeweg
- Indiana Association of Cities & Towns, Ambassador
Michael O'Brien
- Senior Consultant, Bose Public Affairs
Brian Biehn
- President, Johnson Comfort
Charlie Brandt
- Katz, Sapper & Miller, CIO on Demand
Rev. Roger Tappert
- retired
Ken Barlow
- eGov Strategies, Principal
Roger Harvey
- Bose Public Affairs
Melodie Ramey, Chair
- Southport Arts Council
Jennifer Simmons
- Indiana Association of Cities & Towns
Representative Brian Bosma
- State of Indiana
David Benefiel
- Bonar Group, Community Planner
Melinda Heaston
- Realtor, MIBOR PAC, Southport Community
Kroger, Gardis & Regis
- Indiana Litigation Attorneys & Business Lawyers
Dream City, raw reality; National Obamaphobia seen as indicator of xenophobic tendencies 08/29/10
Dan's point of view offers an intersting insight to our cohort and explains an the atraction of "playing the picolo" once in a while.
I enjoyed his perspective and identified with many aspects of his call to action. Please consider answering your "call to action" when you can truly contribute to the conversation.
Be part of a solution and not a complainer. Direct your energies toward a positive result, and stay away from projects or teams whose only solution it to stop something from happening.
There are so many opportunities in our community where a simple effort can improve the quality of life for all of us. We all need help in a positive direction. We're all from Dream City.
more... IF you can keep your head when all about you ... 08/22/10
My friend, Dave W. offered this citation and provided a bit of calm during a recent Council storm. Thanks Dave.
more... There is no 'rural revival' in IN 06/21/10
Hoosiers want small cities and towns, many of which offer only the diconnected lifestyle of suburbia.
Please help to make Southport a better place to live. The solutions are in our hands but it will not happen until citizens rethink how we live.
more... BOULET: Has civility become a quaint and obsolete concept? 05/30/10
Mr. Bullet explains his feeling that "Americans are not as civil as they used to be."
"It’s not surprising that polarization and ineffectiveness are the products of uncivil behavior. Whether in politics, sports or the workplace, people simply don’t like working with those who treat them with disrespect, resort to name-calling, and fail to listen. But if, on the other hand, people on opposite sides of an issue feel they can safely express their views without fear of insults, threats or abuse, they are more likely to be willing to work toward finding solutions."
more... Failure can't be an option for our children or our city 05/29/10
In addition to the four issues mentioned in the Star's Editorial this Sunday, please allow me to suggest the following ideas.
Vouchers will increase competition and accountability.
Tax revenue for K-12 spending should be capped. The true cost of vouchers should be included within that cap.
Our state should have well defined standards of student success (or failure) and we should direct our available resources to the preferred outcome(s).
more... Answers to prayer questions 05/24/10
As Sheila concludes: We should all have learned the difference between the public sector and the public square in Government 101. Unfortunately, too many of us skipped class.
more... Money, riches aren't the same, nun notes 05/15/10
Sister Luke has a way if hitting the nail on the head, doesn't she?
more... Spotlight on public prayer 05/11/10
Mr. Wallack offers a well reasoned viewpoint and thoughtful comment on a topic that our council seems to misunderstand. I hope that including his commentary here opens minds instead of closing ranks and contributes to neighborly dialogue instead of incivility.
I've also included a few posts from the IndyStar comments that contribute.
more... 2008 SBoA Audit Report: An Accurate Reflection 05/02/10
I welcome the opportunity to provide you with a complete picture of events that transpired leading up to the Southport’s 2008 annual audit from the Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBoA). As an experienced care provider, I recognize the importance of setting realistic expectations, fully knowing that we will adjust the course of treatment accordingly.
more... The Path to civility in our discourse can start with you. 05/01/10
In reading Reverend Rosebrock's insightful My View article in the Indianapolis Star, I was struck that her comments correlate to discussions at the municipal government leadership level in Southport. I took the liberty of adding text in parentheses to show how the same description Reverend Rosebrock uses for Marion County can be said of Southport.
I am pleased our City Council accepted my invitation to work on our discourse. I look forward to a positive outcome as a result of my conversation with Council members on Tuesday, May 11.
more... Southport leads the way: first Marion County city to form a CERT Team 04/22/10
More than 30 residents and elected and appointed officials from Southport, Homecroft and Greenwood are spending four of their Saturday mornings learning about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Southport kicked off the first CERT training in Marion County on Saturday, April 10 to train dedicated citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in the community.
more... The Power of Citizens’ Voice: Search Committee’s Dedicated Work 03/01/10
Often times, large tasks with significant goals are laid at the Mayor’s feet.
more... Tastefully Successful 02/24/10
Thanks to many hours of hard work, dedication and teamwork, the 2010 Taste of Southport was an outstanding success!
more... MOS Winter ‘10 - Opportunities Abound! 02/20/10
Change is going to happen, challenges will appear and remarkable opportunities are on the horizon. City leaders merely can react to changes or choose to be proactive. We should prepare for challenges and not stand aside to allow challenges to determine our future. If leaders are prepared, we can see opportunities before they pass us by. News of economic opportunities arrives each month, but Southport continues to have little to offer and these prospects move on to other neighborhoods. In failing to be prepared and inviting, our city will be the last on the list as our neighboring communities reap the rewards of proactivity and preparedness.
more... Economic Development 2: Structuring It To Work For You 02/03/10
TIF projects are particularly beneficial when they develop infrastructure capacity that can attract additional future investment. As Southport creates the infrastructure to support one new facility, the area could blossom into an the next private investment in that area may not require TIF.
more... Legislators should stick to the basics and go home 01/25/10
Another point of view on property tax caps from the IBJ Editorial.
more... We all have homework to do on property tax caps. 01/22/10
Reporter, Brian Howey provides an interesting take on efficiency in local government. I agree with his suggestion that municipal government requires periodic reevaluation of its priorities and application of limited resources.
more... Economic Development 1: More Important than Ever 01/20/10
In today’s topic, Gary cites an example where the operating costs increase 11% over the year. The required increase in the levy (and associated tax rate) can’t keep up. Worse still, Southport doesn’t have an option to use a LOIT because Indianapolis retains that tax. Additionally, the net assessed values (NAV) in Southport have decreased significantly over the past few years. As we have used our General and Road Funds to pay capital expenses, we have even less money left to pay for maintenance and general services. The noose keeps getting tighter and tighter.
I mentioned the impact of tax caps on our municipal revenue at Monday’s council meeting. If other local units of government (schools, library, county, township or state) increase their tax levy to accommodate their increasing expenses - when the tax cap limitation takes effect - our city will have to accept a disproportionate reduction in our tax levy, even though Southport was not responsible for the increase. Each time that happens, our available funds will be reduced further. Some have called such an impact the death spiral for small cities or towns.
Nobody in Southport wants to see eventual insolvency lead to absorption by Indianapolis. We all prefer to maintain a hold on our own destiny as long as we can. Without an increase in net assessed values, it is clear to me that Southport cannot survive into the future. Mr. Malone’s example helps to understand what happens if things are left the way they today. He also shows the benefits of an Increment Tax Finance District.
We should reconsider the benefit of the TIF District and Redevelopment Commission if we are to be responsible stewards for our city. Let’s get together to see how to keep Southport independent.
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