Combined Effort
Weekly update #315 2/1/2026 to 2/7/2026
Annual reports are in from the departments, and prep work has begun on State of the City 2026. Before that, though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
This past week, I had a chance to attend a meeting with representatives from Vincennes University. We discussed the Industrial Maintenance program that they have hosted at the Jackson County Learning Center since November of 2023. Since it began, they have awarded 182 certificates to students from 13 area employers. The certificates are in both the mechanical and electrical areas of industrial maintenance. It has been fun watching this program develop over the last several years, and after recent conversations, I look forward to seeing where it goes in the future.
Freezing with a little thaw is what the last week has looked like. Below-average temps started the week out and kept the snow from melting. Later in the week, the temperatures rose enough to start the thaw before dropping back down. Of course, this short reprieve was just enough to make things slicker. The current forecast shows higher highs that should help this last snow head down a drain to make its way to the river. With that in mind, I know several team members at Water Pollution Control worked on clearing catch basins for the coming melt.
Tuesday, our community laid to rest a man who cared for our community deeply. Art Juergens was a retired teacher, member of the Seymour Community School Board, and a long-time member of the Seymour Parks Board. He cared for our kids as a teacher and coach. He continued to look after them, and more, as a school board member. As a Park Board member, he helped get us across the starting line for our current Shields Park Pool rehab and helped us cross the finish line on many projects. Thank you, Mr. Juergens, for all you have done. No one can ever question how much you loved our community.
I opened this weekly update sharing about annual reports from departments and prepping for the State of the City. Not that long ago, I would have commented about the department heads submitting annual reports, but I realize they have all learned to delegate different pieces of the report to team members, collect the different perspectives, and combine them into the final report. After they are submitted, I read through and start taking notes that will become what I deliver as the State of the City at the second council meeting in February. This year, I have reports from eleven city departments and partner organizations that will provide the majority of information. I say it often, but it truly does take a team, and that team makes progress possible. This week, I want to leave you with the words of coach Vince Lombardi, "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual."