PB & J Burger
Weekly update #282 6/15/2025 to 6/21/2025
Does peanut butter go on a cheeseburger? Before that though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
This past week, we had our exit interview for the State Board of Accounts’ annual audit. This would be the sixth time we have been audited since the start of 2020. Audits are always one year behind so this year's audit was for the fiscal year 2024. While the SBOA will not release the official audit findings until later, I can say that all the hard work from Clerk-Treasurer Darrin Boas and his staff make the process smoother than it was when he started. This year, we also had the SBOA return as our auditors, and we appreciate that over the contracted services they brought in last year. Their experience and on-site work lead to a quicker and easier process. Thank you to both the staff from SBOA and from the Clerk’s office for all your hard work this year on the annual audit.
Since COVID back in 2020, I had not attended a Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board meeting in person. Participating via zoom loses some of the best parts of any meeting, and this group is no different. As the group of elected officials from the region discussed the impact of this last legislative session, it was clear that it will have an impact on several fronts over the next few years. One of those impacts will be on the Jobs for America's Graduates program here in Indiana. This past school year, Jackson County became the first county in the state to have a JAG program in every public high school. Since the program started roughly four decades ago, it has helped over 1.6 million graduates. The state website may say it best with “We provide vital job skills, hands-on experience, and a year of post-grad support, nurturing students from classroom to career.” Our region has been able to plan out support for JAG through December after state level budget cuts and streamlining have slowed funding to the program. I can’t speak for the group of elected municipal and county officials in attendance, but I can say that I believe investing in our young people is a great investment for the future of our state. Hopefully, our state-elected officials will take the opportunity to correct some of the issues the 2025 session is causing in the 2026 session. Thank you to everyone involved with the Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board for all your hard work.
I guess it is time to share about a few random cheeseburgers I have enjoyed over the years. The first time I saw a cheeseburger with peanut butter as a menu option I had to give it a try. Partly because my wife was convinced I would love it and the other part due to my lifelong go-to being a peanut butter sandwich when I didn’t like what was for dinner. A few years ago one of my girls found a fried egg as a topping option on a cheeseburger and gave it a chance and loved it. In a different food category, I can say I didn’t expect to like pineapple on pizza, but from time to time we will order a Hawaiian pizza when the kids aren’t around. If you are wondering why I have spent the last four sentences talking about different food options, it could be because I was hungry when I sat down to write this week's update. It could also be more about encouraging everyone to think outside the box and stretch their minds, or tastebuds in this example, and try something new. Over the years, I have found that sometimes I will try something and enjoy it more than expected. Other times, I can confidently say I won’t be doing that again, but at least I gave it a try. Often we take a try-it-and-see approach when it comes to different items around the city as well. A few years ago, we tried a rejuvenator on a few roadways to see if it had any long term impact. It worked well enough that we did several roads again this year to try and gain up to five years of life before they need repaved. I could share examples from each department but instead I will encourage you to order that cheeseburger with a new-to-you topping and see for yourself if you like it. To end this week, I will leave you with a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."