Puzzle Pieces
Weekly update #295 9/14/2025 to 9/20/2025
Two hundred fifty five weekly updates ago I shared how I viewed Seymour like a jigsaw puzzle, and it was from the imaginations of many that are determined not just curious, to help shape what the future holds. Before I share more pieces of this puzzle, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
This week, I spent part of a day helping the Department of Public Works as they prepare for Oktoberfest. Setting pavers around a recently replaced light pole and replacing an underground box are all part of the job for the crew at DPW. With so many going in various directions, I never know what I will get involved with as I tag along for a work visit, but I always learn something and enjoy the chance to work alongside our team. Thank you for the chance to slow down the progress with my novice skills and keep up the good work many people are noticing.
The Mayor’s Youth Council met for the second time this past week, and it was a chance to see what they had found during their own research and expand on their knowledge along the way. Besides focusing on Oktoberfest for the first few meetings this year, we have added a homework piece between meetings so they can explore topics they bring up for themselves before we discuss them. The two topics from the first homework were “crime” and “nothing for kids to do in Seymour.” Even with several members absent for various reasons we still had good presentations and discussion afterwards. One group focused on talking to friends to see what they would like to see while the other took a deep dive into the data. We have all heard, and maybe even said, that there is nothing for kids to do in Seymour. As we discussed the problem, I think we were able to share that some of their requests currently exist and grab notes of possible ideas for future items. I look forward to seeing what Parks and Recreation grabs from the notes for future programming. When it came to crime, they realized that the numbers continue to decrease year after year here in Seymour. We discussed various ways to improve their research before taking a walk around downtown to discuss various items they had brought up. During our walk we discussed the new Reno Brothers Mural and how the idea had started on a similar walk with the Mayor’s Youth Council several years prior. Thank you to our youth because I always walk away from our meetings with refreshed energy and a positive outlook towards our future.
For over five years now I have viewed the future of Seymour like a puzzle. Unlike when you sit down to do a jigsaw puzzle though, with the box and a set path forward, I see it as we have no set outcome or even a box to refer to. Sometimes, I have even referenced Seymour as a million piece puzzle with all the pieces being the same color in various shades. This week during a meeting related to READI regions and Workforce Development regions, someone pointed out that when we don’t easily find the next piece we will connect two pieces that somewhat fit together and run with them even if they don’t really fit together. This is human nature and can even be how we find ourselves believing conspiracy theories. That is a whole other book, though, for another day. From early childhood education to workforce education, everyday has more and more puzzle pieces that get piled on. Often we add them quicker than our brains can build the connections to previous pieces and allows for finding connections that really aren’t there. To try and bring this weekly update to a wrap, I will encourage you to take the time needed to understand the pieces put in front of you before you try to join them with other pieces. While economic development and workforce development seem to have a simple connection they may not be as simple to link as you believe and aligning the boundaries of both may not be as easy as you think. I think Robert Pirsig said this well when he said, "The world comes to us in an endless stream of puzzle pieces that we would like to think all fit together somehow, but that in fact never do."