So Much
Weekly update #272 4/6/2025 to 4/12/2025
Sometimes a busy week is harder to write about than a slow week. Let me jump right in and share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
Did you notice additional trash piled at the curbs last week? If so, that is because it was Make Seymour Shine, our annual chance to clean out the garage, basement, or wherever you store the stuff you were not ready to send away over time. Thank you to all our Department of Public Works employees because this is an all-hands-on-deck event, and thank you to all who assisted in one way or another, from feeding the team to being assigned from other places to make it happen. If it wasn’t for you, we would not be able to make it happen each year. If you missed your chance, don’t forget you can sit out one large item a week for no additional charge.
Helping people understand abatements is never an easy task, and this week we held a workshop with council members to explain the process and the benefits it has had for our community over the years. One real-life example shared that a $1 million dollar abatement doesn’t, in fact, save the company $1 million, but creates a savings of about $16,000 a year for ten years. That same example generates about 16 times that in local income tax. Combine that with the use of Tax Increment Financing dollars, and you end up generating $11 million for Crossroads Community Matching Grant match funds since 2016. The match needed for federal grants that were used to build Burkart Boulevard and so many more. As I have done for many years, feel free to drop me an email, and I can try to explain the facts about the abatement process, or in the event that you ask something I don’t have an answer for, I can find out and get back with you.
Kidsfest, which originally started in 1998, returned this year after a break following the COVID years. The event is focused on our community's young children and brings together organizations and those who serve them. Education and health are key points as they help parents find the information they may need. The event also has a touch-a-truck portion where everyone can sign snow plows and fire up the lights and sirens from several emergency vehicles, as well as see the inside of one of our automated trucks. To all those involved, thank you for taking part of your Saturday and focusing on the future of our community with the next generation.
Last year, one of our area Special Olympic athletes, as part of his leadership class, organized a fire truck pull to support the Jackson County Special Olympics. Yesterday was the second event and turned out to be a beautiful day with lots of smiles, and I am sure several sore muscles after it was all said and done. Teams from local departments, area businesses, schools, and several teams of athletes gave it a go. The teams of ten pulled Seymour Fire Department Engine 14 for 50 feet as quickly as possible. With three chances, teams had a chance to watch each other and work on their technique to improve their times. Getting several tons of a fire truck moving takes a game plan, but more than anything, it takes teamwork. Today, I will leave you with a quote from Helen Keller, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."