In the context of my posting about working on the Baldrige Award, I found this little quote to have both a powerful message and also to say that improvement is incremental. If we get better than where we were when we started, then success can be identified.
Continuous improvement is the goal.
Let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good.
Good, Better, Best.
Never Let Me Rest.
Until My Good Is Better.
And My Better Best.
Army Ranger Slogan
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Shoot for the Stars
Today, I was reading one of the several Blogs I check. While reading, I thought of the context of this piece. We always think at the end of the year about what we accomplished and what is planned for the New Year.
I reviewed a list of the objectives I had for our department heads and key staff. Most of the items were addressed, although some were not achieved in the manner I expected them to be completed. Still, we had a pretty impressive list.
2007 will be a year that will mark some significant change for us. As I shared with the staff Wednesday, I have been thinking about quality for some time. When I met with the City Commission for my job interview in December 2002, I stated that one of my personal objectives for the time I am City Manager is for the organization to be recognized as the best managed small city in America.
Now I am not talking about City Manager management but management of the City of Concordia. To accomplish that objective, the key metric is to be “recognized.”
Here is the objective for 2007- we are going to start work to win one of the Malcolm Baldrige Awards. For those who want to check it out, go to this web site: http://www.baldrige.nist.gov/.
As I type, I can hear the mocking going on down at the coffee shop, which is probably the right place for it. Everybody knows that “no work is done at the coffee shop.”
Every teacher we had, every coach we played for, every boss we ever worked for told us that we needed to stretch our daily performance to excel and to succeed. Every day we get up for school or go to work is a battle to keep from being beaten down. I remember my parents telling me to “reach for the stars. You may not get it but you will be a darn site further than the one who doesn’t try.”
The Baldrige is the “star objective” for me. We may not achieve that goal but we will be recognized as a leader in municipal governance because we are trying.
I reviewed a list of the objectives I had for our department heads and key staff. Most of the items were addressed, although some were not achieved in the manner I expected them to be completed. Still, we had a pretty impressive list.
2007 will be a year that will mark some significant change for us. As I shared with the staff Wednesday, I have been thinking about quality for some time. When I met with the City Commission for my job interview in December 2002, I stated that one of my personal objectives for the time I am City Manager is for the organization to be recognized as the best managed small city in America.
Now I am not talking about City Manager management but management of the City of Concordia. To accomplish that objective, the key metric is to be “recognized.”
Here is the objective for 2007- we are going to start work to win one of the Malcolm Baldrige Awards. For those who want to check it out, go to this web site: http://www.baldrige.nist.gov/.
As I type, I can hear the mocking going on down at the coffee shop, which is probably the right place for it. Everybody knows that “no work is done at the coffee shop.”
Every teacher we had, every coach we played for, every boss we ever worked for told us that we needed to stretch our daily performance to excel and to succeed. Every day we get up for school or go to work is a battle to keep from being beaten down. I remember my parents telling me to “reach for the stars. You may not get it but you will be a darn site further than the one who doesn’t try.”
The Baldrige is the “star objective” for me. We may not achieve that goal but we will be recognized as a leader in municipal governance because we are trying.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Ethanol Water Study
A couple of weeks ago, I did a presentation to the City Commission regarding the upcoming Ethanol Plant to be located here in Concordia. The chief aim of the presentation was to address some of the misinformation circulating about the community. What I intend to do here is reflect on what I see happening.
For those who are outside of Concordia reading, Everton Energy LLC announced they plan to construct a 110 million gallon ethanol production facility on the east side of Concordia. Land options have been signed while the company does its water investigation.
Water is a key element in the success of this proposed project. As a result, we asked Everton to hire one of the state’s premier water geologists to assist them in locating additional water resources for the project. Everton hired Bob Vincent, owner of Ground Water Associates of Wichita, Kansas. At the present time (12/18/06) they are drilling test wells along Plum Road, south and east of Concordia. These test drillings will generate information about the water formations around Concordia and will be provided back to the City, County, Division of Water Resources (DWR) and the Kansas Geodetic Survey.
The plant will have a requirement for three utility services from the City.
The potable water is for the product processing, clean-up, and domestic use in the office and the plant. The non-potable water will be used for boiler circulation. The daily requirement will be 900,000 GPD (Gallons Per Day) and as engineering proceeds, the manufacture expects to design around a smaller consumptive amount. So, how much smaller? I can truly say, I don’t know.
Everton will be more concerned about that than the City will be. Everton’s objective is to find and provide the water they need above and beyond the current City resources. Those water resources will be given over to the City to manage and sell back to Everton.
Those familiar with Concordia recognize one of our water resources is the Republican River. The City has water rights in the Republican River basin and due to drought conditions the Division of Water Resources has restricted our water consumption from the Republican River basin. Fortunately, we have water resources in two other water formations. They are the Oak Creek Alluvium and the Dakota Aquifer.
Everton is spending their efforts in finding resources in the Dakota Aquifer. This is very good since DWR is not allowing any new uses from the Republican River basin. What DWR is particularly happy about is the effect of water production and discharge will be a net gain from what we currently draw and what we will be returning to the Republican River.
Lest we get excited about the quality of the water going to the river, it will be the same water we are discharging now. What I know of the water use plan is this. The potable water used in processing is a closed loop. Process water is totally used in the production of ethanol and not discharged. When the corn is introduced to the cooking process it is added to a brew. Water is added to get the mixture at a certain moisture level and cooked. Water loss comes from two points in the process. It evaporates as steam and it goes out the plant as Dried Distillers Grain (DDG). The drying process brings back water to the process side and is reused. The biology of the return solution is important because it contains the materials that help break down the corn for the next process. So, there is no discharge of process water.
Effluent water from the City’s waste water treatment plant will be used for operating the boiler and the cooling system. These sources will be discharged from the plant back to Oak Creek and the Republican River so they can replenish those aquifers. Water from the Dakota formation will end up in the Republican River in greater quantities than the City currently draws. There is a Win-Win.
The other Win-Win for Everton and the City is, as I mentioned above, the water rights. Once Everton finds and perfects the water resources, they will give the water rights to the City of Concordia. Another DWR point of concern is that they prefer that a unit of local government be the water provider to the plant. With Everton providing the water rights to the City, they will not be in the water business. This gives DWR another point of comfort.
The last point to cover today is what the City gets from this relationship. I have urged the Commission and CloudCorp to consider when we provide either water or sewer service outside the city limits, we would have as part of our development agreement provisions for annexation. Our agreements thus far include willingness to annex the project in exchange for providing utility service to the plant. This is significant to the future of City tax policy. The current property will be added as commercial value and not as agriculture as it currently is valued. I haven’t tried doing a cost/benefit study yet but I see a general picture looking positive. Again, Everton finding and supplying the water resources to the City, the City selling that water (and effluent water) to Everton and property tax gains on the project’s Assessed Value.
As we wait for the results of the water investigation, we see the possibility of benefits to both Everton and the City of Concordia.
For those who are outside of Concordia reading, Everton Energy LLC announced they plan to construct a 110 million gallon ethanol production facility on the east side of Concordia. Land options have been signed while the company does its water investigation.
Water is a key element in the success of this proposed project. As a result, we asked Everton to hire one of the state’s premier water geologists to assist them in locating additional water resources for the project. Everton hired Bob Vincent, owner of Ground Water Associates of Wichita, Kansas. At the present time (12/18/06) they are drilling test wells along Plum Road, south and east of Concordia. These test drillings will generate information about the water formations around Concordia and will be provided back to the City, County, Division of Water Resources (DWR) and the Kansas Geodetic Survey.
The plant will have a requirement for three utility services from the City.
- Potable water
- Waste water effluent
- Sanitary Sewer
The potable water is for the product processing, clean-up, and domestic use in the office and the plant. The non-potable water will be used for boiler circulation. The daily requirement will be 900,000 GPD (Gallons Per Day) and as engineering proceeds, the manufacture expects to design around a smaller consumptive amount. So, how much smaller? I can truly say, I don’t know.
Everton will be more concerned about that than the City will be. Everton’s objective is to find and provide the water they need above and beyond the current City resources. Those water resources will be given over to the City to manage and sell back to Everton.
Those familiar with Concordia recognize one of our water resources is the Republican River. The City has water rights in the Republican River basin and due to drought conditions the Division of Water Resources has restricted our water consumption from the Republican River basin. Fortunately, we have water resources in two other water formations. They are the Oak Creek Alluvium and the Dakota Aquifer.
Everton is spending their efforts in finding resources in the Dakota Aquifer. This is very good since DWR is not allowing any new uses from the Republican River basin. What DWR is particularly happy about is the effect of water production and discharge will be a net gain from what we currently draw and what we will be returning to the Republican River.
Lest we get excited about the quality of the water going to the river, it will be the same water we are discharging now. What I know of the water use plan is this. The potable water used in processing is a closed loop. Process water is totally used in the production of ethanol and not discharged. When the corn is introduced to the cooking process it is added to a brew. Water is added to get the mixture at a certain moisture level and cooked. Water loss comes from two points in the process. It evaporates as steam and it goes out the plant as Dried Distillers Grain (DDG). The drying process brings back water to the process side and is reused. The biology of the return solution is important because it contains the materials that help break down the corn for the next process. So, there is no discharge of process water.
Effluent water from the City’s waste water treatment plant will be used for operating the boiler and the cooling system. These sources will be discharged from the plant back to Oak Creek and the Republican River so they can replenish those aquifers. Water from the Dakota formation will end up in the Republican River in greater quantities than the City currently draws. There is a Win-Win.
The other Win-Win for Everton and the City is, as I mentioned above, the water rights. Once Everton finds and perfects the water resources, they will give the water rights to the City of Concordia. Another DWR point of concern is that they prefer that a unit of local government be the water provider to the plant. With Everton providing the water rights to the City, they will not be in the water business. This gives DWR another point of comfort.
The last point to cover today is what the City gets from this relationship. I have urged the Commission and CloudCorp to consider when we provide either water or sewer service outside the city limits, we would have as part of our development agreement provisions for annexation. Our agreements thus far include willingness to annex the project in exchange for providing utility service to the plant. This is significant to the future of City tax policy. The current property will be added as commercial value and not as agriculture as it currently is valued. I haven’t tried doing a cost/benefit study yet but I see a general picture looking positive. Again, Everton finding and supplying the water resources to the City, the City selling that water (and effluent water) to Everton and property tax gains on the project’s Assessed Value.
As we wait for the results of the water investigation, we see the possibility of benefits to both Everton and the City of Concordia.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
What's that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Several weeks ago, I attended an Economic Development Conference sponsored by the Kansas Bankers Association. The noon speaker was the President of Kansas State University. He spoke of the awards students were winning. They were not sports awards – Academic Awards. He was reporting on the most recent award winner. She was a Kansas native that won one of the six most prestigious academic awards in the United States. He went on to tell that K-State leads the nation in Public University awards of these six. Private universities have more but K-State leads everyone else.
The week before, I was listening to Concordia High School Counselor Larry Laas, speak about the academic success of students in Concordia. I asked him to look up the records they had at school. Here is his email:
“I looked in my files and found that records began to be kept in 1966. Since that time, Concordia has been fortunate to have 31 National Merit finalists and 45 National Merit Commended Students. In just the last 12 years, we have had 12 National Merit Finalist and 11 National Merit Commended Students. Very impressive for a school our size!”
As my mother used to say, “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?”
Well, as we recruit businesses to Concordia, as we are now, being able to point to the success of students in the classroom is a key point of interest to owners and families of folks who will come with those businesses.
We are doing something right in our schools. Academics is the primary mission of schools. We should take our hats off to the work our USD 333 staff is doing.
The week before, I was listening to Concordia High School Counselor Larry Laas, speak about the academic success of students in Concordia. I asked him to look up the records they had at school. Here is his email:
“I looked in my files and found that records began to be kept in 1966. Since that time, Concordia has been fortunate to have 31 National Merit finalists and 45 National Merit Commended Students. In just the last 12 years, we have had 12 National Merit Finalist and 11 National Merit Commended Students. Very impressive for a school our size!”
As my mother used to say, “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?”
Well, as we recruit businesses to Concordia, as we are now, being able to point to the success of students in the classroom is a key point of interest to owners and families of folks who will come with those businesses.
We are doing something right in our schools. Academics is the primary mission of schools. We should take our hats off to the work our USD 333 staff is doing.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Great Day
Today, I had a great day. I joined Kirk Lowell, John Forshee, Phil Gilliland and Deb Peters (Four Rivers Development Corp, Beloit) at the Kansas Bankers Association Economic Summit.
The Keynote Speaker was Boomtown USA author Jack Schultz. Many of us read his Blog http://boomtownusa.blogspot.com/ regularly. It was good to see him give his presentation live about “The 7 ½ Keys to Big Success in Small Towns.” His message was POWERFUL! It was fun to watch the delivery too. There was energy and commitment in every breath. Wow.
Before the meting started, I introduced myself. As a subscriber of this Blog, he chided me for not writing as frequently as I have in the past. Chiding is noted and I will write more frequently.
Let me give you a summary of the 7 ½ steps
The Keynote Speaker was Boomtown USA author Jack Schultz. Many of us read his Blog http://boomtownusa.blogspot.com/ regularly. It was good to see him give his presentation live about “The 7 ½ Keys to Big Success in Small Towns.” His message was POWERFUL! It was fun to watch the delivery too. There was energy and commitment in every breath. Wow.
Before the meting started, I introduced myself. As a subscriber of this Blog, he chided me for not writing as frequently as I have in the past. Chiding is noted and I will write more frequently.
Let me give you a summary of the 7 ½ steps
- Adopt a “can do” attitude
- Shape your vision
- Leverage your Resources
- Raise up Strong Leaders
- Encourage an Entrepreneurial Approach
- Maintain Local Control
- Build Your Brand
7 1/2 Embrace the Teeter-Totter Factor
This is a teaser. Read the book. There are several in the Community. All the Commissioners got one two years ago. Once you read it, you will see that Concordia is moving in the absolute right direction.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Whole Wall Project
Last weekend, we were taking our daughter Brynn back to the airport in Omaha so she could fly back to college in Ohio. Having spent several “fast” trips to Omaha this summer due to Susan’s transplant we were able to stop in Lincoln for a change. Susan’s main reason was to find a Scooter’s coffee shop. We fell in love with their smoothies. It is no wonder since they use ice cream mix as their base ingredient.
While searching, we found Hay Market Square. It is around the train depot. As we got out of the car to look around, Susan found a brick mural that reminded me of the Whole Wall Project here in Concordia. Just this last week, the Cloud County Historical Society had their annual banquet and they were showing copies of the artwork that will some day soon decorate the wall of the “old Everett Hardware Store.”
The mural in Lincoln was a reminder of how much the project will beautify one of Concordia’s entrance points. As folks are driving up and down Highway 81, the finished product will cause folks to stop and look.
I am not involved in the fund raising but I am sure that a financial gift would be appreciated.
While searching, we found Hay Market Square. It is around the train depot. As we got out of the car to look around, Susan found a brick mural that reminded me of the Whole Wall Project here in Concordia. Just this last week, the Cloud County Historical Society had their annual banquet and they were showing copies of the artwork that will some day soon decorate the wall of the “old Everett Hardware Store.”
The mural in Lincoln was a reminder of how much the project will beautify one of Concordia’s entrance points. As folks are driving up and down Highway 81, the finished product will cause folks to stop and look.
I am not involved in the fund raising but I am sure that a financial gift would be appreciated.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Ethanol
I prepared a memorandum to our employees last week which was put in their pay envelopes. Here are my comments.
Given the amount of discussion on the Ethanol Plant, I thought I should give you an update of what I know about of the plans to build an Ethanol Plant in Concordia.
It was publicly announced September 8th that developers have acquired options to purchase a site identified east of Concordia and just south of the fairgrounds for the purpose of building the plant. Their plans depend upon availability of water.
In regard to the City’s involvement in the project, we have been asked to provide effluent from the Waste Water Treatment Plant. We may be involved with the supply of potable water to the plant but that will be using water resources that the developer is securing. The following paragraph was cited in the public announcement:
Everton Energy has retained Kansas’ leading ground water hydrologist and a Kansas water rights attorney. This project team will work closely with the City of Concordia in determining and securing appropriate and ample sources of water while maintaining or increasing the City’s current water rights cushion for its citizens and businesses. If the City can cost effectively provide the needed water to the ethanol plant, Everton Energy will request annexation of its ethanol plant property into the City limits of Concordia.
Those in the water department may recognize the ground water hydrologist as someone we have worked with for several years – Bob Vincent. Bob is a native Concordian and has state wide credentials and is well known for work done in Concordia in the past.
The other point in the announcement that needs reaffirmation is the intent of the developer to secure additional water capacity (which means above and beyond what we currently have) to meet the production requirements of the plant. Comments the developer has made in meetings here in Concordia indicate he intends to make sure the existing water situation is improved for the City.
I sat in a meeting last Friday with Bob Vincent and Keith Stewart, (Assistant Water Commissioner, DWR, Stockton office) where we talked about the ethanol developer looking for and securing water rights for his project. Several issues came up that were pertinent to the water issue
New water rights will be sought in the “Dakota formation.” It is the body of underground water outside the influence of the Republican River Basin. We heard from Vincent and DWR that NO MORE water can be pulled from the Republican River Basin
One of the more interesting facts I learned was that the Republican River is NOT contributing to the volume of water in the Republican River Basin, it is actually extracting it. Recharge come from flooding or high water flows following a rain storm.
Vincent said the water level in the Dakota formation is not falling. Contrary to what is happening in Western Kansas, water levels are staying fairly stable. The practice of taking water in Western Kansas is called “mining” or taking more than is being recharged. In Central and Eastern Kansas the practice is “harvesting” or taking what is being added back to the aquifer.
Once the additional water rights are secured and the plant is constructed, the City will annex the 160 acre property. It has been interesting hearing that the City’s intent is to annex a five mile radius around the town. This claim is so far fetched! The chief reason is that state statute requires that a utility plan be provided for a proposed annexation area if utilities are not already present. By the time annexation occurs, water, sewer and effluent systems will be in place. The rumor about the five mile radius is unreasonable because we cannot possibly afford to provide utility service nor has there been a feasibility study to determine whether any area has practical affordability.
The next step in our process to nail down this opportunity is to draft and have approved a development agreement with Everton Energy. The development agreement will outline the things the City will do or provide as well as what the developer will do or provide. Examples of things that could be included are water services and at what rate they will be paid, where we are in the fire protection process, a statement regarding annexation as well as other points.
This plant will have a positive impact on Concordia. I hope that in the process of seeing it develop, you will feel free to ask any question about the development. I will do my best in answering the questions.
Given the amount of discussion on the Ethanol Plant, I thought I should give you an update of what I know about of the plans to build an Ethanol Plant in Concordia.
It was publicly announced September 8th that developers have acquired options to purchase a site identified east of Concordia and just south of the fairgrounds for the purpose of building the plant. Their plans depend upon availability of water.
In regard to the City’s involvement in the project, we have been asked to provide effluent from the Waste Water Treatment Plant. We may be involved with the supply of potable water to the plant but that will be using water resources that the developer is securing. The following paragraph was cited in the public announcement:
Everton Energy has retained Kansas’ leading ground water hydrologist and a Kansas water rights attorney. This project team will work closely with the City of Concordia in determining and securing appropriate and ample sources of water while maintaining or increasing the City’s current water rights cushion for its citizens and businesses. If the City can cost effectively provide the needed water to the ethanol plant, Everton Energy will request annexation of its ethanol plant property into the City limits of Concordia.
Those in the water department may recognize the ground water hydrologist as someone we have worked with for several years – Bob Vincent. Bob is a native Concordian and has state wide credentials and is well known for work done in Concordia in the past.
The other point in the announcement that needs reaffirmation is the intent of the developer to secure additional water capacity (which means above and beyond what we currently have) to meet the production requirements of the plant. Comments the developer has made in meetings here in Concordia indicate he intends to make sure the existing water situation is improved for the City.
I sat in a meeting last Friday with Bob Vincent and Keith Stewart, (Assistant Water Commissioner, DWR, Stockton office) where we talked about the ethanol developer looking for and securing water rights for his project. Several issues came up that were pertinent to the water issue
New water rights will be sought in the “Dakota formation.” It is the body of underground water outside the influence of the Republican River Basin. We heard from Vincent and DWR that NO MORE water can be pulled from the Republican River Basin
One of the more interesting facts I learned was that the Republican River is NOT contributing to the volume of water in the Republican River Basin, it is actually extracting it. Recharge come from flooding or high water flows following a rain storm.
Vincent said the water level in the Dakota formation is not falling. Contrary to what is happening in Western Kansas, water levels are staying fairly stable. The practice of taking water in Western Kansas is called “mining” or taking more than is being recharged. In Central and Eastern Kansas the practice is “harvesting” or taking what is being added back to the aquifer.
Once the additional water rights are secured and the plant is constructed, the City will annex the 160 acre property. It has been interesting hearing that the City’s intent is to annex a five mile radius around the town. This claim is so far fetched! The chief reason is that state statute requires that a utility plan be provided for a proposed annexation area if utilities are not already present. By the time annexation occurs, water, sewer and effluent systems will be in place. The rumor about the five mile radius is unreasonable because we cannot possibly afford to provide utility service nor has there been a feasibility study to determine whether any area has practical affordability.
The next step in our process to nail down this opportunity is to draft and have approved a development agreement with Everton Energy. The development agreement will outline the things the City will do or provide as well as what the developer will do or provide. Examples of things that could be included are water services and at what rate they will be paid, where we are in the fire protection process, a statement regarding annexation as well as other points.
This plant will have a positive impact on Concordia. I hope that in the process of seeing it develop, you will feel free to ask any question about the development. I will do my best in answering the questions.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
City Hall Corner Photo
Along with all the other experimenting I have been doing, I found a way to put a photo of City Hall on the Blog. It is obviously the Northwest corner of City Hall for those readers here in town. We have readers literially all over the world - Yes I know who your are. Thanks for keeping in touch!
DiscoverConcordia.com
Over the weekend, we lanched a new website to highlight things going on in Concordia. The site - www.DiscoverConcordia.com is basically called a portal or entry point to other Concordia websites and inormation.
The purpose is to introduce people to Concordia and have an interactive experience. We want a place where we can highlight business needs and where we can keep a community calendar (you can make your own entries but it will be monitored). It is an infant now so the site needs some attention like any newborn will. It is not a site for the City or any other entitity but will allow links to them.
Look at it and send me your comments.
The purpose is to introduce people to Concordia and have an interactive experience. We want a place where we can highlight business needs and where we can keep a community calendar (you can make your own entries but it will be monitored). It is an infant now so the site needs some attention like any newborn will. It is not a site for the City or any other entitity but will allow links to them.
Look at it and send me your comments.
New email addressing
I am trying to get a new email addressing system built into the blog. The service I had on the site ended up being some fellows hobby and not his business. Taking a lead from a fellow blogger, I am using FeedBlitz. It will take a few days of experimenting since I don't do HTML very well.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Investing in Downtown
The power of a few well placed dollars is beginning to show up in downtown. Several businesses are taking advantage of the grant/loan project to improve the look of downtown.
Citizens National Bank and the City of Concordia partnered earlier this year to improve the looks of downtown by fall fest (third week in September). The progress to date has been awesome!
The latest improvement has been Coppoc Sports with their new awning going up today.
Tom’s Music House awaits a porch to go above the store windows. There is new paint on the Thrift Shop and the second hand shop next door. Hart to Heart is getting new windows. After all the work is done, I will post the before and after pictures
All the new paint and window works is having a great impact on how we look to others.
There are several business owners that are still in process of improving their buildings.
Seeing what is happening makes you proud of your town, doesn’t it?
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Changes at City Hall
Changes at City Hall
Don’t expect to see or hear about what happened at City Hall Tuesday morning. Personnel changes are not discussed, period.
The changes you can expect to see is the manner in which citizens are treated by our staff. Tuesday afternoon I told the front office staff what I expected when John and Jane came through the front door or called on the phone.
First, when we have a visitor, we can expect that City Hall Staff will recognize the visitor with “Hello, I am Larry. How may I help you?” They will extend their hand offering a hand shake.
When you call, you will get a greeting “good morning (or afternoon), City of Concordia, (we don’t say “City Hall” any more. What City Hall is this?) This is Larry, How may I help you?” I shared this concept at the Department Head staff meeting today too. I expect all of us to respond in the same fashion in person and on the phone.
Two simple greetings intended to tell folks we are here to help.
City Hall is on loan to us by the community so that we can help them with things they need. There are very capable people waiting to help and I am pleased how they are taking to the new steps.
Tuesday night, I read another Blog I enjoy, Manager Tools (http://www.manager-tools.com/). The third article down, also posted Tuesday, was a piece describing customer service. It seems that Mark Horstman and I were on the same frequency. I recommend reading his material AND listening to his pod casts.
Don’t expect to see or hear about what happened at City Hall Tuesday morning. Personnel changes are not discussed, period.
The changes you can expect to see is the manner in which citizens are treated by our staff. Tuesday afternoon I told the front office staff what I expected when John and Jane came through the front door or called on the phone.
First, when we have a visitor, we can expect that City Hall Staff will recognize the visitor with “Hello, I am Larry. How may I help you?” They will extend their hand offering a hand shake.
When you call, you will get a greeting “good morning (or afternoon), City of Concordia, (we don’t say “City Hall” any more. What City Hall is this?) This is Larry, How may I help you?” I shared this concept at the Department Head staff meeting today too. I expect all of us to respond in the same fashion in person and on the phone.
Two simple greetings intended to tell folks we are here to help.
City Hall is on loan to us by the community so that we can help them with things they need. There are very capable people waiting to help and I am pleased how they are taking to the new steps.
Tuesday night, I read another Blog I enjoy, Manager Tools (http://www.manager-tools.com/). The third article down, also posted Tuesday, was a piece describing customer service. It seems that Mark Horstman and I were on the same frequency. I recommend reading his material AND listening to his pod casts.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
A positive attitude
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort!" ~ Herm Albright
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Concordia Wal-Mart Article
Wal*Mart Article
Author Denis Boyles, who has been a resident in our community the past year, has seen his latest work published in the American Enterprise Magazine (www.theamericanenterprise.org). His article is not one of those published on line but you can find it at the Frank Carlson Library.
I found the thesis of Denis’s story interesting when he came to my office several months ago doing his research. The magazine’s publisher wanted to gauge the impact of Wal-Mart’s in rural communities. Comparing McCook, NE and Concordia was picked for the story. As we heard at the Chamber Coffee today, the McCook Wal-Mart manager and Concordia Wal-Mart manager’s worked together in Great Bend.
The article is not a Wal-Mart “love-in.” It is balanced and has good insight to the two communities.
Author Denis Boyles, who has been a resident in our community the past year, has seen his latest work published in the American Enterprise Magazine (www.theamericanenterprise.org). His article is not one of those published on line but you can find it at the Frank Carlson Library.
I found the thesis of Denis’s story interesting when he came to my office several months ago doing his research. The magazine’s publisher wanted to gauge the impact of Wal-Mart’s in rural communities. Comparing McCook, NE and Concordia was picked for the story. As we heard at the Chamber Coffee today, the McCook Wal-Mart manager and Concordia Wal-Mart manager’s worked together in Great Bend.
The article is not a Wal-Mart “love-in.” It is balanced and has good insight to the two communities.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Local Fireman
I received the following poem from one of our fire Captains. I hope you like it. Also, remember the work that both our Police and Fire staff do for this community.
Local Fireman".
My father was a fireman
He drove a big red truck,
And when he'd go to work every third day
He'd say, "Mother wish me luck".
Then Dad would not come home again
'Til sometime the next day,
But the thing that bothered me most
Was the things some folks would say.
A fireman's life is easy
He eats and sleeps and plays,
And sometimes he don't fight a fire
For days and days and days.
When I first heard these comments,
I was too young to understand
'Cause I knew when people had trouble
Dad was there to lend a hand.
Then my father went to work one day
And kissed us all good-bye,
But little did we realize
That night, we all would cry.
My father gave his life that night
When the floor gave way below,
And I wondered why he'd risk his life
For someone he didn't know.
But now I realize
The greatest gift a man could give
Is to lay his life upon the line
So that someone else may live.
So as we go from day to day
And we pray to God above,
Say a prayer for your local fireman...
He may save the one you love.
Local Fireman".
My father was a fireman
He drove a big red truck,
And when he'd go to work every third day
He'd say, "Mother wish me luck".
Then Dad would not come home again
'Til sometime the next day,
But the thing that bothered me most
Was the things some folks would say.
A fireman's life is easy
He eats and sleeps and plays,
And sometimes he don't fight a fire
For days and days and days.
When I first heard these comments,
I was too young to understand
'Cause I knew when people had trouble
Dad was there to lend a hand.
Then my father went to work one day
And kissed us all good-bye,
But little did we realize
That night, we all would cry.
My father gave his life that night
When the floor gave way below,
And I wondered why he'd risk his life
For someone he didn't know.
But now I realize
The greatest gift a man could give
Is to lay his life upon the line
So that someone else may live.
So as we go from day to day
And we pray to God above,
Say a prayer for your local fireman...
He may save the one you love.
Monday, March 06, 2006
College Drive Business Park Sewer
Folks have been wondering what is going on at the College Drive Business Park. Last fall, we identified the condition of the existing manholes on the sewer system running along the west side of what will be the new shady lake development. We knew that this is the opportune time to replace the manholes and pipe since there would be about 15 feet of cover over the pipes when the shady lake development work is completed.
The Commission approved going to bid last December and we received a proposal from Midland Construction of Kearney, NE.
Over 600 feet of new sewer line and manholes were installed in the past 7 work days. The weather opportunity has been good to us as well. Since there has been little rain, the condition of the work site allowed the contractor to move quickly.
The City Sewer Crew will run our sewer camera system through the pipe late Monday or Tuesday to check the construction. If everything checks out, the project will be complete Wednesday.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Here is a photo from Monday 2-27-06 theater progress. Brick will cover the face of the metal building across the front and around the sides. The sides will be bricked back about 20 feet at th front and a product that I call Stucco will cover the exposed metal.
We cannot see it yet, but as the brick goes up the front, there will be features added that will simulate window openings like those showing on the building on the right.
Downtown Progress
We are making progress in Downtown. Yesterday was the opening day for the downtown grant process. Kirk Lowell made a presentation at the Commission meeting lastnight (3-1-06) and reported 6 applications were received and another four were in process.
The grant funding comes from a $50,000 allocation from the City which will be matched by a $50,000 low interest loan from Citizens National Bank and owner funds. The funds are divided 45% Grant funds, 45% Loan funds and 10% owner funds. If the property owner didn't want to secure a loan, their share is 55%. In each application, the City's maximum grant ($5,000) and bank loan ($5,000) will be $10,000. Any project where the total cost goes above the grant and loan limits will be covered by the owner.
The theater is progressing as well. The brick is going up on both the theater building and the adjacent Dumbbell's building.
With the progress on the theater and the improvements to our downtown buildings, we will see a vast imporvement to our downtown. It will be a place to be proud of again.
The grant funding comes from a $50,000 allocation from the City which will be matched by a $50,000 low interest loan from Citizens National Bank and owner funds. The funds are divided 45% Grant funds, 45% Loan funds and 10% owner funds. If the property owner didn't want to secure a loan, their share is 55%. In each application, the City's maximum grant ($5,000) and bank loan ($5,000) will be $10,000. Any project where the total cost goes above the grant and loan limits will be covered by the owner.
The theater is progressing as well. The brick is going up on both the theater building and the adjacent Dumbbell's building.
With the progress on the theater and the improvements to our downtown buildings, we will see a vast imporvement to our downtown. It will be a place to be proud of again.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Anonymous Letters
Yogi Berra is quoted “I do not answer anonymous letters.
One of the problems of responding to the large number of anonymous letters that circulated through the community is the anonymity issue.
Folks are just not willing to step up to take on some one’s battle if they are not willing to identify them selves.
One of the problems of responding to the large number of anonymous letters that circulated through the community is the anonymity issue.
Folks are just not willing to step up to take on some one’s battle if they are not willing to identify them selves.
Friday, February 10, 2006
White space Solution
The problem is solved, I think. The HTML expert in our family sat down and figured out the problem with the Blog formatting. I couldn’t stand having the Blog articles apart from the sidebar. Not getting Perfection is hard to accept when it comes to seeing your work on the internet. Thanks for your help Brock. Your dear ole dad is proud of you.
White Space Problem
I am still waiting for Blogger to help me correct my blogging problem. As you might be able to tell, I changed the Blog format. Now, instead of white space ahead of the blog, all the information that was at the left is WAY DOWN the page. I lost the ability for folks to subscribe to the Blog too. That will be a relatively easy thing to get back when the family technical writer is available. He helped me get it right in the first place.
I have been working on the City Commission’s Strategic Planning work session notes. If I didn’t say it in the last post, it is interesting to see the commonality among the Commissioners. It is also interesting to see the variety of issues they presented to one another. We will be discussing these at the work session next week. After we work the list over, I will post it here. Right now it is a 3 page list.
Several months ago, I helped the City of Minneapolis begin this process. I talked to Mayor Bob Hudson this week and it appears they are moving ahead “on their own.” That was the plan when we started. Barry Hodges had just been hired as their City Administrator. Working together with the Minneapolis governing body and the community has given Barry an opportunity to gain a picture of what needs done in Minneapolis. Getting a clear picture is always a benefit when you take over a new job.
I have been working on the City Commission’s Strategic Planning work session notes. If I didn’t say it in the last post, it is interesting to see the commonality among the Commissioners. It is also interesting to see the variety of issues they presented to one another. We will be discussing these at the work session next week. After we work the list over, I will post it here. Right now it is a 3 page list.
Several months ago, I helped the City of Minneapolis begin this process. I talked to Mayor Bob Hudson this week and it appears they are moving ahead “on their own.” That was the plan when we started. Barry Hodges had just been hired as their City Administrator. Working together with the Minneapolis governing body and the community has given Barry an opportunity to gain a picture of what needs done in Minneapolis. Getting a clear picture is always a benefit when you take over a new job.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Weird
Yes, I think it is weird that there is this great white space at the beginning of the Blog. I look at it as an analogy for the potential in all of us that is not being used. That is fairly pithy for 8 PM!
A week ago Saturday, the City Commission met to work on strategic planning. They each came to the meeting with a laundry list of projects they would like to see done. I am in the process of gathering them into a document that they can prioritize and then set me on a course of “getting things done.” There were a number of very good ideas.
If you didn’t have a chance to go to the CloudCorp Meeting and hear writer Denis Boyles speak, you ought to read (or reread) the article in the Blade-Empire. Here is the URL http://www.bladeempire.com/web/isite.dll?1138650418000. This quote from the story is one I really like:
One of those characteristics that he (Boyles) touched on was demographics. “People who live far away from here think most of the communities are dying, that it’s just a matter of time,” Boyles said. While depopulation is a fact of life along the Republican River, it does not have to define communities.
The problem with depopulation, he said, is that “it breeds a terrible disease–pessimism. In talking to a professor from the University of Kansas, who was in Concordia this past summer, he found a definition of pessimism. “Pessimism is the embrace of what you fear will not be possible,” he explained.
In visiting towns along the Republican River, he said he could see examples of this everywhere he went–where some towns were dying, and others were thriving.
“The difference between pessimism and realism is that pessimism excludes the possible,” Boyles said. “Since Americans are taught to dream to be all they can be, not all they can’t possibly be, pessimism is downright anti-American.”
Sunday night at our church was a Kansas Day celebration (for those out of state, it is the celebration of Kansas being admitted to the Union). Our concluding activity was to sing our State Song, Home on the Range. I think we ought to sing it more often and take to heart the phrase “where seldom is heard, a discouraging word….”
When tied to the message from Denis Boyles heard the night before, encouraging words are what build cities and also what build relationships.
A week ago Saturday, the City Commission met to work on strategic planning. They each came to the meeting with a laundry list of projects they would like to see done. I am in the process of gathering them into a document that they can prioritize and then set me on a course of “getting things done.” There were a number of very good ideas.
If you didn’t have a chance to go to the CloudCorp Meeting and hear writer Denis Boyles speak, you ought to read (or reread) the article in the Blade-Empire. Here is the URL http://www.bladeempire.com/web/isite.dll?1138650418000. This quote from the story is one I really like:
One of those characteristics that he (Boyles) touched on was demographics. “People who live far away from here think most of the communities are dying, that it’s just a matter of time,” Boyles said. While depopulation is a fact of life along the Republican River, it does not have to define communities.
The problem with depopulation, he said, is that “it breeds a terrible disease–pessimism. In talking to a professor from the University of Kansas, who was in Concordia this past summer, he found a definition of pessimism. “Pessimism is the embrace of what you fear will not be possible,” he explained.
In visiting towns along the Republican River, he said he could see examples of this everywhere he went–where some towns were dying, and others were thriving.
“The difference between pessimism and realism is that pessimism excludes the possible,” Boyles said. “Since Americans are taught to dream to be all they can be, not all they can’t possibly be, pessimism is downright anti-American.”
Sunday night at our church was a Kansas Day celebration (for those out of state, it is the celebration of Kansas being admitted to the Union). Our concluding activity was to sing our State Song, Home on the Range. I think we ought to sing it more often and take to heart the phrase “where seldom is heard, a discouraging word….”
When tied to the message from Denis Boyles heard the night before, encouraging words are what build cities and also what build relationships.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Thinking
Thinking
"Third-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking with the majority; second-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking with the minority; and, first-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking."
--British author A.A. Milne (the creator of “Winnie the Pooh”).
"Third-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking with the majority; second-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking with the minority; and, first-rate minds are only happy when they’re thinking."
--British author A.A. Milne (the creator of “Winnie the Pooh”).
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Sales Tax revisited
I saw Wal*Mart Store Manager Roy Reif downtown this afternoon. He mentioned the comments I made at the Chamber Coffee Tuesday morning about the sales tax revenue.
We talked about what the sales tax means in real dollar sales. You might notice I changed I made to yesterday's blog as a result. I said something like the $1,496,869 revenue came from $20.5 million in retail sales. (Divide the $1,496,869 by the sales tax rate of7.30% and you get $20,505,055.)
If you looked at my numbers yesterday, you might have known I was wrong. Our sales tax revenue is a 1% city tax and a 1/2% county-wide tax. The two generally split $1 million for the 1% tax and $500,000 for the county-wide tax. The retail sales that would generate $1,000,000 of city sales would be ($1,000,000/.01) $100,000,000. One hundred million dollars of retail sales. The same caluclation goes for the county-wide sales tax ($500,000/.005 = $100,000,000.
That amount is still some serious change!
We talked about what the sales tax means in real dollar sales. You might notice I changed I made to yesterday's blog as a result. I said something like the $1,496,869 revenue came from $20.5 million in retail sales. (Divide the $1,496,869 by the sales tax rate of7.30% and you get $20,505,055.)
If you looked at my numbers yesterday, you might have known I was wrong. Our sales tax revenue is a 1% city tax and a 1/2% county-wide tax. The two generally split $1 million for the 1% tax and $500,000 for the county-wide tax. The retail sales that would generate $1,000,000 of city sales would be ($1,000,000/.01) $100,000,000. One hundred million dollars of retail sales. The same caluclation goes for the county-wide sales tax ($500,000/.005 = $100,000,000.
That amount is still some serious change!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
2005 Sales Tax hits
Even with gas prices above the $2.00 level Sales Tax revenues reached another milestone.
During the 2006 Budget process, we projected income at $1,500,000 for 2005. The Department of Revenue distribution to Concordia came in last month at $1,496,869.75. That is just $3,130.25 short of the prediction. It is not quite like Ivory Soap since it was 99.8% of the projection.
I mentioned this at the morning Chamber Coffee because it reflects in the health of our community. In 1995, the City Sales Tax revenue was $794,400. That is quite a jump in 10 years and reflects on the growth of our business community. Congratulations folks!
During the 2006 Budget process, we projected income at $1,500,000 for 2005. The Department of Revenue distribution to Concordia came in last month at $1,496,869.75. That is just $3,130.25 short of the prediction. It is not quite like Ivory Soap since it was 99.8% of the projection.
I mentioned this at the morning Chamber Coffee because it reflects in the health of our community. In 1995, the City Sales Tax revenue was $794,400. That is quite a jump in 10 years and reflects on the growth of our business community. Congratulations folks!
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