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> City needs healthy combination of industry and tourism
kharris
post Sep 1 2011, 07:59 AM
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If we take a good hard look at our city’s history, we would see that for over 100 years, Michigan City prospered and grew on a healthy combination of industry and tourism. In fact that growth continued until 40 years ago when our population peaked at just below 40,000.

Our most recent census in 2010 has placed our population between 31,000 and 32,000 a population decline of nearly 8000 over the past forty years. Parallel to that population decline has been the loss of jobs as major manufacturers such as Pullman Standard, Dunham Bush and Joy Manufacturing left town. I think most would agree that there is a direct correlation between the loss of jobs and a declining population.

My vision for Michigan City is to broaden our approach in an effort to return to that healthy combination of industry and tourism. It is estimated that our community receives approximately 8 million visitors a year. This is due to our ready access to Lake Michigan, Blue Chip Casino and the outlet shopping mall. Just imagine what might happen if we were able to convince some (other) business owners and entrepreneurs that Michigan City, with all its amenities, existing and planned, is just the right location for their business.

The factors attracting new business to a community include the “climate for enjoyment” for its employees. In addition, we can boast a fine transportation network that is even now being improved. Our ready access to a full range of health care facilities and services is a major plus for Michigan City. With new vision and renewed energy, we are poised to make startling and beneficial changes to the city.

In my estimation, as long as we are using riverboat funds to supplement our general fund, the city is operating in the red. There are many different scenarios that could make the city’s share of riverboat funds disappear…then where would be. We need to reduce our dependency on these funds to zero. Only then will we know that our budgets are secure.

In the past, the city has brought in efficiency experts to analyze city operations and propose areas of where and how to improve. Much of my past management experience, some of which has been with a major government contractor, has involved the study of operations, evaluating them for fiscal accountability, cost effectiveness and operational efficiency. As mayor, I will sit down with the controller and the various department heads, and we will take a stark and honest look at how and why things are being done. I believe that there are always ways to improve and reduce spending if they are looked for.

When I take office as your mayor, I will do so in a “zero budget” frame of mind. Each department head will have to justify for me each budget line item in his or her budget with a view to eliminating (cost ineffective) and wasteful practices.

Moving our city forward is going to take an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. I will actively solicit input from local business leaders, school officials, citizen groups and city employees to infuse new ideas into our community.

Bottom line is this … there is no one single avenue to take in these endeavors. In order to restore Michigan City to its former prominence, we will institute a new vision and an aggressive promotion of our community. We need to involve the right people, we need to create a plan, we need to work that plan, and in doing so I believe we will be successful
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