Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/april-4-2010-editorial-shaping-vision

 

 

April 4, 2010, editorial: Shaping the Vision

ISSUE: Hardin County Vision project OUR VIEW: Ideas will benefit from broad input

By Ben Sheroan

Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm

With astounding growth spawned by changes at Fort Knox, including a $322 million increase in the annual economy, Hardin County needs to expect change. Reacting to it, however, is quite different than preparing for it.

Thanks to financing provided by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and the work of Luke Schmidt’s consulting firm, a collection of ideas has been compiled that could serve as an outline for the future. The initial findings of this Vision project, released last week, come from surveys and brainstorming sessions among community leaders and other involved individuals considered to be “stakeholders” in Hardin County. Schmidt also examined five “benchmark communities” of similar size and some similar characteristics.

The concepts are broad and challenging but fall into six primary categories: education, community unification, community development, quality of place and quality of life, downtown Elizabethtown and health care. In presenting his findings, Schmidt said participants in the process had a high level of consensus in the suggestions offered for exploration.

The next step is community input.

A forum to review and discuss the findings has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center at John Hardin High School. Please mark your calendars and try to be there.

Many concepts in the proposal are based on a sense of unification. The idea is simple: A county speaking with one voice when addressing industrial prospects, elected officials and military leaders can get more accomplished.

But to reach unanimity and a single voice, all voices must be heard in a forthright and honest discussion.

The forum process also could help identify people interested enough to work on task forces or steering committees to propel the 24 suggestions from ideas to implementation or at least to exploration.

To stir community discussion and keep this matter in the forefront of our minds, beginning today The News-Enterprise will use its informal online poll to ask a daily question based on the Vision project. The results, while not scientific, could provide a hint of public support and certainly contribute toward awareness in this community conversation.

A few of the proposals are quite controversial. Simply discussing increased availability of alcohol, a single county governement and merger of public school districts will create tension. But putting aside tradition and terrioritial matters in favor of considering the potential effectiveness of an alternative direction is a noble pursuit.

Which of the 24 strategic goals become reality is harder to predict than this year’s NCAA basketball tournament. But change is coming despite what steps we take. It’s better to embrace it and try to make the most of these opportunities.

— This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.