Article originally posted by The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise directed to:http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/exploring-vision-means-keeping-eye-unity

 

Exploring a vision means keeping eye on unity

By Ben Sheroan

 

Friday, May 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm

The process of developing a vision for Hardin County’s maturation and development raised several compelling questions and stirs a few age-old controversies.

You can get lost in complicated details about the ins and outs of reshaping government. The discussion about the value of healthy competition among fiscally viable public school systems versus a streamlined single district may be endless. And wet-dry raises issues of economic growth, quality of life and community values.

Those are the three biggest questions, perhaps. But the vision-casting ideas outlined last week at a community forum also include dreams about a symphony orchestra, a YMCA, trauma center designation at Hardin Memorial Hospital, a vibrant entertainment and retail hub plus a first-class hotel and conference center.

Some of the ideas seem within the community’s grasp. Others are more far reaching and challenging.

Nothing happens that doesn’t begin with a thought.

With all the subjects on the table, a more central question should be added to the mix.

Can we rise above our personal desires, traditions and bias to truly reach for the greater good?

A basic element of the Hardin County Vision Project as conducted by consultant Luke Schmidt was a survey of local leaders and so-called stakeholders — people who have demonstrated an interest by investing their lives in service to the community. Through a 30-page survey, follow-up interviews and meetings, 24 strategic goals were identified.

Central to Schmidt’s approach was asking participants to consider Hardin County as a whole. He defined community as Hardin County.

When determining how best to move the county forward, a sense of creating a unified voice and leveraging our size and talents is easy to see. Yet most of us typically define community in a smaller way. We are accustomed to considering our neighborhood or town as the community.

Unless Hardin Countians are willing to rise above our differences and focus on the whole, we’ll never achieve all that’s possible.

The four separate Chambers of Commerce operating in Hardin County have been building a model of cooperation that is now known as the Heartland Chambers Alliance. The victories achieved through One Knox in melding priorities of multiple city and county governments demonstrate the value of focusing our energies in Frankfort.

We have models of success. But the question remains: Can we remain focused on the greater good?

An ad hoc group of volunteers calling itself Hardin County United is beginning the process of examining, researching and challenging the Vision Project’s goals. In the interest of full disclosure, readers need to know that I personally have chosen to participate from the inside as a member of this panel. I will be a working component in the process but will not serve as a mouthpiece. The newspaper’s news coverage will not be hindered from asking any question because of this relationship.

The growth at Fort Knox has provided Hardin County with a great challenge. It seems wise to step out and analyze our options. Rather than let the future happen to us, Hardin County can manage and shape the unfolding events.

Great possibilities are before us, if we truly are big enough people to remain focused on unity and the betterment of all.

Ben Sheroan is editor of The News-Enterprise. He can be reached at bsheroan@thenewsenterprise.comor (270 ) 505-1764.