The day I was sworn in as your new mayor I concluded a short “thank you & looking forward to serving” speech with an approach I wanted everyone – starting with me – to seriously consider as we began the new year. Call it a reminder, a changed mindset, a new year resolution or a “motto” for each of us to think about before stepping out of our front door each morning:
“Neighbors Serving Neighbors while Cultivating Community.”
Related to this charge, I humbly ask everyone to ponder the same questions I have been wrestling with over the past several months: What if my primary focus was to always assist and help and be of use to others while working through my own day? What changes might occur in my own home, at my place of work, and in my own neighborhood if I seriously attempted to have this point of view each moment of the day? What if my friends and neighbors also did the same thing? Would this approach strengthen relationships, improve our neighborhoods and cultivate community? Would this perspective – focusing on this “motto” if you want to call it that – make an already nice and vibrant place for Living, Working, and Playing even better? … I think so.
On our city website I have highlighted six essential priorities I believe will make Warsaw and our surrounding area an even more desirable place for Living, Working and Playing. This will also give everyone a better understanding of my expectations and daily approach while serving in this prestigious office. Our entire website provides you with all kinds of other information about the city of Warsaw (warsaw.in.gov).
Our city currently has a population of over 16,000 residents with just over 200 full-time city employees. We also have seven elected common council members, an elected clerk-treasurer, 12 department leaders, as well as many appointed board and commission members serving each day to make this an even better place for living, working and playing. As your mayor, I am asking each of them – as well as you – to partner together to offer constructive solutions to not only improve our city but also “cultivate” community. As we each attempt to address the concern(s) and the issue(s) of the day, please also try to appreciate the fact that you are working through challenging – and oftentimes complex – public policy questions with your neighbors.
Lastly, I will admit that I do miss teaching our youth in the classroom each day. However, I want everyone to know serving as mayor of Warsaw is an absolute privilege. The trust, support, guidance and encouragement from my family, friends, coworkers and countless neighbors through this life-career change has energized me greatly. I am so thankful for each of you.
This column “From the Mayor” will provide brief updates, the sharing of opinions, establishing vision, identifying priorities and offering potential solutions for residents in our community.
You may contact my office via email at ([email protected]) or by phone at (574-372-9595).
Your Neighbor,
Jeff R. Grose
Mayor of Warsaw