Tisovec Slovakia Visits Shenandoah Iowa 2013

We've just concluded a visit of just under a week by our good friends from the city of Tisovec in Slovakia.  A delegation of eight comprised of educators, businessmen and parliament members visited Shenandoah in 2013 and celebrated it's annual Shenfest festivities.  It was an outstanding week and highly productive in our advancing efforts of the Sister City program.  Here is a brief run down of their activities as a group.

Early the next day after arriving late at the Omaha airport on Tuesday they headed to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.  Tisovec has ties with this university and has helped one of the delegates earn her degree in education.  They had a wonderful visit and headed back to Shenandoah in the afternoon.

Upon their arrival we had a tech meeting with two Shenandoah school instructors.  The meeting centered around the progressing project of joining the school systems of Tisovec and Shenandoah through an interactive medium platform on the Internet.  A test website was presented and emails were exchanged among instructors to grant administration access.  This will allow express rights for Shenandoah and Tisovec educators to allow privileges to students to access this platform and interact with each other.  This is a Google website and also access will be extended to a Facebook page.  My fear was the language barrier but to my astonishment there was great discussion among all and there was elevated enthusiasm.  This meeting was a vital piece in establishing a connection for the younger generation of our two school systems.
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A busy day laid ahead for the Tisovec delegation on Thursday.  They toured Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) and BioProcess Algae in the morning and ended up at the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (SMH) for a tour as well and lunch.  They thoroughly enjoyed the energy production displayed at Green Plains and were intrigued with the algae production and it's many applications.  The hospital setting was also well received by our Tisovec delegates.

To finish off the tours of the day they visited Lorimer Farms west of Shenandoah.  Since agriculture is a rich source of life here in Southwest Iowa it was befitting to get them acquainted with the Iowa farm setting.  This destination was also well received with curious eyes.

That evening we had an official "Welcome to the City" at the amphitheater of the Shenandoah Public Library.  After some tasty appetizers and some wonderful art displays by local talent at the school, we collected there for introductions and a welcome from the Mayor of Shenandoah.  This event was concluded with a spectacular vocal music presentation by another student at the Shenandoah High School.  She sang the American National Anthem.  She wanted to sing the Slovak National Anthem but the language barrier had her stumped.  In it's place an audio recording was played and all stood in deep respect and reverence.  It is important to note that after the program in the Library a couple educators from Tisovec enjoyed watching a young girl play an interactive game.  If only that very young girl knew the impact that simple act was having on those around her.

After the Library reception we took the delegation to Godfather's Pizza.  Pizza is a must in America!

On Friday they visited the schools.  They liked how the schools are in close proximity.  They visited the Turnbull Child Development Center (TCDC), Elementary School, Middle School and the High School.  They had lunch at the High School and visited some more until a little later that afternoon.
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We met back at the May Center at the High School for our first round-table discussion.  It was here that we started to open up and get some feedback on the events so far.  Many things were shown that they expressed they can take back to Tisovec to ponder over and share.  We as Shenandoah residents shared with them how we achieved several goals through an initial vision decades ago.  One of the things to gather from this meeting is how we might form a common dream for the partnership of our two communities.  Once that can be established we may then work on how to bring that dream into reality.

On Friday evening 37 people gathered at the Wabash Winery for dinner and entertainment.  Attendees included the Tisovec delegates, host families, Shenandoah Sister City committee, Shenandoah City Council and other influential people.  Many formal remarks were expressed including an official invitation from the Mayor of Tisovec to attend their 680th anniversary in July of 2014.  On dishes graciously provided by the owners of the Winery we ate a delicious dinner catered by Hy-Vee Food Stores.  We were then treated to several songs performed on a harp.  The dinner was perfect, the weather was perfect and we all had a great time.
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Saturday went well.......for the most part.  We all congregated at the Shenandoah Safety Center for the fireman's pancake feed.  It was very well attended despite the rain which lasted till noon.  After the rain subsided tractors, marching bands, convertibles, fire trucks and parade floats began lining up.  VIPs of the George Jay Drug Company were the grand marshals as they were celebrating their 125th year in business in Shenandoah.  The anxious delegates from Tisovec were honorary grand marshals.  They did well but I bet they couldn't wait to escape the public eye.

Most of Sunday was left up to each host family but we all came together one last time that evening for a barbecue.  We had a lot of food!  IMPORTANT:  We had homemade ice cream!  We had great brats and burgers along with awesome conversation.  Oh, did I mention we had homemade ice cream????

The evening, and effectively the trip, ended with closing remarks and hopes to build on that vision for the future.

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It was a privilege to mingle with our Tisovec guests once again.  Truly the water depths nor politics can divide us.  Taken from an inspired mind I would just add this.  If there is a bridge to build....."We Can Do It!"

Urban Improvement and Shenandoah Iowa City of Energy

Many communities spend millions of dollars just trying to spruce up their downtown area.  In fact, they may even opt to use Spruce to spruce up their communities.  Larger communities aside it is evident that most smaller populations are shrinking.  Some faster than others.  Maintaining and growing their numbers increasingly requires innovative ways to catch the eye of not only individuals and families but also industry.  The community of Shenandoah, Iowa, has taken the charge to do just that.  Shenandoah is nestled in the southwest Iowa corner far from any interstate highway.  It's not even a county seat and yet it remains competitive and offers great business incentives.

 Downtown improvement was key in the minds of not only the City Council but also the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association as well as other public and private entities.  The first impression of any visitor is usually the one that sticks most prevalent in their minds when they think of your community.  For this reason and also for the sake of future growth the city of Shenandoah, Iowa, has taken on a tremendous change over the past fifteen years.  Many of the large scale projects involve using a useful method called TIF or Tax Increment Financing.

There are many out there that shame using TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds, but in smaller communities this is one of those innovative ways to manage improvement.  When responsibly handled, TIF funds can be a great asset in the arsenal of community improvement and urban revitalization.  In all fairness, Tax Increment Financing is highly criticized due to minimal oversight and misuse.  Again though, when properly managed it can be a great asset for communities already limited by State and Federal funding and are anxious to raise the standard for their downtown blighted areas.

Shenandoah Urban Renewal Project

Art in Back Parking Lot of Successful TIF Funded Hotel

It really takes a team effort for a community to address it's betterment.  It takes close watch on the expenditures the City Council undertakes.  It also takes smart spending especially when interest rates are low.  Debt by and large is not a good thing, but when considering community improvements certain debts become necessary and timing is everything.

Cosmetics are also important to a betterment project.  Art has always fascinated people and it can be a useful tool in raising the interest of a community.  A preferred method is to use local artists and perhaps school classes to depict, in art form, the history of the area and town.  This creates a pictorial historical view of the community for any commuter passing by.  Shenandoah has done this many times and even utilize the Wabash Arts Camp to supply the artwork.

Utilizing large areas with art is inviting and instills an automatic "value" on that area.  The photo to your right is the corner sight of the Sentinel, a local newspaper.  The building was brought down and in it's place became this parking lot, break area with gazebo and this beautiful mural of what stood there.  This is a productive use of space instead of standing empty buildings or an unkept lot.  The photo above shows the back parking lot of the downtown Shenandoah Inn & Suites.  This hotel is among Shenandoah's greatest successful TIF projects second only to the Shenandoah Safety Center.  The hotel also uses artwork for the enjoyment of it's patrons.  Improvements like this are clean and makes an area not painful for the eye to walk through.

Try depicting local history.  Does your community have a history of railroad?  Magnify whatever your history is.  For Shenandoah we've got deep roots with the railroad as well as with the Pioneers of the mid-nineteenth century.  Shenandoah has successfully tied the past to the future in pictorial form.

Shenandoah is also a historic nursery town.  Henry Fields and even Earl May had their beginnings right here in Shenandoah.  Both were highly competitive  and even took their field of play to the airwaves.  Both were radio transmission providers and personalities.

Among the greatest of current interest is the BioProcess Algae facility.  Bioprocess is an emerging renewable energy market that is blooming right here in Shenandoah.  It is currently the only algae production facility directly tied to an ethanol plant's (Green Plains Renewable Energy) output of 98% pure carbon dioxide.  This useful waste is necessary in the perpetuation of the growth of algae.  So promising is this industry that BioProcess Algae won a $6.4 million grant from the Department of Energy for drop-in biofuels for military jets and ships.

Green Plains Renewable Energy and BioProcess Algae have been great neighbors and additions to the Shenandoah history and landscape.  They represent not only great employment opportunities but also the future of energy production in the United States and expanding throughout the world.

People for Paws located in Shenandoah, Iowa

It takes great sacrifice on the part of the residents of any community to shoulder the burden of the price of progress.  In the energetic town of Shenandoah a new modern water plant is being constructed.  Though a heated topic among residents and the City Council most realize that the current aging 75 year-old facility needs to be replaced.  The city also realizes that in order to provide good clean potable water to residents and to current and future industry a new water facility must be erected.  This is a very costly venture, but in that priceless Shenandoah indomitable spirit the people shall rise above it and will have a new water facility to be proud of.

Interesting Art on South Face of Remodeled Public Library

Shenandoah is engaging.  It is evident that they care about their community and it's future.  Were it not so we wouldn't have people expressing frustrations or compliments about the decisions of local government.  Shenandoah has it's share of strife and contention.  Yet we know that it is the diverse cross section of our community that makes us great.  It makes Shenandoah a great place to live and raise a family.  It makes Shenandoah a comfortable home for industry new and old.

Is United States Safer Each 9/11?

September 11th is a solemn occasion every year in the United States.  It it a memorial, a memory and tribute to the almost 3,000 whose lives were cut short by terrorist extremists in 2001.  We organize our marches and perform our ceremonies each year.  These things remind us of our allegiance to the dead and our duty to the living.  We were attacked with an agenda to cripple our economy and morale.  As we observe the twelfth anniversary of 9/11 we need to ask ourselves if we have recovered from that terrible disaster.  Are we safer?  Have we learned anything?  Have we taken confidence with our feet shod with liberty and our hands gripped to the shield of freedom?  Perhaps the question should be asked from the other side of the spectrum.  At each 9/11 do we secretly feel the adrenaline rush as we wonder and lie in wait to see if there is something big or spectacular planned for us today?  That statement almost sounds sacrilegious but being honest how can we deny that feeling being prevalent among vast numbers of Americans and perhaps even the world?

My original account of my memories of September 11, 2001, are at TWIN TOWERS.

The purpose of this short post is to ask the question silently, and vocally, to ourselves and each other if we truly feel safer.  There have been several incidences at this anniversary that have led us to a state of constant anticipation each year.  The most recent 9/11 tragedy was the Benghazi violation and murder of four Americans.  It's almost intoxicating and borderline becomes an obstacle from truly observing the deaths of so many people.  Most were Americans and some were not.  Nonetheless, our hearts beat the same.

Have they won?  Their objective may have been grander and we may say we've recovered but at heart we still have that recurring anticipation.  Since 9/11 we've come to accept that we now have enemies which wear no standard uniform and may not have a foreign tongue.  The towers fell quickly but the lasting hours and days without a single airplane or jet in the sky has seared into our hearts that everlasting fear of "what's next?"

It's not meant to be a negative blog post but rather a reflective one.  Perhaps by refocusing our lives in productive manners we'll be able to overcome that anticipation even in the face of what may come.  The best way to honor these men, women and children is to go on, live, be happy, prosper and do all that we can to secure our homeland.  Secure it that tragedies like this may not infect our standard or our resolve to win the fight.  

Shenandoah Iowa Water Plant Still a Hot Debated Topic

Shenandoah, Iowa, is nestled in the southwest corner of Iowa smack dab in the middle of the United States and in the very heart of the budding algae energy industry.  Shenandoah has been battling an aging water plant which now numbers in excess of 75 years of age.  The debate is two-fold and is probably common with any community who has or will yet build a new water plant.  These debates are:

1. Do we need a new water plant?  Originally this was the heated topic.  To help in the public decision open tours were offered and given to many people.  After all, it's their tax dollars holding up the walls.  Many people realized how degraded a 75 year-old facility can get and most agreed that a new water plant is necessary to ensure safe and secure water supply for residents and industry for generations to come.  To this day there are those here and there who still refuse the idea of a new water plant in Shenandoah, and would rather suffer the increasing cost of maintaining the existing water plant.
2. Spending into oblivion!  Now that the community agrees that a water plant is going to be built the focus has turned toward how City funds are being used in the study and construction of the water plant facility.  This is good and keeps city officials in check.  Many now see a lot of dollar signs flying out the window and are getting antsy at how the project is being paid for.  I assure you, we as a City Council feel it to.

This project has been raging since before I took office as Councilman At Large and continues today on into the foreseeable future.  The debate has not been the stumbling blocks.  We've had some very stressful events and findings that have ratcheted the overall cost of the project.  So far some of these have been figured into the contingency of the overall budget.  #2 still remains and was used as a scepter against my own YouTube video explaining my position on the matter at a recent City Council meeting.

Not all government is corrupt.  There are those of us out there who genuinely want to serve the public.  Were it not so we would have pursued a resolution to raise Council compensation which currently is below the average standard.  We aren't here for money or fame.  We are here because we've been entrusted to make decisions on behalf of the taxpayer as stewards of their tax dollars.  In fact, this most recent Council meeting a resolution to raise compensation fell dead because no Council member opted to even make the motion.  That alone should tell the public volumes as to our intent.

At a recent Council meeting a resident came forth and addressed the City Council as privileged as a Shenandoah tax payer.  He specifically referred to the latter half of the video above.  In it I encourage the public to accept the possibility that water rates may rise in order to secure this water plant.  It's nothing out of the ordinary as most communities do the same with such projects.  Furthermore, in the video I try to establish a possible solution to the burden of the water bill.  

The solution lies in personal finance.  The city of Shenandoah needs a new water facility.  Once that is accepted then the only real avenue toward establishing happiness in your own water utilities bill is your own personal budget.  Where there is a clear necessity, all the complaining in the world will not solve the hardships placed on the tax payer.  This is especially true when complaints are offered but no real solutions presented as was the case at this meeting.  At this juncture the council has heard the rage of "tax mismanagement" and still left with greater knowledge of the options than the resident.  Why?  Because the resident (who has every right under the Constitution of the United States to complain) has not taken the time to attend open forum and public meetings to acquire information and ask questions.  

Anyhow, this resident took great offense to my proposal to help people help themselves in this time of hardship and referred to my video twice in his impassioned argument.  Again, that is his right and I applaud him for taking an action that most would not.  As a response I prepared this blog post and submitted my own video rebuttal:

Yes, water rates must be raised in order to accommodate this water facility.  Water rates were raised once in order to provide a minimal "cushion" to help pay for initial expenses associated with the water project and to claim down our loan from the State.  However, the recent drought and lowered water consumption failed to funnel the needed and planned revenues to carry out this plan.  So now we are here........

At the risk of being shunned completely I will say it again.  Each of us has the power to procure happiness in our lives.  If we make our lives unhappy over the burden of a water bill then we need to take a closer look at the root of what makes us unhappy.  Nobody likes to pay more for things but I do have a few questions for you.  Do you have cable television?  Do you drive so much that you might be able to trim it up each month?  Are you able to scale back that one extra trip to the fast food joint?  Is there anything in your life that isn't absolutely vital to your well-being that you could scale back just a little bit?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes" then I promise you that if you put this plan into action, you will find a lot more funds available than those needed for a simple water bill.

I don't speak for the federal government and I don't even speak for the State government.  However, as an elected official of Shenandoah, Iowa, I do say with much sorrow that water rates need to be raised at this time.  Yes, the plan does include additional hikes in the future.  These are the hard sacrifices that must be asked on the part of the tax payers of Shenandoah in order to perpetuate this project forward.  We do it reluctantly and we do it knowing it's unpopular.

I have tried to live my life and focus my actions to one ideal:  Any organization that does not require  sacrifice on the part of it's members isn't worthy of it's membership.

Any worthy community is built up by people who are willing to place happiness in their lives and to also sacrifice their time, talents, compassion, counsel and even funds for the betterment of that community.  Shenandoah is a worthy community and we as your elected officials are asking you to accept this necessary project and do all you can to keep this project going.  Do so with an open mind thirsty for information that your decisions may be justified.  

Can the United States Continue to Lead Alone?

It's an age old question at least since the industrial age when America's free enterprise drove the world into an era of unprecedented prosperity and advances.  Can the United States continue to occupy the mantle to lead?  Given the crisis in Syria, Egypt, Iran and other hot spots can the United States continue to assume that moral and economic guide for the world?  It's a tough question to dissect without pride creeping in or at least a small sense of self righteousness.  Either way, the question must be asked!

It cannot be challenged that the United States was organized by genius with pure intent.  Our Founding Fathers had a vision far beyond the confines of their time.  It is their inspired brilliance that endowed the individual the liberty and freedom to expand his own prosperity.  To be enterprising and innovative with the materials and assets that he has.  This successful track record has adorned us with a living testament of what freedom and liberty can afford someone who is willing to work and strive for it.

It is a unique perspective indigenous to Americans.  However, this perspective of testament carries with it a heavy responsibility.  Because of our industry and diversity we've assumed an economic and political role that all other countries pale in comparison.  It's not a pride thing, just a reality check.  If not the United States then some other country would assume the prestige.  So in the face of the world do we foster tyranny for the world to take note or genuine nobility?

In my humble opinion the guarantee of liberty and freedom brings one closer to his or her true self and purpose.  That which enables you to grow allows you to become more competitive yet compassionate.  It drives your hunger to learn yet share.  It's the chain freed American in vast numbers that have made America great.  At heart we are not afraid to lead in business sectors and we tend to come out of the woodwork in humanitarian efforts.  We take chances and come away with new inventions and improvements that spawn entirely new industries.

Yes, it is possible for this country to continue to lead.  However, we really need to make some corrections to regain that proper image before the world.  First and foremost is infrastructure and the surety of the Dollar.  The recent conflicts and wars over the past decade alone have proven that money doesn't grow on trees and it doesn't take much to spend us into oblivion at the risk of our grandchildren's future.  We now truly feel vulnerable because of this economic financial calamity.  Because of indebtedness we are insecure over border issues.  We are insecure over domestic vs foreign energy.  We are insecure over the state of education.  Emotional insecurity is bound eternally with economic security.  Before we can adequately supply the world with humanitarian and compassionate aid as well as that stable economic super power, then we must succor the needs of our economic infrastructure.

We probably need to start realizing that financial matters tend to be more subject to emotion than math.  We need to stop being so impassioned and overboard in our proposed expenses as a country.  Virtually all the bills that go to the floors of Congress are filled with pork spending that benefits certain constituents in order to secure a future election.  This isn't fiscally responsible or moral as an elected steward of the taxes of the voter.

It is currently our duty to lead the world.  There's no way around it.  All life is a comparison to something else until you reach the top or recognize the bottom.  Therefore, in order to nurture the moral and economic health of all countries on this little blue globe we need to first nurture our own.  May we soon have worthy leadership in Congress and the White House to carry us into prosperity boundless.  In addition, may we have a people who strive to labor for their happiness and seek fervently toward independence and liberty.

Syria Strike Prelude to War?

As the globe watches the reaction of the United States to the chemical attack in Syria allegedly committed by the Assad regime, we have an opportunity to learn some hidden yet very apparent lessons.  The more talk that takes place in the House and Senate the more confusing the picture gets.  The United States seems to always cling to United Nations resolutions as a moral compass to act and it's the UN, itself, that dissolves it's own credibility by ignoring it's own mandates.  The UN became nothing more than a ceramic doll house especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein and the "weapons of mass destruction" debacle there.  Aside from the particulars in any conflict or war, what lessons can be learned on a human level?  What can we realize about our tendencies of human nature that we can use to counter possible further military campaigns?

It is interesting how any ratcheting up of political rhetoric or military movement against another country tends to eventually lead to war itself.  It's all part of "wars and rumors of wars" (Matthew 24:6) as referred to by devout Christians.  It's this ratcheting up that I want to dwell on for this post.  After all, is it not the political escalation that becomes the campaign toward winning public sentiment in favor of a desired action?  Of course it is!  This post is not an endorsement or rejection for any action that Congress may authorize.  However, it is published to serve as a guide toward how we might deflect options of war in the future.

Christian or not let me relate a story that we can all learn from.  Referring to Christians it is obviously from the Bible.  I refer to the Book of Kings 2 Chapter 5:1-15.  Here we have a highly esteemed man of the king named Naaman.  Now this man was also a leper.  Being highly favored of the king, when the king got word that a prophet in Israel may be able to cure Naaman, the king hastened to send word to the king of Israel.  The message said that Naaman had already been dispatched to Israel to seek audience and respite of leprosy from this prophet.  The prophet was Elisha.  The king of Israel was a little ticked and hinted that it may be a reason for the king of Syria to contend with him.  The kings reactions here are really beside the point.

Naaman made it to the door of Elisha.  Interestingly, Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman bearing counsel to bathe himself in the river Jordan seven times.  This set Naaman off!  First off, this is a man who expects results.  When he sets out to meet with someone he expects to meet that person and have a productive session.  The perceived attitude from Naaman was "How dare he treat me like this, an emissary of the king of Syria!"  He goes on to question the river Jordan and competes it with the rivers Abana and Pharpar which were both near Damascus near his home in Syria.  He belittles the Jordan and questions why that particular river to be cleansed in.

It wasn't until his servants calmly counseled with him that Naaman took on a little faith and became teachable at that moment.  He went to the Jordan and washed seven times.  He came forth clean!  He came forth clean!  Yet this could not have happened until he became teachable.  This requires a deliberate humbling of the self's body, mind and spirit.  It's a quieting of the being in the intent to receive further knowledge or a hoped outcome.  This is the point.

What does all this have to do with the current conflict and civil war in Syria?  Everything...

When we get our faculties roused at the prospect of physical military action against another people our instinct of protection kicks in and we erect a wall in front of our understanding.  From then on we feel as if we've got all power and rightful knowledge and cannot be taught any more as far as who's right and who's wrong.  It's really not an ignorance factor because we openly and willingly categorize ourselves in the position of either a pro or a con.

When we are faced with a situation such as Syria or even Saddam Hussein of Iraq or countless others, perhaps it would be most beneficial to calm the senses as to keep that wall or barrier rent in order to receive new and useful information.  Do we really need to send missiles for all to see to land on the Assad regime in order to cripple his biological weapons capabilities?  Perhaps.  However, I can't help but believe that with all our abilities in the modern world that we can find alternate and perhaps more effective avenues to strain this power.  Could it be that missiles are always the first option suggested simply because they are the visible method by which the world watches and forms impressions of other countries?  Have missile strikes become PR (public relations) campaigns?

Again, I'm not judging whether a strike on Syria and the Assad regime is the correct course of action.  I'm only asking that we evaluate our senses as we enter times of escalation and gauge whether we are continuing to be teachable or hardened.  In fact it's crucial!  In times of war you want to be in the right.  To always choose the right should be the pursuit of every human being.  If we fail to be teachable then the odds of continuing on a path of rightful thinking and inspiration diminishes exponentially.  In a highly volatile modern world where everything's at stake we need to remain our composure in times of heightened senses that we may further be edified as a people compelled in correct productive decisions.

After being cleansed Naaman comes forth with a renewed testament of the fruits of patience and being teachable.  After this personal revelation he advanced to a new level of appreciation for the actions of Elisha and of the God of Israel.  So may we, being teachable, come to new realms of understanding one with another through patience, humility and resolve that our fate may not be that of bathing ourselves in the ashes of our neighbor.