Communication helps government

You could call it tedious. You might consider it overkill.

Then again, if you think about it a bit, the process just makes good sense.

Beginning this year, Jay County Commissioners have implemented a schedule of regular updates from various county departments.

In some cases, the departments are headed by other elected officials. In others, the department heads are appointed.

For some, the updates are every other month. For others, they are less frequent.

What’s the point?

To make sure everyone is on target, to review goals and objectives, and to keep a handle on spending and budgets.

Sound boring? It can be.

But that’s the nature of the work of government.

On Monday, commissioners heard updates from the county’s emergency management agency, the retirement center and the office of building and planning, as well as Jay County Development Corporation and its community development office.

In each case, there were reports on activity and there was a discussion about expenditures.

Commissioners asked questions:

•What’s the current number of residents at the retirement center?

•What’s the maximum capacity?

•What impact would an elevator have if the money could be found?

In each case, department heads provided commissioners with insights — the number of confined feeding operations that might seek permission this year, strategies for economic growth that are taking shape, projects that are wrapping up or just getting started — that otherwise might have been overlooked.

Will the process get old? Probably.

But good government thrives when information flows freely, and a regular system of communication can only be of benefit. — J.R.