https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Breaking with the past

Breaking with the past

I had grown comfortable in my office, the launching pad for hundreds of stories in dozens of magazines for over 15 years. On April 1, 1998, however, that
  • Written by Bill Wolpin
  • 1st June 2007

I had grown comfortable in my office, the launching pad for hundreds of stories in dozens of magazines for over 15 years. On April 1, 1998, however, that office was blown apart: my colleagues had removed every item — files, books, phone, computer — and hid them in different rooms around the building.

I was a little upset, but not because my friends had remembered my birthday. Being a genuine “April Fool” saddled with the leading role in a joke was nothing new. Having to find and then reassemble my office wasn’t funny, but at least the junk would be uncovered and trashed. What I didn’t see coming, though, was more subtle and disturbing. Having to reconsider the value of everything in my office from scratch, it became clear that I’d mastered a system for doing my job. However, that system — which remained mostly unchallenged — had assumed a life of its own, leading me to question if I had not become its slave.

Recently, Greensburg, Kan., Mayor Lonnie McCollum faced a similar, but far more tragic situation. A retired Kansas Highway Patrol superintendent, the mayor is credited with inspiring hope in the 1,400 residents of a community gutted by a tornado on May 4. With 90 percent of Greensburg’s buildings flattened and 10 of its residents dead, McCollum quickly crystallized the future with a vision rarely found in government leaders, even in cities or counties 100 times the size.

“We have a blank piece of paper,” he told us in an interview published in this issue. In addition to a new hospital and school, McCollum spoke of a new Greensburg with a business district and energy-efficient homes. He even included a part in the rebuilding plan where lower- and middle-income residents could afford to buy a house. Knowing that the city’s government, too, would change, and assuming federal funds were headed his way, the mayor was ready to adjust to the evolving challenges of a new city.

Shortly after our interview with him, McCollum resigned, citing emotional exhaustion. It may have been the intense pressure of being a calm, reassuring bellwether in the midst of a physical and emotional storm, but more likely something else he said in our interview hinted at his growing discontent: “Some people think we can just build back the way it was, [but] we can’t do business that way.”

The mayor was right, of course. You cannot reverse time, erase the tornado’s damage and turn tomorrow into yesterday. Only after my friends shook me up on my birthday did I realize that I had become far too comfortable in a world of my own making. After that day, I understood that my job was more involved in helping to create the future, and less in replicating the past. The mayor understood that challenge and was ready for it. However, it appears that some of his neighbors might take a little longer to join him.
[email protected]

Tags:

Most Recent


  • 5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze
    Hundreds of local authorities around the world rely on Objective Trapeze to manage digital plans and documents in a way not possible before… is it time you joined them? In our infographic, we look at the 5 most common frustrations for Plan Examiners, and how Objective Trapeze solves these challenges. With tools to help teams […]
  • crisis
    Navigating crises with confidence: Five ways strategic plans support crisis response
    Some crises are short-lived, barging through our lives and routines, and before we can get a sense of what’s happened, we’re left dealing with the aftermath. But many crises build slowly, with many early warning signs, and once they’vehit their breaking point, panic and uncertainty overwhelm the ability of leaders to think clearly and mitigate […]
  • cities
    Gallery: Annual index ranks America's top performing cities; most are in the West
    Starting with the pandemic and the economic uncertainty that came along with it, it’s been a difficult few years for cities across the United States. As a testament to the resiliency and commitment of public administrators, American cities continue to thrive—with many of the fastest growing communities located in the West, according to the Milken […]
  • 2022 Crown Communities Award winner: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts' jury selection system
    The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts is revolutionizing the jury selection process.  In many jurisdictions, jury duty is perceived as an obligatory nuisance. On their appointed day, potential jurors arrive early and stay late. They read books or watch television to pass the time as judges and attorneys make in-person selections from the pool of […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Arbor Day Foundation and Intrinsyx Environmental offer natural solution to clean up industrial contamination in cities and towns
  • MS-ISAC members get free access to Deloitte’s Cyber Detect and Respond Portal to help respond to cyber threats
  • Deltek releases 12th annual Clarity Government Contracting Report
  • How local governments can improve bridge projects through strategic engagement

White papers


5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze

30th May 2023

7 Permitting & Licensing Fails Slowing Community Growth

24th May 2023

The Secret Ingredient to Local Government Employee Retention

23rd May 2023
view all

Webinars


How to Centralize and Build a Grants Management Process at your Organization

24th May 2023

Making Permitting Easier: What We’ve Learned Helping America’s Largest Cities Improve Their Permitting Process

16th May 2023

Digital Property Tax Collection: Tales from the Trenches of Modernization

16th May 2023
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West

30th May 2023

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs

25th May 2023

Gallery: 10 of America’s most affordable cities

9th May 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Digital government comes with massive benefits — and new considerations, from accessibility to security to customer… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

31st May 2023
AmerCityCounty

5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze dlvr.it/Sptl5z

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Navigating crises with confidence: Five ways strategic plans support crisis response dlvr.it/SptVKN

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West dlvr.it/SpszdK

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

2022 Crown Communities Award winner: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts’ jury selection system dlvr.it/SphCBk

26th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs dlvr.it/SpdFWy

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government dlvr.it/Spcktb

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

With many cities facing a fiscal cliff as ARPA funding ends, debt ceiling debate continues on Capitol Hill dlvr.it/SpZLph

24th May 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.