Delta County of Michigan Commissioner Meeting (07/02/2024): Teaming Together To Move the Furthest

Learning how governance functions in real world applications is important for finding ways to improve governance in other locations so as to maximize the benefits of that learning. In this meeting you will notice discussions on procedures, community issues, and suggestions for enhancing the area. Community growth doesn't happen overnight but is a process of making choices that leads to win-win outcomes. When people share a vision and they adjust their daily decisions to those larger goals, regardless of personal differences, they are going to develop. This committee has the underpinnings that could lead to future area growth but only time will tell whether that happens. Over the past few decades the area has seen population decline and that trend appears to be reversing with new investments and interests. 

I'm not so concerned about which decisions are made but the ability to make them in a way that reflects the community's needs. Making some kind of decision is often better in the long run then not being able to make decisions where things get sticky. There was some discussion about further engaging the community in some parts of the meeting. Some excellent comments on potential growth at the airport, listening to residents, taking care of abused kids (I hate when people do this to kids. Selfish!), increased prosecutor complaints and much more. 

Soo Line Gladstone
Source: Genealogy Trails Delta County
Delta County MI has significant resources
and infrastructure that if tapped by industry
and strong governance can lead to 
economic and social (quality of life) growth.

This is how things work in the real world. So far they are getting it done and moving forward and that is something to applaud. Its not going to be perfect every time and there are going to be challenges to ideas. That is natural. The key issue being how to get everyone into a general framework of what would help the community. That comes from good teams that can form a vision and coordinate that with other local entities (i.e. Escanaba, Gladstone, Businesses) to enact that vision. 

I could go on and on about coordinated visions and aligning actions to those agreed upon vision/strategic plans. Consider that if local governance is success here it would help teach others the benefits of effective management with people working together on shared basic goals. Democracy functions best at the community level where everyone does their part for the best interests of the whole. 💁 The key question by listeners, watchers, participants, readers, etc. is, "How do I contribute to my community's success? 

“Teams are incredible things. No task is too great, no accomplishment too grand, no dream too far-fetched for a team. It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” – John Maxwell

A few resources I found interesting:

Research on Effective Committees

Strategies of Decision Making Tools

Social and Community Listening

Engaging Stakeholders