By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
NAPPANEE — Local residents and government officials took an opportunity to talk back to their state government.
In a session hosted by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, those in attendance were given a chance to sound off on what they felt were strengths of the region and threats, as well as strategies that they felt would make Indiana a better place.

“We need to hear what the constituents really think,” said David Terrell, executive director of OCRA. “If we don’t get that, then we’re not really serving our purpose.”
Those in attendance were broken into small groups where they discussed the region’s accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses and what they perceived as threats.
The T Squared Initiative, LifePlex, and state-of-the-art waste water plant in Plymouth were mentioned as accomplishments in the region.
Many saw water resources, education opportunities and a large non-union work force as positives.
When it came to weaknesses,  those in attendance were of a technological and employment mind. Many cited the lack of broadband technology being readily available as a negative facet in the region.
The “brain drain” was also a popular theme of the evening, meaning those who receive college degrees and then move on to other areas to pursue their careers. Many saw the lack of high-paying jobs as a big cause of the problem.
Threats to the region ran everywhere from nuclear war to the Department of Local Government Finance. Energy costs struck a chord as a big threat with most members. Many saw lack of cultural tolerance or outright racism as a threat.
The group came together to discuss strategies that they felt could be instituted to improve life in the region and the state.
Elkhart County Commissioner Mike Yoder brought applause from the group when he suggested returning control of property tax revenues to local tax entities.
Education and the cost of government were the strategies that drew the greatest support from the attendees. The need for a plan to encourage lifelong learning was very popular with the need to return control of school curriculums to the local school systems very close behind.
Many were strongly in support of finding out the net effect of suggestions made in the Kernan-Shepherd report before implementing any of the ideas for changes in the state.
Having some sort of scorecard to compare the cost of local government from county to county also received a lot of support.
Healthcare reform and the need for widespread availability of fiber optic and nanotechnology were also big items.