Busse Could Lead Fort Wayne To Revitalize Downtown

In today's News-Sentinel there are several stories about the issue of Fort Wayne revitalizing the core of the city. It is discussed one of the issues facing revitalization is "turf wars." The term "turf war" could mean "self interests," "power brokers," "self serving" and a great many more terms to describe those who think they should be one(s) to see the revitalization through. If that mind set continues the residents of Fort Wayne will end with a bunch of projects that do not deliver. Fort Wayne deserves better.

What is needed is someone who is not dependent on others, be it political or financial, to take the lead. This person has to be of such standing that when they call the phone gets answered. The person needs to be able to work with the people who want to accomplish this goal and to go around, or through those that have some other agenda.

Keith Busse runs the multi billion dollar Steel Dynamics Incorporated (SDI). He has built this business from the ground up and kept his company strong even when most other steel producers suffered greatly in the United States. While working in a steel mill is hard work you will not find much of a turn over in employees. He pays well, and shares some of the profits with the employees. Yes, he has stockholders to answer to, but has proven by sharing the profits with the very people that produce the goods increases productivity above the competitors. That is the type of leadership this project needs

Busse could be the very man to spearhead the revitalization of downtown Fort Wayne. While his business interests would not allow him to have a day-to-day roll in the project he could be the one that pulls it together. He would be able to settle "turf wars" by blowing them up. He could get everyone pulling the same direction regardless to political following or financial interest.

Working directly with him could be people like:
Ian Rolland - Former CEO of Lincoln Life
Phil Laux - Former President of Greater Fort Wayne Camber of Commerce
Joseph Ruffolo - President of Ruffolo Benson Investments
Tom Spiece - President of Spiece Fieldhouse

Laux could be hired by a combination of foundation grants, community grants, and even a contribution from the City of Fort Wayne to run the operation on a day-to-day basis. He and the other members would pull the data together and make final presentations to Bussie. Once the group agreed to a course of action it would be presented to the Mayor and City Council for consideration.

Supporting the "board" would take several other community groups to gather information in many areas.

IPFW - Surveying the people of Fort Wayne (address their wishes and issues. By addressing their issues will lead to buy in)
Invent Tomorrow - Continue to travel to cities to gleam the good and problems these successful cities have had
Fort Wayne Planning Department - Assist in the planning
Fort Wayne Economic Department - Assist in economic development
Utitilies - I&M, NIPSCO, Verizon, Comcast
Arts - Historical, Art, Music, Library
Chamber of Commerce - Business community
Banks -
Foundations -
Health Care - Parkview, Lutheran, Senior Living, Mental Health
Sports Corp - the various sports entities
Labor - Unions
Justice - Courts, FWPD, probation department, work release
Park Department -
Corp of Engineers - River
Department of Natural Resources - River
Congress - Mark Souder, Mike Pence, Birch Bayh, Richard Lugar

While the above list may be a partial list the idea is to make the planning inclusive over exclusive of shutting anyone out. The point is they would have tasks to complete and input to provide in writing the plan.

Total investment in this project will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We need the leadership of people who are use to dealing in projects of this scope. These people know how to get things done and get them done quickly. Fort Wayne could use this approach and maybe reach our goal of revitalising our city in five to six years over twenty years.

Path to News-Sentinel articles:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071015/NEWS/710150309