Commission Meeting September 23, 2025

Bryan Heck not there. Filling in for him..............

OMG, TOM FRANZEN is a person!!

**Focus
Tom Franzen makes his first appearance ANYWHERE in well over a year. (He said two sentences introducing the new Wittenberg President and Project 2051 CEO.). Project 2051 is run by a man who lives in Australia. You can't make this shit up. He flies in one week a month to state the obvious. Their goal is 1,000 participants. I want to know how much the contract is for. (I'll never know, because it's laundered through all the Usual Suspect nonprofits here. The state "donated" $100K and the city $50K ($25K in 2025 and $25K in 2026, so could be a yearly bill just like the HUD Consolidation Plan now.)

**Presentations/Staff Report

Wittenberg University Dr. Brady about events and status. He's the new president as of May 2025.

Project 2051. Franzen called this an "exercise". Marta Wojok with the Westcott house (connect those dots?!?) and represents the steering committee, David Beurle who is the founder and CEO of Future IQ - the consulting company.

Launched mid-August. This came as a coalition of residents who wanted to do something positive and productive with our pent-up energy after last year and how we felt we were unfairly portrayed on the national level. We need a community building process and engagement. What is our vision for the community? We have people sharing experiences from the last 25 years. David is helping us come together as a community. it truly is a coalition - building over 15 months. To gather and listen directly from the citizens.

David - is he Australian? British? We were talking to the doctors and nurses at the hospital, we're at Wittenberg, we're wishing to engage 1,000s of people in conversation. PRjoect sponsors - "so many".

Steering committee - imags.

Next year - a strategic plan. Where does it fit in the larger region? in the midwest? Community building and a grounded strategy in good data. WTF. An implementation plan.

And Chris Wallace is working with us on the student athletes.

Preliminary data we have from the think tanks: And we've launched a community survey. Blue and green general topics like "Industry Focus" and "Public Spaces" and "Technology" and "affordable housing" and "youth".

They collect all your personal information if you participate. Age, where you live, income.

Estrop brought up the airport and STEM Academy again. Schools preparing a pipeline of workers.

About 2051 - I have attended one session and have another one scheduled. I'm seeing the opps often to attend these events and do the surveys. Can you talk about how extensive your involvement is. So people can be involved.

They created a 60-member advisory group. That's how they've been scheduling these sessions. Project Neighborhood, a youth service provider. When David is in town, we schedule 3 or 4 per day he is here. Then he gathers this powerful data.

We encourage you guys to tell us if you have ideas on how more people can come to us.

In October, a community visioning session so people can respond to the recommendations we make for the future.

We have a dedicated URL with all the information. Survey results. transparent. They can filter the data. We expect to engage with 1,000 people (filling out the survey).

He's here one week a month.
Tackett - I find it impressive how immersive you guys have been. Then she also said - the Connections slide. Very reflective of what I hear in the meetings. Looks on point with what we know. And to address teh work we need to do to bring folks back together. As leadership, we can definitely do a better job and engage more. I know I've spoken to the City Manager about creating town halls. This will help to increase citizens' voices. So thank you.

David's take on it - from the outside - A community at a very unique place. A sense that this started in unfortunate circumstance but people are leaning into this in a hopeful and positive way.

Estrop thanks them again. it's important and timely. At rotary, you told us this isn't just open to Springfield, but the entire area. David says we were very conscious about not drawing lines. So, this is all of Clark County. Not Springfield. Work here, live elsewhere, etc. You can filter the data by in the city/out of the city.

Rue said one way to access the survey - he had an index card with information. Talk to people about the importance of this.

Their goal is 1,000 people??!?!? Ends October 30th.

**Rue Statement
The prayer/invocation and pledge. Please give us peace in our community, Lord. (This is always directed at the citizens - we're still dangerous.)

His usual warning to citizen speakers about disruptions. Some new stronger sentences. Read the city's statement (still in the news).

NEW WORDS. 48:55 - While honoring your first amendment practices (?), the city commission reserves the right to regulate the place, time, and manner for comments so the meeting remains orderly and respectful. While we respect first amendment rights of all, we will not tolerate disruptions......

**Citizen Speakers

Only one - Diana Daniels.(Rue still mispronounces her name.) Project 2051 - open dialog. Haven't I been begging for that. The DTN article - the leaders are preparing for the outcome in 2026. But what about the homeless? News and Sun - increase of Haitians lost their jobs are seeking assistance. St Vincent Depaul the needs are increasing. More people at the Community Center - he's afraid it will turn into a humanitarian crisis. NewS sun - 3/2/25 - President of the Coalition - because human beings have a right to survive they do other things. This grand restructuring enviornment that began in 2014 is going to blow up in your face. What are you going to do? Call Dewine for more money to feed the Haitians??

**Rue's Immediate Comments

I'd like to ask Chief Elliott to address a concern: Deepest condolences to Mr. Foley. Challenging for the officers involved. We ask for patience and understanding. Allow space for healing. And review with the facts. Active investigation. Patrick Foley was tased by a Springfield Police Officer and died on Sept 19th.

**Franzen's (Heck's absence) Reports and Answers

Nothing.

**Commission Comments

Tackett
After the Wittenberg presentation, she had to say something about mental health. I was on campus last night with a group of kids called Bats that talk about mental health. Exciting, their energy. Creative ways to create partnership between the city and the university. I think you are the guy to bridge that gap. Thank you to the community.

About 2051 - I have attended one session and have another one scheduled. I'm seeing the opps often to attend these events and do the surveys. Can you talk about how extensive your involvement is. So people can be involved.

They created a 60-member advisory group. That's how they've been scheduling these sessions. Project Neighborhood, a youth service provider. When David is in town, we schedule 3 or 4 per day he is here. Then he gathers this powerful data.

We encourage you guys to tell us if you have ideas on how more people can come to us.

Acknowledge Mustard Fest - it was a great event downtown. The CBC calendar - there's plenty to do here.

Brown
My collegiate experience as an upward bound student and a product of Springfield city schools. It changed my trajectory. Something about middle school rewards at the field house. We also have a lot of student teachers at the city schools. We'd love to see you connect with Project Neighborhood.

Brown thanked 2051 for their work. But what I want to encourage from the community - I don't care what your thoughts are - but now is the time to share them. This is your time. Just sitting here, I shared this on Facebook. This ends October 30th.

Estrop
We're very proud here to have Wittenberg. We look forward to working with you however we can.

Wanted the 2051 people to know that 3 comm members are leaving and 2 are here tonight. You should work with them, too.

No progress to report on federal funding.

**My Thoughts

Tom Franzen's first appearance ANYWHERE in the 2 years I've been here. He had no idea what Project 2051 is. (EDIT: He was in a Second Reading in the December 3, 2025, Commission meeting talking about the 5C data center and asking the FAA for 3.8 million to repave a runway.

Project 2051 is stating the obvious. And anyone involved in the destruction of this town will be dead or retired in the Maldives on everyone else's tax dollars. The remaining city will be solely populated by Haitians and run by Haitians.