By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Three newly-elected City of Decatur officials have received a first round of “training” and have more coming up in January.
Abby Wilder and Jenny Bowers-Shultz, who will be joining city council the first of the year, and Kevin Hackman, due to take over the clerk-treasurer’s post at the same time, attended a full day of training on Dec. 13 in Fort Wayne.
To further prepare them for the their new positions, the trio will be attending the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Boot Camp in Indianapolis.
The three-day boot camp will be held Jan. 16-18. Because of those dates, city council at its last meeting moved to postpone its scheduled Jan. 16 meeting to the following Tuesday, Jan. 23.
Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
The first meeting of the new council will be held next Tuesday.
Wilder replaces Craig Coshow as District 3 rep while Bowers-Shultz takes the District 1 seat currently held by Wiley Sirk. Hackman assumes the office long held by Phyllis Whitright.
AIM officials say the boot camp is an intensive three-day conference that is jam-packed with instruction from veteran municipal officials and experts in municipal government.
They say it provides “a look into the basic operations of government, overviews of municipal finance and specific revenue streams, ethics, purchasing, and much more will be covered by our respected panelists of veteran officials and experts.
“Boot Camp promises to be that one place where those new to an office or administration can get their questions answered.”
Extensive workshops, several peer-networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall packed with municipal experts are highlights.
