Plymouth Common Council shown from left to right: Robert Listenberger, Duane Culp. Greg Compton, Jeff Houin, City of Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter, Don Ecker, Shiloh Milner, and Randy Longanecker.
Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Common Council tabled the Resolution to support the Marshall County Crossroads Regional Planning Team Health and Wellness Committee’s proposal for Blue Zones. Council member Jeff Houin began the conversation with a motion to take the resolution off the table so that it may be discussed noting that the council was not ready to make a final determination.
Director of Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way Linda Yoder opened comments by thanking the council for their consideration of the proposal admitting that the financial ask was large but emphasized the benefits to not only Plymouth but also Marshall County.
Illustrating that Indiana ranks low in several health matrix numbers, she added that the Blue Zones initiative is an opportunity for the Council to leverage local funds and access additional resources including the READI Grant.
The goal of Blue Zones is to identify the root causes of a number of health issues including but not limited to addiction, obesity, and diabetes and implement a solution through guided efforts led by experts who will establish a local team during the Blue Zones Transformation.
She described Blue Zones as an investment in preventative medicine noting the high cost of healthcare in the state and region.
Gary Neidig of ITAMCO, who has been involved in regional economic development the last few years with entrepreneurship and with the South Bend
Partnership Executive Board spoke. “The READI Grant offers us a great opportunity for us to be able to really leverage the money that you guys are putting forward.”
He said that he believed the $520,000 being requested would multiply “many fold” in both health and wellness and economic attraction. “We are looking at a way to
differentiate Marshall County from all the other counties in northern Indiana as well as Indiana. This is cutting edge. This is something that no one else is doing in the
State of Indiana.”
Additional support was expressed by Eric Holsopple, Hospital Administrator for Saint Joseph Health System and Culver Town Manager Ginny Bess Munroe.
Of the concerns expressed, Plymouth Councilman Greg Compton had several. In a follow up interview with the Pilot News Compton confirmed support of a health and wellness effort, but was hesitant in endorsing the Blue Zones initiative.
Regarding cost, he proposed that the tax revenue for the American Rescue Plan Act be used to pay for the needed Fire Truck in the amount of $800,000, the Emergency Vehicle in the amount of $350,000, $335,000 to the Solar Panel Farm at the Water Department which has already been approved, $573,000 toward 500 new residential sidewalks and $152,000 to be used for Parks and Recreation at their discretion.
Rather than invest in the Blue Zones initiative, Compton recommended that $50,000 be put toward a health and wellness initiative in Marshall County in cooperation with Marshall County government to hire a full time individual to promote overall health and well being in Marshall County. “This individual would work with schools, businesses, industry, and our various park systems. The idea is that they would work through the Marshall County Health Department. It has been suggested that the State of Indiana has grant funds available to provide startup in first year or so.”
He advocated for more involvement with the local churches which is also part of the Blue Zone approach. “I have read on the Blue Zone website that social interaction including being an active member of a church will contribute to good health and a long life. There are long term studies out there that show being an active member of a church can increase your lifespan by four to ten years. This is something we can do in our community now without government funding. An actual demographic stat from 2010 shows that over 60% of Marshall County residents are not active members of a church. I would personally address this as a call-to-action for our local churches! I believe this presents an opportunity for the churches of Plymouth and Marshall County to form an ecumenical council as individual churches and as a group to actively promote memberships. The results would be a happier and healthier Marshall County! My personal plans are to meet with the local churches and try to bring this to fruition regardless of the outcome of the BZP funding.”
Compton confirmed that he was not against the goals of the initiative but he was against spending $520,000 on the Blue Zones Project. “I am not against the proponents of the project but just the overall expenditures in our current social and economic environment.” He recommended that the funds be used to improve the city and look to a guided, local, and collaborative effort to focus more intently on the health and wellness factor.
With a background in banking and finance, Compton expressed concerns about cost efficiency. “I do not believe this project is a cost-effective source to improve our health and well-being in Marshall County.” Emphasizing the current social and economic environment reeling from COVID, inflation, interest rates and looming recession, Compton said those concerns should be the focus of priorities at this time.
Mary Holm, co-founder of Lifeplex and a public advocate of health and wellness, also expressed concerns during the public meeting. Council member Duane Culp requested an appointment with Yoder to find out more about the program in order to truly understand.
The item was tabled for a future meeting. Resolution No. 2022-1002. A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plymouth of Pledging Financial Support for the Marshall County Blue Zones Project is on the agenda for Monday, May 23. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Plymouth City Hall located at 124 N. Michigan St.
