As a part of his State of the City address Monday night, Mayor Joe Yochum expressed his desire to see a little youth injected into City Hall.
He's taking strides to develop a 15-member Youth Council comprised of students from both Lincoln and Rivet high schools that could offer insight into quality of life projects all while — city officials hope — absorbing an interest in local government, too.
Yochum said once established, he envisions the group meeting as often as twice a month in council chambers, even electing a president and vice-president to help lead discussions.
And while there will be no resolutions or ordinances to approve, official business isn't off the table, the mayor said. As the possibilities of city projects and investments come up, specifically ones that concern members of the Youth Council, he'd like to see them vote on an official recommendation that hopes council members, themselves, would take seriously.
“We need to remember, it's their future,” Yochum said of the future Youth Council members.
The mayor plans to meet with representatives from each school on Friday. Each will have two representatives, students who will help him to outline a proper application process for those interested in serving.
“We need to start that process,” the mayor said. “We need to think about, 'What do we need to be asking? What are we looking for?'”
Yochum said he wants freshman students all the way up to seniors. And once selected, they will be able to keep their seats until graduation.
The only caveat, Yochum said, is that he will reserve the right to replace a student if he sees that he or she isn't actively participating in monthly business.
“I want this group to be involved, especially in things that have to do with them, like projects with the parks,” he said, mentioning specifically a project in the works to put outdoor fitness equipment at Lester Square Park, an endeavor being led by Lincoln graduate Allie Bobe.
Yochum said he also wants to get their input as he makes application for one of the state's largest monetary awards, the Stellar Communities Grant, the same grant that infused $18 million into the Princeton community in 2012.
“I'd like to get their input on how they think (such money) should be spent,” Yochum said of the students.
“And I want them to actually see what goes on here. I want them to understand what it takes to buy equipment, make decisions, those kinds of things.”
Greg Parsley, superintendent of the Vincennes Community School Corp., is on board with the mayor's plan. Young people, he said, should have a say in how the city takes shape around them.
“Obviously, we all hope that whether it's in 20 years, 30 years, maybe sooner or maybe later, that these young people will be in charge of our community,” he said. “And I think it will speak volumes if they can have a say on the front end of these decisions and not just the back end.
Council president Scott Brown said he thought the idea an intriguing one. And he hopes, at least eventually, that it will result in more young people getting involved in local government.
He also hopes they realize just how difficult it can sometimes be.
“Things that appear to have simple solutions are a lot more complicated,” he said. “It's not always as easy as it looks.”
Council veteran member Shirley Rose, too, said she will be interested in hearing the kids' ideas, and Tim Salters, the council's youngest member and a teacher himself, said he wished the idea had been formulated by a city mayor long ago.
“Politics was always something that interested me,” Salters said. “But there was no outlet for that. So (a Youth Council) would have been something I would have jumped all over.
“We say 'government,' but they don't see it that way. They just want to improve the city. And, in the end, they're the ones who will inherit it. They're going to be the ones taking it over. So let's get them involved.”