Mayor Dennis Tyler said he wants to create a stronger relationship between Ball State and the Muncie community, ultimately retaining more students in the area and allowing them to help improve the city's economy.
"I think Ball State, with the resources they have available that [the city doesn't] have, will be a huge player in us attracting economic development," Tyler said. "I think Ball State's eager to do that; I'm just not sure that they've had the opportunity to do that in the past."
He's trying to make himself more visible by attending events on campus, such as Operation Jungle Red, an awareness event for violence against women, and an annual chili cook-off last week.
He said something that surprised him as he stepped into office was the willingness of people to improve the community, both inside and outside of Ball State.
"I think it's important to Ball State students to recognize they have a mayor who appreciates them for coming to town and trying to get their education here," Tyler said.
For him, the relationship between Ball State and the Muncie community can always be improved.
"I think it's critical when you have investors looking from the outside in and they see that the largest employer in the city of Muncie - who also happens to be one of the top educational facilities in the Midwest - is partnering in increasing that type of awareness inside and outside the community," he said.
Tyler said the city has set expectations for him during his first three months in office.
"I think the first 100 days are important for you to set a tone on how you expect people to conduct themselves," he said. "I think that is one of the key parts of my administration that I am proud of. It's that from the very get-go we set a tone of an open administration."
Tyler can list a few accomplishments in his first 100 days, including the reopening of two fire stations in Muncie, setting agreements with the Muncie Sanitation District and working with other agencies on deciding how to administer animal control - an issue that had taken years to be resolved in past administrations.
The 42-year firefighter celebrated the reopening of two fire stations at McCulloch Park and on Mock Avenue on Feb. 11.
The fire station at McCulloch Park was closed in February 2011 to be renovated from flooding and mold damage. The fire station on Mock Avenue was closed as a cost-cutting measure by former mayor Sharon McShurley in 2009.
The Muncie City Council passed a resolution on Monday approving a 50-year deal for the creation of a board of animal care and services department between the city and the county, according to an article in the Star Press.
The resolution, which had been sought between county and city officials for years, was received with applause from most of the audience at the City Council meeting.
But these first few months don't give much to go on, College Republicans President Holly Gillham said.
"He's increased essential services to both college students and the citizens of Muncie, but I would describe that as a candy coating," she said. "As we bite in a little bit further to the piece of candy that you could describe as his term in office, it has yet to be seen whether it's going to be sweet inside, which would be fiscal solvency, or if it's going to be sour."
Steve Walsh, a member of University Democrats, said it's not hard to see there have been efforts to improve the economy around Muncie, but the first 100 days in office are not very significant. He said there still needs to be more interaction between Ball State and the community.
"There have been good steps forward but it's too early to call right now," Walsh said. "Especially coming from a student, I don't think much of the campus has an interaction with Muncie."
Tyler and Ball State President Jo Ann Gora will talk about the connection between the city and the university on WCRD's Radio Sweetheart at 9 p.m.
Gillham said she hopes to see the mayor make good use of taxpayers' money for the benefit of the community and to see a tighter bond between Tyler and Ball State.
"I'm really hopeful," she said. "I wish him the best, because I wish the city the best, but I think a lot of it has yet to be seen."
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