A Conversation With Mayor Bryan Jensen

Mayor Bryan Jensen considers his journey to be the prime example of the American Dream. Born to a Danish immigrant father, Jensen grew up instilled with the belief that citizens were obligated to vote and give back to their communities. Watching his father run a business and become a councilman inspired him to start his own political path that led him to the highest office in Avon. “Me living in Avon and now being the mayor is like everything I dreamed of or thought I couldn’t achieve,” Jensen shares. 

Below, in no particular order, are 12 of the most important lessons that Jensen has learned throughout his 12 years being at the helm of the city.

1. Have Patience

Coming from the private sector and as a business owner, anything you do you make the decision and just move forward. Now in the government there are the checks and balances, which are positive, but also slow things down. 

2. Focus on Community

Everything about Avon is elevated because everyone cares about one another. You can see how the city’s been better because of this. We care about one another, and we’re here as a community and not here individually.

3. Support the Schools

We have such great school systems. And the city is pretty secondary to that so we’re building around how great our schools are. Who would have thought that we would win the back-to-back State Championship in football, and we just won the State Championship in Girl’s volleyball and Boys soccer!

4. Don’t Take Things Personally

I learned a lot in that first year, like to not take things so personally. When I first took the position, I knew what I was getting into, but didn’t realize how much it hurts when you’re trying to do the right thing for the right people and there are some people that are just not going to like you. You have to adjust to that.

5. Change is Necessary

The city of Avon has changed so much over time, in a lot of positive ways. In some ways, though, people moved here because it was a rural area and hoped it wouldn’t ever change from that. But that isn’t possible.

6. Adapt to Growing Pains

Things are happening in the city of Avon, but that brings some growing pains. For example, we have a big project going on in the next year on Route 83 and Detroit Road where we’re putting more turn lanes in. But any time you do construction there will be trouble because it will shut down traffic until it opens up.

7. Listen to the People

The residents in Avon voted not to widen Detroit Road, so we’re under that challenge there. If we can’t widen Detroit Road, then we’ll have to improve intersections. We’re monitoring how we move traffic, because as more people come to Avon and move through Avon, the traffic will be trouble. But the people have spoken and they want to keep that look in the downtown area.

8. Preserve Green Space

Our biggest success is purchasing property that we keep out of development. With grant funding and help from the federal and state government we’ve bought property to keep as parks. In the last 12 years, between ourselves and the Metroparks, we’ve bought over 100-some acres that we’re preserving.

9. Think Local

We have a lot of people in Avon who really care about each other. Avon is nonpartisan so we help everybody equally. At the national level we’re really not seeing that, and I think we lose that sometimes.

10. Help One Another

My staff recognizes that our responsibility goes beyond daily tasks — we’re here to help people. Whether we see someone who needs assistance or a resident calls with a concern, we do all we can to respond with care and commitment.

11. Practice Gratitude

I walk into work every day feeling genuinely thankful for all we have here. Avon is fortunate in so many ways, and the longer I serve, the more I appreciate that. It’s also what pushes me to keep working to make our community even better.

12. Be Better Today Than You Were Yesterday

Our goal is simple: to be better each day than we were the day before. When we come across someone who needs support, we do our best to lift them up. We serve our residents, and even though we must balance budgets and other obligations, we always look for the small ways we can make a difference.