Community survey results favorable

Thursday, October 22, 2009

By Michael Pommier, The Fort Scott Tribune

The results of the 2009 Community Perception Survey were released during the Community Conversation on Oct. 15, and the results were favorable.

Visioning Committee Co-convener Clayton Tatro said the results were very positive despite the fact that fewer surveys were turned in than in 2005.

"The results were exceptionally favorable," Tatro said.

Tatro said nine of the 20 categories included in the survey showed an increase of five percent or more of the responses showing "excellent" or "good" on only two categories show a decline with each being less five percent. See sidebar for a comparison between the results of the 2005 and 2009 surveys.

Survey results show the largest increases in cooperative community spirit (17 percent), willingness to seek help from the outside (15 percent), deliberate transition of power to younger generation (11 percent), and emphasis on quality in business and community (10 percent). With the positive responded from the community, Tatro said the different action teams how have confidence that they are working in the right direction.

"I think this is the action teams' validation that we are heading in the right direction. It gives the different teams the knowledge and appreciation that we are on the right track," he said. "It gives them all the more reason to continue to push forward."

The results of the survey, according to Tatro, speak for themselves. He said the survey shows that the community supports the action teams and their individual purposes such as Ellis Park, developing the riverfront, Good Neighbor Blitz, and improving the city pool.

"The results speak for themselves," Tatro said. "They are cause for hope, optimism, and celebration."

Another survey is expected to be sent out in about three to five years to reevaluate the direction in which the teams are going. Tatro said the community's feedback is vital to the progress of the town.

"We need that public feedback," he said. "We are only as strong as the feedback we get from the community."

The Surveys Said...

The number of respondents who rated the indicator as "Excellent" or "Good" are listed in percent.

In 2005, 299 surveys were tabulated. In 2009, a total of 250 surveys were tabulated.

---	2005	2009
Strong presence of traditional institutions	73	74
Strong support for education	73	69
Acceptance of women leaders	54	57
Evidence of community pride	49	50
Conviction that we have to do it ourselves	49	52
Problem-solving approach to health care	45	45
Strong multi-generational family orientation	44	48
Emphasis on quality in Business/Community	43	53
Willingness to seek help from the outside	43	58
Knowledge of physical environment	40	40
Sound, well-maintained infrastructure.	37	44
Careful use of fiscal resources	34	36
Cooperative community spirit	33	50
Sophisticated use of information resources	32	35
Participatory approach to decision-making	29	36
Willingness to invest in the future	29	38
Active economic development program	29	26
Realistic appraisal of strengths/weaknesses	27	32
Aware of competitive position w/ other communities	26	35
Deliberate transition of power to younger generation	21	32

Substantial Improvements of 5 or more

Emphasis on quality in Business/Community	increase of 10
Willingness to seek help from the outside	increase of 15
Sound, well-maintained infrastructure	increase of 7
Cooperative community spirit	increase of 17
Participatory approach to decision-making	increase of 7
Willingness to invest in the future	increase of 9
Realistic appraisal of strengths/weaknesses	increase of 5
Aware of competitive position w/ other communities	increase of 9
Deliberate transition of power to younger generation	increase of 11

Substantial Declines of 5 or more

Only two indicators decreased with neither being 5 or more

Strong support for education	decrease of 4
Active economic development program	decrease of 3