Hundreds of surveys were sent to city residents, but only a few dozen were returned.
Clarkston City Manager Carol Eberhardt said about 450 surveys were sent to homes in the City of the Village of Clarkston, and about 55 were sent back. No demographic information, like what part of town they live in, was collected.
The survey was sent in December with the winter tax bill.
Eberhardt said the survey feedback will be used to help guide a five-year long-range plan for the city. She added that 14 percent of the surveys sent out were sent back, a higher number than usual for surveys.
Questions asked residents to rate the importance of various city services and improvements. A majority of residents indicated upgrading the city website was not a high priority.
‘Not a lot of people use it,” Eberhardt said. ‘That does not mean we should not upgrade it.? She added city ordinances should be more searchable.
Residents indicated they considered replacing sidewalks a moderate priority.
Half of residents thought leaf pick-up was important, the other half thought it was not important. Residents indicated snow removal was one of the highest priorities.
‘We did not ask if they would be willing to pay for snow removal,? Eberhardt told city council.
Most residents said newsletters was the preferred method of communication, followed by email blasts. Respondents said they mostly use Facebook or no social media site at all.
Residents included replacing sidewalks and resurfacing Miller and Holcomb. Improvements to Depot Park were considered a moderate priority while tree planting and removal was not.
Eberhardt said residents considered most of their involvement in government was during elections. ‘Meetings, the web site and public access are being ignored,? Eberhardt said.
Major Joe Luginski said the outcome of the survey is different than what was expected. ‘We need to make sure we get a diverse group of participants,? he added.
Resident Don Frayer expressed concern respondents may not live in the Miller and Holcomb roads area, so they would not be concerned by resurfacing the road.
Eberhardt admitted questions should have also been asked in a different manner. Luginski said perhaps when voting occurs, email addresses can be collected to help communicate with more residents.
-Andrea Beaudoin