Cary, NC – With all the complaints about people not getting to play in what happens around them, government-wise,  I love the idea that our Town Government is asking our opinion.  It was really one of the main planks of Mayor Harold Weinbrecht’s winning platform in 2007.  And it is refreshing to see our town officials come through with actions that reflect promises.

The Mayor’s own homepage of his blog states that it is his desire to “open the governmental process to our citizens.”

The Biennial 2010 Survey

So, beginning Saturday, January 23, consultants working for the Town of Cary will start randomly contacting more than 400 Cary residents asking them to state their opinions on how well their government works for them.

Topics will include solid waste, taxes, safety, quality of life, customer service, communications, street repair, and recreation programs. The scientific poll will be conducted via telephone through February 28, with citizens being asked to spend about 25 minutes answering about 60 questions.

Take the Time to Respond

“We hope that those who are called will take the time to give us the feedback we need by participating fully in the survey,” said Town of Cary Public Information Officer Susan Moran.  “We continue to learn a great deal about how we’re doing and what’s important to our citizens with our surveys, and we’re looking forward to hearing from citizens again this year.”

Moran added that few other governments—local, state or federal–have a regular program of gathering citizen opinion in a scientifically valid manner. The Town of Cary has been conducting its citizen satisfaction survey every other year since 1998.

This is the seventh Town-sponsored citizen satisfaction survey focusing on the operations and services handled each day by the Town government.  As with previous surveys, Biennial 2010 has three parts:

1. Questions that are asked from survey to survey to give the Town an opportunity to see trends in its performance
2. Questions that change from survey to survey to give the Town information on current or emerging issues
3. Demographic questions such as age, sex, race, and education that help ensure that the sample of respondents are a scientifically representative group of the total population of Cary.

How It Works

Following a national request for proposals, Cary has contracted with BKL Research of Salem, VA to conduct the study and related focus groups at a cost of $28,665.  The survey report is expected in late March followed by a focus group report in late April.

All responses to the survey will be anonymous, and demographic information will only be used in the aggregate.  However, respondents will be given the opportunity to give their identifying information if they are interested in participating in one of several focus groups that the Town’s consultants will conduct in March as part of the study based on the survey findings.

Results from Cary’s previous biennial surveys are available online in the Research section of the Town website.

My Vox

I, for one, welcome this.  And I trust the feedback will be acted upon.

Vox Populi, Latin for “Voice of the People.” If you have something to say (about Cary, that is), contact Matt with your story idea.