SF Citizens Surveyed On How City Is Doing
by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
January 14, 2013 5:36 PM
How are we doing Sioux Falls? That’s the question city officials will be asking some residents in a citizen’s survey. The goal of the survey is to find out what citizens feel the city needs some work on.
The 2013 Citizen’s Survey is something city officials are calling their ‘test’ to see what areas the city may need a little help with.
"In city government we have our own perception of what we do well, and maybe what we don't do well, but that's not necessarily what the community sees,” said Tracy Turbak, Director of Finance for the city of Sioux Falls.
Turbak said 3,000 residences were randomly selected to participate in the survey. And on a scale from one to five, they will get to score the city on a variety of topics.
"Everything from public safety services, to street maintenance service, planning and up keep, fire protection,” said Turbak.
In 2009, randomly selected residents were surveyed the same way. Turbak said spending the $22,000 to do it again, is money well spent.
“The benefit of doing the survey every so often is that you see the trends and you can identify where we are improving, or maybe where we aren't, and we should be,” said Turbak.
Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether said it’s the city officials way of showing they care about the people they serve.
"Their opinions matter. What they think in terms of how we prioritize a government is critical,” said Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether.
Huether said he believes the city has come a long way since the survey back in 2009. But he said even though straight ‘A’s on this so called report card would be nice, he hopes for some failing grades.
“I want to find out from the people of Sioux Falls where they think we are losing or where they think they can do better, and I want to focus our town's attention on those,” said Huether.
Huether said knowing the city’s weaknesses will only make it even stronger.
Residents who have been selected to participate will be receiving surveys starting January 22.
The survey is being sent and compiled by the National Research Center.
