Highland residents asked to complete survey
The city of Highland is asking residents to complete at “Citizen Satisfaction and Concern Survey,” which seeks input on city services and overall quality of life.
“We are entering a time of looking forward; of planning for the future. Before we look forward, I want to assess how you feel we are doing right now,” Mayor Joe Michaelis wrote in a forward to the survey.
The surveys were sent out in the last round of utility bills. However, an online survey is also available by clicking here.
“While input from residents is always welcome, city leaders wanted to provide a mechanism which could be quantified and measured in order to determine areas which are satisfactory and those in need of improvement,” said Lisa Peck, assistant city manager.
The survey covers eight areas: quality of life; utility services; parks and recreation; streets, roads and sidewalks; police services; ambulance services; fire services; and community development. Most questions on the survey use a 1-5 rating scale, 1 being a rating of “very poor,” while a 5 is “excellent.” There are also opportunities to write in comments on each section.
The last time the city did such a survey was 2007.
“One of the main themes that emerged from the last survey was that the public wanted more trails,” Peck said. “Accordingly, the city has prioritized creating more trails and has been quite successful in seeking outside funding to accomplish the goal.”
All survey responses are anonymous and will be reported in group form only. It’s asked that the surveys be filled out one per household.
The city is asking for completed surveys to be returned by April 15. They may be mailed to: City of Highland, P.O. Box 218, Highland, IL 62249. They may also be returned to City Hall, 1115 Broadway, or any other city facility.
Survey questions
Quality of life
Q: Overall, how would you rate…
▪ Highland as a place to live?
▪ Your neighborhood as a place to live?
▪ Highland as a place to raise children?
▪ Highland as a place to work?
▪ Highland as a place to retire?
▪ The overall quality of life in Highland?
Q: How likely are to to…
▪ Recommend living in Highland to someone who asks?
▪ Remain in Highland for the next five years?
Q: How would you rate the following services…
▪ Water/Sewer?
▪ Electric?
▪ Highland Communication Services?
▪ Police?
▪ Fire?
▪ Emergency Medical Services?
▪ Parks and Recreation?
Q: In general, how good of a job is the city of Highland doing in regards to…
▪ Meeting the needs of your and your family?
▪ Efficiently using your tax dollars?
▪ being responsive to concerns of residents?
Utility Services
Q: How would you rate the reliability of the follow city utilities…
▪ Water?
▪ Sewer?
▪ Trash?
▪ Electric?
▪ Highland Communication Services?
Q: How would you rate the cost of the following city utilities…
▪ Water?
▪ Sewer?
▪ Trash?
▪ Electric?
▪ Highland Communication Services?
Q: In the past three months, did the trash collectors ever miss your pick-up on the regularly scheduled day…
▪ Never?
▪ Once or twice?
▪ 3-5 times?
▪ 6-8 times?
▪ More than 9 times?
Parks & Recreation
Q: In the past 12 months, about how many times have you or other household members participated in the following activities in Highland (never, once or twice, 3-12 times, 13-26 times, more than 26 times)…
▪ Used the Korte Recreation Center?
▪ Participated in a recreation program or activity?
▪ Visited a neighborhood or city park?
▪ Attended a meeting of local elected officials or other local public meeting?
▪ Visited the city of Highland’s website (highlandil.gov)?
▪ Recycled used paper, cans or bottles from your home?
▪ Volunteered your time to some group or activity in Highland?
Q: How do you rate the Parks and Recreation Department is the following areas…
▪ Overall satisfaction?
▪ Quality of programs?
▪ Range of activities?
▪ Appearance of facilities?
▪ Safety of facilities?
▪ Ease to get to facilities?
Q: What addition would you like to see added to the Parks and Recreation system…
▪ New outdoor swimming pool?
▪ Paved walking trails?
▪ Natural trails?
▪ Canoes/kayaks on Silver Lake?
Street, Road Maintenance & Sidewalks
Q: How would you rate…
▪ Condition of streets and roads within the city of Highland?
▪ Traffic-carrying capacity of streets?
▪ Quality of storm drainage in your neighborhood?
▪ Quantity of sidewalks in your neighborhood?
▪ Condition of sidewalks in your neighborhood?
Police Services
Q: How would you rate…
▪ Feeling of safety in your neighborhood?
▪ Feeling of safety while walking around town?
▪ Approachability and professionalism of Highland police officers?
▪ Adequacy of police patrols in your neighborhood?
▪ Courteousness and assistance in interactions with police department employees?
EMS/Ambulance Services
Q: If you have had any direct contact with the city of Highland’s ambulance service within the past 12 months, please rate the following…
▪ Overall impression of ambulance service?
▪ Overall care provided?
▪ Overall impression of crew with regard to courtesy, attitude, and your confidence in them?
▪ Medical attention provided by EMS crew?
▪ Courteousness and assistance in interactions with EMS employees?
Fire Services
Q: If you have had any direct contact with the city of Highland Fire Department within the past 12 months, please rate the following…
▪ Handling of contact by the fire department?
▪ Overall impression of crew with regard to courtesy, attitude, and your confidence in them?
▪ Courteousness and assistance in interactions with fire department employees?
Community Development
Q: How would you rate…
▪ Development growth in Highland?
▪ Building permit process?
▪ Availability of executive-level housing?
▪ Availability of moderate-level housing?
▪ Availability of multi-family housing?
▪ Quality and maintenance of housing in Highland?
This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 3:11 AM with the headline "Highland residents asked to complete survey."