Council developing public perception survey
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The zoning and annexation community of the Hillsboro City Council examined selling a portion of city property off Moore Road, while the community enhancement committee discussed conducting a survey regarding the perception of decisions being made by city officials during meetings held Tuesday.
Zoning committee chairperson Rod Daniels and community enhancement chairperson Mary Brown Turner said they would like to develop a survey for area residents that would let elected officials know how they are doing.
"If people know we care, they'll care," Turner said. "There's so much we can do if we work together."
"We'd like to do what's known as a perception survey," Daniels said. "It's a chance for us, as council members, to kind of go out and ask input from our constituents, as far as how they would like to see their money spent, as far as different services the city offers, whether it be streets, fire, EMS, police. It can really let us hear from people out in the community."
Daniels and Turner said they would work on getting the survey together, so that each council member could ask the same questions. Daniels also suggested putting a link on the city's website so people can take it online, with the results automatically tallied. For those without computers, he suggested putting the survey in local newspapers.
Turner said she wanted to take the surveys door to door because she felt there would be more participation "if they see our faces."
Turner also said that she wants to continue with projects that she began last summer that gathered area residents together to trim curbsides and right of ways in her ward, and she encouraged other council members to do the same.
She also wanted to know what could be done about the increasing number of vacant houses in the city that are falling into disrepair.
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt said that vacant houses have property owners, and that it is up to those owners, not the city, to maintain the houses.
Council member Bill Alexander asked Holt what area residents should do if they have an unoccupied house in their neighborhood where the grass is not being mowed and the property is not being maintained.
"Talk to the property owner," Holt said.
Holt said that because it is private property, anyone who takes it upon themselves to mow grass or make repairs runs the risk of trespassing.
Nothing is going to dull my enthusiasm," Turner said. "But at the same time, we know that there are a lot of people who area hurting, and we don't know how deeply.
Daniels addressed Brad Roades, owner of Landscapes and Outer Spaces. Roades has asked that the city consider selling a portion of it railroad right of way property near 111 Moore Road.
Roades told the committee Tuesday that he is interested in constructing a fence, due to some theft issues he has had. When he mapped out the property lines, he realized how close the fence would be to the city property and he sought information regarding acquiring the approximately two and a half acres.
Daniels said that in 1997 the city sold a small portion of the property for $16,667, and at that time the city was interested in retaining some of the property for constructing a bike path or running trail. Daniels said he wanted input from other council members and city officials, particularly from the Hillsboro Planning Commission, regarding possible development of the area.
Roades said that he felt a bike path would be an asset to the city, and that he would consider purchasing a smaller portion. Zink suggested that the city allow Roades to purchase to the line where the city sold the property in 1997. Daniels said that he would go out to view the property this week, and would make the recommendation to council during the February meeting.
Holt said the property would also have to be appraised.
The zoning and annexation community of the Hillsboro City Council examined selling a portion of city property off Moore Road, while the community enhancement committee discussed conducting a survey regarding the perception of decisions being made by city officials during meetings held Tuesday.
Zoning committee chairperson Rod Daniels and community enhancement chairperson Mary Brown Turner said they would like to develop a survey for area residents that would let elected officials know how they are doing.
"If people know we care, they'll care," Turner said. "There's so much we can do if we work together."
"We'd like to do what's known as a perception survey," Daniels said. "It's a chance for us, as council members, to kind of go out and ask input from our constituents, as far as how they would like to see their money spent, as far as different services the city offers, whether it be streets, fire, EMS, police. It can really let us hear from people out in the community."
Daniels and Turner said they would work on getting the survey together, so that each council member could ask the same questions. Daniels also suggested putting a link on the city's website so people can take it online, with the results automatically tallied. For those without computers, he suggested putting the survey in local newspapers.
Turner said she wanted to take the surveys door to door because she felt there would be more participation "if they see our faces."
Turner also said that she wants to continue with projects that she began last summer that gathered area residents together to trim curbsides and right of ways in her ward, and she encouraged other council members to do the same.
She also wanted to know what could be done about the increasing number of vacant houses in the city that are falling into disrepair.
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt said that vacant houses have property owners, and that it is up to those owners, not the city, to maintain the houses.
Council member Bill Alexander asked Holt what area residents should do if they have an unoccupied house in their neighborhood where the grass is not being mowed and the property is not being maintained.
"Talk to the property owner," Holt said.
Holt said that because it is private property, anyone who takes it upon themselves to mow grass or make repairs runs the risk of trespassing.
Nothing is going to dull my enthusiasm," Turner said. "But at the same time, we know that there are a lot of people who area hurting, and we don't know how deeply.
Daniels addressed Brad Roades, owner of Landscapes and Outer Spaces. Roades has asked that the city consider selling a portion of it railroad right of way property near 111 Moore Road.
Roades told the committee Tuesday that he is interested in constructing a fence, due to some theft issues he has had. When he mapped out the property lines, he realized how close the fence would be to the city property and he sought information regarding acquiring the approximately two and a half acres.
Daniels said that in 1997 the city sold a small portion of the property for $16,667, and at that time the city was interested in retaining some of the property for constructing a bike path or running trail. Daniels said he wanted input from other council members and city officials, particularly from the Hillsboro Planning Commission, regarding possible development of the area.
Roades said that he felt a bike path would be an asset to the city, and that he would consider purchasing a smaller portion. Zink suggested that the city allow Roades to purchase to the line where the city sold the property in 1997. Daniels said that he would go out to view the property this week, and would make the recommendation to council during the February meeting.
Holt said the property would also have to be appraised.