The City of Hastings announced that a community survey is being mailed to sample groups of residents to better understand the opinions of residents as they relate to city amenities, infrastructure, services and more.
Randomly selected residents in each ward will receive a postcard in the mail inviting them to take the survey online.
“We’re very excited to be conducting this survey,” says City Administrator Dan Wietecha. “This survey will help our staff and Council identify priorities for the community and improve the quality of life in Hastings. If you are one of the selected residents to receive the survey in the mail, please take it. We rely on a strong sample for our survey results.”
For the past few weeks, city staff have been working with Polco, an independent consultant and civic engagement company, to develop the survey. The survey includes questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by Hastings and priorities for the future.
The instrument, known as The National Community Survey™, allows Hastings to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country. Hastings has conducted a community survey every three years since at least 2011. This allows the city to evaluate changes and trends over time.
In April, the city will open the survey more broadly through an online link promoted through its social media, e-newsletters and website. The results of the open link and the random sample survey responses will help the city prepare for the future.
