by Dennis Dalman
The results of a citywide survey were presented by city staff to the Sartell City Council at its May 28 meeting.
The National Community Survey was mailed by the City of Sartell to 3,000 residents who had the choice of sending their survey answers back by mail or filling out the survey online instead. About 200-plus other people who did not receive the mailings responded to the survey online.
It is the first time Sartell has used this particular citizen survey, NCS survey, which compares local responses to national benchmarks from similar-sized cities in the nation.
The 10 major categories covered in the survey were Safety, Mobility, Natural Environment, Community Design, Utilities, Economy, Parks and Recreation, Education, Arts and Culture, Inclusivity and Engagement, and Health and Wellness.
Of the 3,000 surveys mailed to residents, 530 were filled out and mailed back – a return rate of 18 percent, said Sartell City Administrator Anna Gruber. That, according to city staff, was the highest response rate from any citywide survey ever offered in the city.
Four key findings of the survey are that the economy is a priority and strength for the city, that public safety is regarded as a very strong plus for Sartell, the residents highly value the natural environment and its preservation, and that design of a downtown destination area with public amenities would be a great asset for Sartell.
There will be a detailed analysis of the survey results and more about the survey’s methodology in the June 21 Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader.
