By JAMES EIK
Staff Reporter
A telephone survey conducted by the city of Airway Heights revealed that fire, police and garbage services were received very well by residents.
The survey, which took place April 16 – 31, polled residents about their opinions on the different services offered by the city, and the effectiveness of those services.
City Manager Albert Tripp said that high rankings for the fire department were not surprising.
“Not if I reflect on my police chief's observation,” he said. “His favorite line is, ‘everyone loves a fireman.'”
The lowest-scoring services on the survey included services for youth and seniors, code enforcement, street repair and job creation. Tripp said that the city will take note of the results.
“We're very conscientious of the areas we scored less than average on as opportunities to improve upon,” he said.
The Airway Heights City Council will use the results in discussions during their annual retreat. Problem areas will be addressed in order to find potential solutions.
Of the lower-scoring services, Tripp noted that potential ways to increase effectiveness are already underway.
To improve youth and senior services, the City Council is scheduled to consider the construction of a new recreation center in the city during their retreat. A previous bond attempt in Airway Heights failed to pass, but responses from the latest survey indicate that the city should try again, with a potential chance for success. If approved, construction on the center would start in 2012.
“The constraints that we have as a city is space, in terms of fields and the physical buildings to host and hold those activities,” Tripp said. “The rec center, along with the supporting fields around it, will provide both of those.”
To address the area of code enforcement, the City Council recently updated its enforcement ordinance.
“We've been very proactive in looking for ways to address issues out there that might be in violation with it,” Tripp said.
In order to improve the condition of streets in Airway Heights, a new survey will poll residents on their possible support for a two-tenths of 1 percent sales tax increase. The total tax would equal 4 cents on a $20 purchase, and would fund a transportation benefit district, which would encompass the city itself.
Job creation, the lowest-scoring area on the survey, is an on-going improvement area for the city, according to Tripp.
“We have a stimulus project we developed for 2011, which was about $6 - 7 million of federal, state and local city moneys being used to either create infrastructure projects or to expand utility projects,” he said.
Tripp noted that having an improved infrastructure in place will, the city believes, help address future growth when the economy turns around.
Also up for consideration is seeking consultation on where the location of future commercial and industrial businesses would most benefit the city.
A new survey, using National Citizen Survey, was approved at the June 20 council meeting. Airway Heights regularly conducts surveys to gauge the effectiveness of city government.
The city employed Strategic Research to conduct the April survey. It was a first-time partnership between the two entities.
James Eik can be reached at [email protected].
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