GROUP WANTS TO KNOW PEOPLE'S VIEW OF CITY

The Vision 2000 Community Relations Council wants to know what registered voters think about the quality of life in Cape Girardeau.

The results of a community attitude survey should tell them.

Jeff Krantz, project coordinator for the Community Relations Council, said surveys have been sent to about 1,500 registered voters in Cape Girardeau. Every 12th voter who is registered in the city was chosen for the survey.

"We want to identify the strengths in the community and find out what people think about leadership in city government, projects of importance and the public perception of education and other issues," said Krantz.

The Vision 2000 Community Relations Council conducted a similar survey in 1987. Krantz said 52 percent of those who received the questionnaire responded. "That's a good percentage for a mail survey among the general public," he said.

"We realize that the issues in 1994 are going to be different than those in 1987 and we tried to make the questions in this survey reflect that change," said Krantz.

The research indicated that an emphasis should be placed on planning for enforcement of storm water management regulations and regulations for deteriorated property.

It suggested that future projects also should address flood control, a trash disposal facility and major street corrections.

In the area of community development, according to the research, more emphasis should be placed on attracting new businesses to the area. This could be accomplished by promoting Cape Girardeau's location on the Mississippi and by working closely with the university.

In addition, specific attention should be given to attracting more health care professionals, the survey found. Family and general practice physicians were deemed the health care professionals most needed.

A need to address residents' concerns about drug and alcohol abuse was found.

The 1994 survey will ask those chosen to participate to rate Cape Girardeau's residential, industrial and retail growth rate. The categories: too fast, too slow, about right or no opinion.

The survey asks questions about the quality of health care, education and city services. It also asks residents to list the top five projects they would like the city to focus on for the future. Among the choices are flood control, flight services, city bridge replacements, water system improvements, connections to the new Highway 74 bridge, regional solid waste disposal facility, paving gravel streets and others.

There also is a section for those surveyed to list personal characteristics such as home owner, renter, age, how many years of residence, education and ethnic background.

The survey asks for a rating of various agencies and facilities in terms of whether or not they meet the needs of the community. Those include the Show Me Center, Southeast Missouri State, news media, Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, city government, county government and the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

There is also a rating category for city services and educational facilities.

1987 Vision 2000 survey results

Community Development

- 74 percent rated the quality of life as excellent or good

- 81 percent agreed or strongly agreed that Cape has a good variety of retail stores

- 72 percent rated the quality of businesses in Cape as excellent or good

- 70 percent agreed or strongly agreed that the river and its economic impact should be promoted

- 52 percent agreed or strongly agreed that Cape is a progressive community

Health Services

- 79 percent agreed or strongly agreed that quality health care is provided by physicians and hospitals in Cape

- 76 percent agreed or strongly agreed that health information is readily available

- 54 percent agreed or strongly agreed that Cape needs more family and general practice physicians

Education

- 72 percent rated the quality of education at Southeast Missouri State University as excellent or good

- 63 percent rated elementary schools as excellent or good

- 50 percent rated the high school as excellent or good

City Government

- 70 percent of residents believed flood control is one of the most important future projects for the city

- 47 percent believed a trash disposal facility is one of the most important future projects

- 56 percent agreed that the city provides an adequate variety of recreational activities