The survey was prepared and will be distributed by the Forest Lake Community Association, a local group that formed during the dispute over future of the former hospital building campus this year.

The poll will be delivered to every household in the city of Forest Lake through an insert in the Forest Lake Times published on Thursday, Aug. 17. Homeowners can expect the survey to arrive as early as Aug. 16 on some delivery routes.

Completed surveys must be returned by Thursday, Aug. 31.

ìPeople are so seldom asked what they think,î said Richard Pecar of the FLCA.

The survey came about, Pecar said, as the FLCA collected input from the public during the hospital campus discussions. The survey, he said, will provide a ìsnapshotî on the opinions held by city residents.

The 40-question survey will seek input on a wide range of topics that includes commentary on a number of issues facing the city, including the community center, roundabouts. future development and city infrastructure.

The survey will also seek opinion on the performance of local government, including the city council and mayor, all levels of city staff, and police and fire protection.

During the 14-day survey window, completed forms may be returned by mail to: Forest Lake Community Association, P.O. Box 844, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

Collection points

A number of collection boxes will also be placed throughout the business community. Collection points for the surveys are:

ïRainbow Foods.

ïMarketplace Foods.

ïForest Lake Times.

Pecar says that after the 14-day period has passed, the results will be tabulated and released to the public. The results of the opinion survey will also be shared with the city of Forest Lake, he said.

Although the results are not scientific and constitute only a statement of how the public feels about its community and its leaders, Pecar says the survey needs public response if it is to do any good.

Residents may respond to some or all of the questions. Responding to all 40 questions is not a requirement, he said.

If the survey can reach any kind of consensus on a specific topic, that information could prove helpful, Pecar said.

In such cases, he said, it may have an impact on local policy makers and could inspire leaders to do more investigation into the attitudes expressed by the public through the survey.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605