City of Fosston Survey - Results
Published: 5/5/2006
Survey conducted by Landsverk and Associates, Inc.,
220 East First Street, Fosston, MN 218-435-2834
Page 1
Survey Overview
Description
Instructions Provided To Respondents
Respondent Metrics
Survey Results
general - Section 1
1. Overall, how would you describe the quality of life in Fosston, MN?
2. How do you rate the overall quality of your neighborhood?
3. How do you rate Fosston as a place to raise children?
4. How do you rate Fosston as a place to live?
5. How do you rate Fosston as a place to retire?
quality of life- Section 2
6. Sense of community
7. Overall appearance of city
8. Quality of K-12 schools in Fosston
9. Opportunities to attend cultural activities
10. Opportunities for leisure-time activities
11. Shopping opportunities
12. Air quality
13. Recreation opportunities
14. Job opportunities
15. Access to affordable housing
16. Economic development
Drugs, taxes & run-down buildings - Section 3
17. Drugs
18. Taxes
19. Run down houses and buildings
Service use section - Section 4
20. Used the Fosston public library or their services
21. Used the recreation centers
22. Participated in a recreation program or activity
23. Visited a city park
24. Rode the city bus
25. Attended a City Council meeting
26. Recycled used paper, cans or bottles from your home
27. Volunteered your time to some group/activity in Fosston
28. Used the Internet for anything
29. Read a City newsletter
30. Read City Council meeting minutes
growth - Section 5
31. Overall, how would you rate the quality of services provided by Fosston?
32. Please rate the speed of Fosston's population growth:
33. Please rate the speed of Fosston's business/retail growth:
34. Please rate the speed of Fosston's job growth:
city services - Section 6
35. Law Enforcement services
36. Fire services
37. Emergency medical services/ambulances
38. Garbage collection (solid waste)
39. Recycling
40. Water services
41. Sewer services
42. Library services
43. Cable Television
44. Recreation facilities
45. Recreation programs and classes
46. Park maintenance
47. City parks
48. Street maintenance
49. Cleanliness of streets
50. Yard/organic waste
51. Snow removal
52. Street lighting
53. City bus
54. Animal control
55. Enforcement of traffic laws
56. Services to seniors
57. Water quality
58. Planning and zoning
59. Storm drainage
60. Sidewalk maintenance
61. Services to youth
recreation - Section 7
62. Recreational Opportunities - Which of the following do you think Fosston needs the most?
city employees - Section 8
63. Have you had phone or in-person contact with a Fosston employee within the last 12 months?
city employees - Section 9
64. Knowledge
65. Responsiveness
66. Courtesy
67. Overall impression
city government - Section 10
68. I receive good value for the City taxes I pay
69. I am pleased with the overall direction that the City is taking
70. I am well informed on major issues in Fosston
71. Fosston's city government welcomes citizen involvement
72. Fosston's government is really run for the benefit of all the people
73. Most elected officials care what people like me think
demographics - Section 11
74. How many years have you lived in Fosston?
75. What best describes this building?
76. Is this house, apartment or mobile home...
77. How many people, including yourself live in your household?
78. Please list the number of household members in each age category
79. Does any member of your household have a physical handicap or is anyone disabled?
80. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?
81. What is your race? (Mark one or more races to indicate what race you consider yourself to be.)
82. Are you Spanish/Hispanic/Latino?
83. In which category is your age?
84. Your gender:
Survey conducted by Landsverk and Associates, Inc.,
220 East First Street, Fosston, MN 218-435-2834
Page 1
Survey Overview
Description
The purpose of the survey is to identify the level of satisfaction of city residents and to evaluate areas in which services may be improved. It will also be a planning tool in future development.
Instructions Provided To Respondents
Answer questions as they relate to you. For most answers, check the boxes most applicable to you or fill in the blanks.
Respondent Metrics
Respondents: 283
First Response: 4/6/2006 11:45 AM
Last Response: 5/5/200604:55 PM
Survey Results
The following is a tabular depiction of the responses to each survey question. Additional comments provided by respondents, if any, are included after each table.
General Section - Section 1
1. Overall, how would you describe the quality of life in Fosston, MN?
60.6%171good
27.3%77excellent
10.3%29fair
1.8%5poor
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Clean town (0000000027 Anonymous)
Quiet, low crime and great bus service. (0000000046 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Need more jobs. (0000000031 Anonymous)
Not enough to do, personal items prices are too high. Stinks in summer. (0000000238 Anonymous)
OK for a small town (0000000003 Anonymous)
The air smells awful, poor quality water (full of rust) (0000000029 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Lack of competition in grocery, hardware, drug stores is not good. (0000000257 Anonymous)
Low crime, OK people. (0000000197 Anonymous)
2. How do you rate the overall quality of your neighborhood?
55.4%155good
25.4%71excellent
14.3%40fair
4.3%12poor
0.7%2don't know
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Couldn't have better neighbors if I hand picked them. (0000000171 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Businesses are invading the residential homes. (0000000029 Anonymous)
Everybody has to work outside the home...just not as neighborly as former neighbors years ago. (0000000125 Anonymous)
The city needs to push owners to do much better. The trailer park is in the city! (0000000253 Anonymous)
Too many low income rentals. (0000000121 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Cats keep getting in our garbage. (0000000238 Anonymous)
Dislike the building of pole/metal buildings allowed. (0000000257 Anonymous)
Good neighbors. (0000000027 Anonymous)
People usually are kind & friendly. (0000000221 Anonymous)
Sometimes there are speeding cars and motorcycles etc. on 9th Street. I wish the police would catch them. (0000000034 Anonymous)
Too many loose dogs!! One poor neighbor - leaves debris all over my lot. Its a HUD house. (0000000036 Anonymous)
Very nice, my only comment is that there aren't a whole lot of street lights on our corner (a bit dark). (0000000217 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Too many empty houses that's been empty 10 years. I believe Fosston should have some condos, townhouses. (0000000194 Anonymous)
3. How do you rate Fosston as a place to raise children?
52.1%146good
29.3%82excellent
10.4%29fair
6.1%17don't know
2.1%6poor
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Because of great community & ECFE programs. (0000000151 Anonymous)
Good schools - recreation things in summer. (0000000114 Anonymous)
Low crime - kids can still play outside. (0000000197 Anonymous)
Nice playgrounds & parks, good schools. (0000000221 Anonymous)
When we first moved to town last fall our 13 year old son & about a dozen other boys would have a daily game of cops & robbers. Instead of sitting indoors playing video games they were enjoying the benefit of our very safe neighborhoods. (0000000016 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Concerned about school environment/drugs/lack of positive opportunities other than sports. (0000000038 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Concern with fast/uncontrolled drivers on residential streets. (0000000214 Anonymous)
Good - until the age of 12 years - after that no activities. (0000000132 Anonymous)
School is OK. Good, safe community. (0000000027 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Nothing for kids to do anymore unless you're in sports. (0000000045 Anonymous)
4. How do you rate Fosston as a place to live?
58.9%165good
27.5%77excellent
11.1%31fair
2.5%7poor
Comments/Notes for "fair":
The smell from the lagoon and milk drying plant are awful! (0000000121 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Has went downhill, a handful of people own most of the businesses, only one of everything anymore. (0000000045 Anonymous)
5. How do you rate Fosston as a place to retire?
53.2%148good
27.0%75excellent
12.2%34fair
5.0%14don't know
2.5%7poor
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Excellent - medical facilities, city bus, shopping, meals, churches. (0000000125 Anonymous)
I am retired & love it here. (0000000028 Anonymous)
Many helpful services for seniors. (0000000141 Anonymous)
Young people don't stay around here anymore, nothing to offer them. (0000000045 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Fosston is a very pretty town & we are proud to be here. (0000000265 Anonymous)
It is definitely a place for older people. (0000000071 Anonymous)
There are good medical facilities. (0000000027 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
I want a warmer climate. (0000000118 Anonymous)
Poor - lack of affordable shopping. (0000000148 Anonymous)
Section - Section 2
6. Sense of community
59.0%164good
21.2%59fair
15.1%42excellent
4.3%12poor
0.4%1don't know
Comments/Notes for "good":
FLAC & Heritage Days brings community together. The 13 Towns paper keeps us informed and involved. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
If you aren't in the clicks of Fosston, you might as well forget it. Alot of snotty people. (0000000045 Anonymous)
No togetherness as there was growing up. (0000000202 Anonymous)
Too many clicks. (0000000029 Anonymous)
7. Overall appearance of city
56.7%160good
27.3%77excellent
14.9%42fair
1.1%3poor
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Excellent, but there are a few bad lots and houses. (0000000129 Anonymous)
Snow removal keeps streets open early. Always neat in summer, snow plowing concern though - piles block view in places. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Appearance is mostly good, however there are places that need much attention due to dying trees, sidewalks and weeds growing up by fences, and dirt piles (0000000087 Anonymous)
Downtown and some neighborhoods have some eyesores. (0000000149 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Downtown has way too many empty spaces. Not conducive to a "healthy" atmosphere. (0000000157 Anonymous)
Good but it would be improved alot if Hilliard lot cleanup was completed and neighbor used his garages for his cars. He has too much standing in his yard. (0000000153 Anonymous)
Main Street has some empty buildings which doesn't look good. (0000000158 Anonymous)
Much improved over last 5-10 years. (0000000138 Anonymous)
Some Hwy 2 frontage buildings need work. (0000000163 Anonymous)
There are a few eyesores but not bad. (0000000172 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Old gas station closed right by lights looks bad! Weeds in cracked sidewalks downtown. Old and lead based paint on old play equipment. Our city park is under maintained - the fountain should move the pond swamp water - it doesn't. (0000000118 Anonymous)
8. Quality of K-12 schools in Fosston
48.6%135good
19.8%55excellent
14.7%41don't know
14.0%39fair
2.9%8poor
Comments/Notes for "don't know":
Don't have children in school. (0000000033 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
I think the elementary is better than the high school. Upset about all the cuts, right after raise in taxes and their grant. Need to cut sports before education programs. (0000000238 Anonymous)
Need to keep band in schools. (0000000112 Anonymous)
Right now I am upset with the school district looking at cutting teachers again. (0000000158 Anonymous)
Seems to have problems, just like any other school. (0000000003 Anonymous)
There are so many other opportunities academically, socially, culturally and athletically in other schools. Something to think about... (0000000157 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
No children at home, but they all have good jobs after graduating from Fosston. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Too much sports cost money to run around. (0000000123 Anonymous)
We don't like the "cuts". We need to keep our teachers. (0000000066 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Drugs are everywhere in our schools. (0000000071 Anonymous)
Poor-unless you're in sports. (0000000202 Anonymous)
Sports are pushed more than education! (0000000198 Anonymous)
Too sports orientated, not enough on learning. (0000000045 Anonymous)
9. Opportunities to attend cultural activities
52.7%146good
22.7%63fair
10.5%29excellent
9.0%25poor
5.1%14don't know
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Excellent library, family events, heritage center excellent, movie theater, excellent radio station, rare for our small town, excellent. (0000000118 Anonymous)
LibraryArtsCenter, Heritage House, School, etc. (0000000100 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
There really aren't that many in Fosston. (0000000197 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
FLAC, HeritageCenter, school plays, speakers - all great. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Need more restaurants open Sunday evenings. (0000000152 Anonymous)
Not too far to Bemidji or Fargo. (0000000172 Anonymous)
The Library Arts is a real plus for our town and nice to have the theatre going again. (0000000087 Anonymous)
Very good for a city of our size (0000000138 Anonymous)
Would like to see more, but those we have are seldom well attended or supported. (0000000171 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Art Center is nice, not much else. (0000000254 Anonymous)
Poor - unless you're Norwegian. (0000000003 Anonymous)
10. Opportunities for leisure-time activities
40.1%112good
34.8%97fair
15.1%42poor
6.1%17excellent
3.9%11don't know
Comments/Notes for "don't know":
Are there any? (0000000121 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Public lakes in the area, movie theater, civic center, baseball complex, golf course. (0000000118 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
City park in desperate need of upgrades/repair. (0000000214 Anonymous)
Could use tennis courts! (0000000019 Anonymous)
Nice theater and golf course. (0000000172 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Nothing for retired people. (0000000137 Anonymous)
Where? (0000000045 Anonymous)
11. Shopping opportunities
41.3%116fair
34.2%96good
21.7%61poor
2.8%8excellent
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Fair - but Walmart's cheaper. (0000000197 Anonymous)
For a small town. (0000000003 Anonymous)
Glad about the $1 store but the other stores are kind of spendy!! IGA is alright w/prices. (0000000238 Anonymous)
More shops. (0000000086 Anonymous)
Need more businesses here to create jobs and pay taxes. (0000000046 Anonymous)
Sad to see great stores closing and others struggling to survive. (0000000151 Anonymous)
We need another grocery store. (0000000116 Anonymous)
Would be nice to have another grocery store, but Palubicki's is very good. (0000000153 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
A&W, Dairy Queen, K's is great, Nord's is great, good grocery store. (0000000118 Anonymous)
Competition for stores is always good, but is lacking in Fosston. Good not to have many empty buildings though. We do most of our shopping in town - some grocery shopping in McIntosh. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Depends on what we're looking for. We surely need another grocery store! (0000000087 Anonymous)
Just about everything we need. (0000000172 Anonymous)
Limited to certain items. (0000000027 Anonymous)
Most people who run off someplace don't realize they can usually find the same thing locally for the same or less money. (0000000171 Anonymous)
Need a few more stores in town that just one or two business people don't own. (0000000121 Anonymous)
Several businesses have a monopoly as they have no competition - drug, grocery, furniture as examples. (0000000082 Anonymous)
We should have another grocery store and a good place to buy clothes and shoes. (0000000054 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Need another food store - drug store & 5&10c store. (0000000010 Anonymous)
Need more shopping stores (grocery) (0000000139 Anonymous)
Need more than one shopping store. (0000000120 Anonymous)
No competition in the grocery and prescription drug businesses. (0000000095 Anonymous)
No competition. (0000000073 Anonymous)
No competition to lower food prices (0000000112 Anonymous)
One of each store - Bemidji better variety. (0000000202 Anonymous)
Rather go to Bemidji, variety of stores there, like Fosston used to be. (0000000045 Anonymous)
Stores should be open one evening a week. (0000000254 Anonymous)
This may be our city's biggest problem - lack of retail - much of Fosston's money goes out of town and doesn't return! (0000000149 Anonymous)
Three people run the town. (0000000123 Anonymous)
12. Air quality
38.6%108good
29.6%83fair
20.0%56poor
10.7%30excellent
1.1%3don't know
Comments/Notes for "don't know":
Never tested it. (0000000003 Anonymous)
Sometimes smells - not sure what quality is with incinerator. (0000000269 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "excellent":
Excellent. Even with a little whiff of the lagoon once in a while. Go to San Francisco and walk outside at 8 AM and try to take a deep breath. You'll quickly learn to appreciate Minnesota air. (0000000171 Anonymous)
Except on warm days we get fumes from the lagoon. (0000000112 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "fair":
Burning garbage/sewer smell/ag chemicals. (0000000023 Anonymous)
Fine in dead of winter, has been terrible otherwise - lagoon! (0000000214 Anonymous)
Fosston lagoon - ick! (0000000148 Anonymous)
Hopefully better this year. (0000000156 Anonymous)
Lagoon has been terrible for years. (0000000138 Anonymous)
Sewage lagoon sometimes smells. (0000000073 Anonymous)
Sewer settling pond smells bad. (0000000083 Anonymous)
Some days lagoon smells bad. (0000000031 Anonymous)
Summer smell from lagoon! (0000000019 Anonymous)
Veg. plant odors. (0000000151 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "good":
Better on south side where we live. (0000000172 Anonymous)
Better since MDV put in treatment plant. (0000000027 Anonymous)
Depends on which way the wind blows. (0000000015 Anonymous)
Except for odors from the plants & lagoon! (0000000096 Anonymous)
Except when lagoon smell fills the town. (0000000106 Anonymous)
Good - Should be better without the smell from lagoon. (0000000125 Anonymous)
Good except for northern milk and lagoon. (0000000123 Anonymous)
Good now with the MDV project. (0000000197 Anonymous)
Poor in summer when wind is from NE. (0000000174 Anonymous)
That bad smell has disappeared at last! (0000000221 Anonymous)
The lagoon and the milk plant smell bad sometimes. (0000000025 Anonymous)
Comments/Notes for "poor":
Depending on time of year and wind direction from the lagoon, MDV or milk plant. (0000000132 Anonymous)
Emissions from smoke stacks at west end of town are a big concern as well as the odors! Lagoons - "stinkville USA" (0000000149 Anonymous)
Hopefully sewer smell will be fixed. What toxins come out of the incinerator? (0000000163 Anonymous)
It stinks! (0000000032 Anonymous)
Lagoon smell is terrible. (0000000119 Anonymous)
Pig farm south of town stinks. Incinerator stinks. (0000000026 Anonymous)
Poor at best - are we the smelliest town? (0000000121 Anonymous)
Smell (0000000038 Anonymous)
Smell. (0000000056 Anonymous)
Somedays Fosston stinks so bad you could puke! Should move the elevators tanks in county that are by Palubickiville. (0000000045 Anonymous)
Stinks all summer. (0000000238 Anonymous)
The lagoon can be overpowering. (0000000124 Anonymous)
The milk plant stinks, the incinerator stinks, the lagoon - biggest stink. Stink stink and oh ya stink. (0000000118 Anonymous)
The odor from the vegetable plant is bad. (0000000007 Anonymous)
The smell of lagoons is terrible!! (0000000071 Anonymous)
The spring smell is awful however it has been better so far. (0000000236 Anonymous)
The whole town stinks when the lagoons open up in the spring. (0000000158 Anonymous)