Peoria County_ Illinois

324 Main Street • Peoria, IL 61602 • T: (309) 672-6056 • F: (309) 672-6054 • www.peoriacounty.org Peoria County, Illinois Report of Open-ended Question 2008 The National Citizen Survey™ National Research Center, Inc. 3005 30th St. • Boulder, CO 80301 • T: (303) 444-7863 • F: (303) 444-1145 • www.n-r-c.com Peoria County Citizen Survey Table of Contents Survey Background......................................................................................................1 About The National Citizen Survey™........................................................................................... 1 About Closed-ended and Open-ended Questions:........................................................................... 2 Understanding the Results ..........................................................................................3 Verbatims ................................................................................................................................... 3 Appendix A: Verbatim Responses ..............................................................................4 The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. Report of Open-ended Question Peoria County Citizen Survey Survey Background About The National Citizen Survey™ The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS™) is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) and the International City and County Management Association (ICMA). The National Citizen Survey™ was developed to provide local jurisdictions an accurate, affordable and easy way to assess and interpret resident opinion about important community issues. While standardization of question wording and survey methods provide the rigor to assure valid results, each jurisdiction has enough flexibility to construct a customized version of The National Citizen Survey™ that asks residents about key local services and important local issues. Results offer insight into residents’ perspectives about local government performance and as such provide important benchmarks for jurisdictions working on performance measurement. The National Citizen Survey™ is designed to help with budget, land use and strategic planning as well as to communicate with local residents. The National Citizen Survey™ permits questions to test support for local policies and answers to its questions also speak to community trust and involvement in community-building activities as well as to resident demographic characteristics. The survey and its administration are standardized to assure high quality survey methods and comparable results across The National Citizen Survey™ jurisdictions. Participating households are selected at random and the household member who responds is selected without bias. Multiple mailings give each household more than one chance to participate with self-addressed and postage paid envelopes. Results are statistically weighted to reflect the proper demographic composition of the entire community. The National Citizen Survey™ customized for this jurisdiction was developed in close cooperation with local jurisdiction staff. Peoria County staff selected items from a menu of questions about services and community problems; they defined the jurisdiction boundaries we used for sampling; and they provided the appropriate letterhead and signatures for mailings. Peoria County staff also determined local interest in a variety of add-on options for The National Citizen Survey™ Basic Service. One of the add-on options that Peoria Countychose to include was an open-ended policy question. The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. Report of Open-ended Question 1 Peoria County Citizen Survey Survey Background About Closed-ended and Open-ended Questions: Questions can either be asked in a closed-ended or open-ended manner. A closed-ended question is one where a set of response options is listed on the survey. Those taking the survey respond to each option listed. Open-ended questions have no answer choices from which respondents select their response. Instead, respondents must “create” their own answers and state them in their own words. The verbatim responses are categorized by topic area using codes. An "other" category is used for responses falling outside the coded categories. In general, a code is assigned when at least 5-10% of responses will fit the code. Advantages of an open-ended question include: • Responses are not prompted, allowing respondents to provide answers that are not anticipated or well known. • This type of question tends to capture response options that come to mind most quickly. • The final result can be richer, since verbatim responses are included in an appendix, giving you and others a chance to “hear” the voice of respondents in their own words. • There is a smaller risk of missing important dimensions. The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. Report of Open-ended Question 2 Peoria County Citizen Survey Understanding the Results Verbatims Respondents were asked to record their opinions about Peoria County in the following question: • What do you think is the most important problem or issue facing Peoria County? The verbatim responses were categorized by topic area and those topics are reported in the following table with the percent of responses given in each category. Appendix A includes a full set of verbatim responses. Those verbatim responses are grouped by the first topic listed in each comment whenever a respondent mentioned more than a single topic. Verbatim comments that contain more than one topic nevertheless appear only once in Appendix A (in the category of the first topic listed). Because these responses were handwritten by survey participants, they are presented here in verbatim form, including any typographical, grammar or other mistakes. Results from the open-ended question are best understood by reviewing the table of frequencies that summarize responses as well as the actual verbatim responses themselves. What do you think is the most important problem or issue facing Peoria County? Percent of Respondents Crime/drugs/gangs Jobs/economic growth Taxes/cost of living Schools/programs for youth Infrastructure/roads/appearance of County The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. 31% 12% 12% 10% 9% 8% 4% 2% 11% 3% 100% Environmental concerns/recycling/pollution/Illinois River Growth/development/planning Diversity/racism Other Don’t know/no opinion Total Report of Open-ended Question 3 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • Crime & economy • Crime! Totally out of control everywhere - drugs are a big impact to crime. I hold our policemen in great respect - they have a big job to do. And so do our firefighters - no neighborhood should go without fire protection! No matter what the cost is. My husband & I were very pleased with the decision for Northmoor. Yes - 3 lanes needed but not 4 or 5. Thanks for listening to us! • Crime • Violent crimes (rape, murder, etc.) • Crime polution into river trash on streets littering law enforced • Gang control and drugs • Crime, drugs, don't know Peoria County board person for my district • Crime • My child was a victim of assault @ school. She was taken to the hospital and they reported it to D.C.F.S. and the police. The children involved admited to it yet the police and the state's att. did nothing. I think the police dept. Is either lazy or a joke. What message are they sending when they do nothing • Crime & local economy • Crime in certain areas of the city -bad reputation of District 150 • The sale of illegal drugs • Crime-suggest a night court, increased prosecution finding. Change point system by which juveniles got detentions (more should go) enforced curfew. Coordination between city/county law enforcement. On the pro-active ride more funding for neighborhood stabilization & coordination among gov't, social services, private resources. • The most important issue is crime & drugs & violence. And lack of police who give a crap. I was being stalked by the guy across the hall & he ended up stealing my wallet out of my apartment while I was loading presents in my car. I feared for my life as I am 1/2 deaf & no one would do anything to help when I called & filed a report when he stalked me & when he stole my wallet nor would the landlord. But I guarantee you had I done something to defend myself I would have been arrested. This is what issues need dealt with. • A better police force. They don't make a person feel safe. I've robbed when first moved in & the police didn't seem to care my car had been robbed several times. Caring seems to be lost cause. • Crime - would like to see Peoria County be part of Peoria Park Dis • Crime, per capita Peoria is the murder capital of Illinois. Sprawl - with impending increased gas prices and the current land increasing spread of the greater Peoria area, there is a looming problem of private transportation development needs to focus on areas Report of Open-ended Question 4 The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • • • • convenient to public transit as well as mixed-use/all inclusive living. (i.e. revitalize downtown) Were facing crime & lack of jobs, plus lack of places for the homeless to rest, also life insurance for the handicap, from the state in case of their death (1) Crime. I feel unsafe to drive in downtown of Peoria. (2) High tax. Peoria water: the water is too hard. Somebody needs to do something. The deterioration of the inner city property values & quality of life. Remove the proliferation of crime in that area, & improve the schools to create a revitalization for Peoria & Peoria County. Continue crime abatement; public school academic improvement by encouraging parents to become more involved in their children's progress and attitudes. Drug control also important Property crime Crime, especially in south side. The most important problem is all of the violence & drugs in our south side/poorer side of town. Crime - murders - too many!! During 2007, the local newspaper and TV stations revealed many crime fatalities occuring in the south area of the City of Peoria - many of them drug related. Perhaps, there needs to be more of an emphasis on crime prevention. (1) Children on street after dark (2) drugs being sold in the streets, (3) we need clubs for children not video game. Too much crime in Peoria the last few years. Since I live in Peoria direct: crime, quality of schools, public pension costs faced by the taxpayer in the future. Not enough good press for Peoria Dist. 150 Schools crime pot hole repair high real estate tax for neighborhood with no curbs or sidewalks. I guess just continuing to keep the crime rate down and to continue fixing up older buildings/neighborhoods Violent problems Crime Crime & drugs Crime The crime and the fact that the police are allowed to pick with people just to meet their quota at the beginning and end of each month. Crime & education Drugs - sex for sale - violence - gangs - murder need more jobs made available The crimes people stealing other people's things that don't belong to them. Report of Open-ended Question 5 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Crime, poverty, unemployment • (1) Drugs & crime - one relates to the other this must be cleaned up. (2) Illegal immigration (lack of enforcement) leading to national insecurity. Our present federal gov. Representatives favor amnesty for felons. • Gang & gang violence, homelessness, better or more medical or mental affordable health care for elderly or poor in Peoria • There are too much drugs and gang in our community and too much killings. • Kids with guns • Crime • Crime & drug abuse. It makes it very unsafe for seniors in the midst of it. It is also bad for property owners who have worked all their lives for what they have and want to have a happy peaceful life. • Violent crimes & citizen safety • Crime • Crime! Crime! Crime! • Crime • Crime & drugs • Cutting down on crime and rebuilding Dist 150 to a good school district again. • Murder & drugs are very bad in Peoria and getting worse do to drugs • Drugs • Crime + increase jobs • Drug's & gun's • Crime, drugs, morality, truancy, drop outs, and non-functional families. • Crime - stop the gangs build the bike trail thru Peoria and Peoria heights provide curbside recycling for free the Kroger bins help, but they need to have plastics. • Drugs, crime, teens not having caring parents drop outs of school. Not being treated equal ball park being built where it is. Serial killers murders, Peoria is the most horrible city I every lived in no job opportunities unless squeky clean. Life isn't fair but this is horriable. Racisim is the biggests key factor to. Police the way they handle situations. Everything basicly. • Crime & drugs & taxes toxic waste in rivers • Crime • Crime, drugs, homelessness, air quality, & bad road's. • Crime loss of jobs • Gang violence and crime, Dist. 150 is a terrible place to go to school the schooling is a joke • Crime continues to be an issue, especially as it relates to drugs, domestic violence and criminal behavior. Over the next year, fiscal responsibility will be very important, and Report of Open-ended Question 6 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • • improvement in the inner-city neighborhoods. Improvement in education is also very important to me. 1. Crime in city of Peoria survey needs to differentiate between city of Peoria, and outlying areas. They're 2 different worlds. Crime & drugs Crime, drugs, poor use of tax dollers, don't dump toxic waste in Illinois River. Get the Illinois River clean! You may say that crime is down but you don't hear gun shots in the middle of the night or have sex offenders living close by. The East Bluff-Southend & the low cost housing in back of Wardcliff are very bad areas. Police & fire respond to these areas constantly. I don't want to live in Peoria anymore. You have a white middle-class exit on your hands the gang bangers are all yours. I have had enough. Crimes amongst the low-income earners which seems like its been really bad the last couple years. Is it gang involvement? Is it drugs? Then next would be the poor school system. Everyone is fleeing to Dunlap schools & outlying areas! Drug's Crime and drugs There are several #1) black on black crime. #2) the police turning their head on gang related and drug crime #3) city roads are horrible, #4) city council turning away business small and large is very unacceptable #5) if you want money for the museum ask tazwell since we gave them thousands of tax dollars docking the river boat in east Peoria (smart move) #6) take all the closed minded people off the council and replace them with educated non agenda having people!!!!!!! Violence, murders also Drug use & crimes that come because of them. Peoria lost the ball 15 years ago when they didn't address it strongly enough. The gang surgence didn't get squashed - more drugs available & more crime. Areas need to have police saturation & listen to neighbors about problem homes & landloards Drug-related crime. Crime & the blatant selling of drugs the shape of District 150 - I have a 6 yr old & am scared. Crime/drugs. Decline of public schools. Crime - too many kids running the streets at all hours Gangs everywhere Crime & drugs When I first moved here I took my inlaws dog for a walk (at night) & when they found out that I did that, they freaked out & said, “don't go out at night alone anymore because who knows if you'll get knocked in the head”.: and living here more and more I see what they mean. The crime really scares me! I’m a small town girl from the northwest. Report of Open-ended Question 7 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Crime, most areas of Peoria County are unsafe. I would never want to raise a family in Peoria do to violence, and crime in this county! I barely can stand going to school in this county. • Crime prevention pride in our community • Crime drugs • Crime & the spread of crime north into once safe neighborhoods! • Violence & drugs • Drugs and communication of city officials • Crime & drugs • Crime in downtown areas after dark • Unsolved murders the crime • (2) Crime (1) taxes (3) river • Crime is the problem that needs to be addressed, the youth of Peoria is becoming more and more combative. Education and recreational services need to be supported. • Crime • Crime, drugs,-corruption among those whom are above majority of Peoria. Poor stay poor, rich stay rich. Not enough jobs for those who have been a product of their environment (being negative). Especially in “lower class income” families - it seems our court system is after money not justice! • Greed, police & the desire for power among some of those who think they are important • Crime and drugs, and gang's • Crime - murders police leave people on streets that they know are drug dealers • Crime and urban sprawl while existing neighborhoods go into a state of decline. All new developments should have a plan of maintaining or redevelopment of older similar properties or land use. • Crime and education. • Crime • Lower crime, better & more jobs, economy, stop crime & affordable colleges school system, affordable ins health, high taxes lack of entertainment, retail stores such as outlets, I do not like traveling to get great sales • In our area: police + fire protection fire department - volunteer members - never enough personnel to answer fire/rescue calls area growth - new homes + families • The vast differences in quality of life in varying communities of Peoria. The only affordable housing is on the south side of Peoria but crime seems so prevalent there, it would be unthinkable to live there. To feel safe, you have to pay a lot of money and be on the outskirts of town. • The issue of safety on the streets and in our homes. It has reached the point that we are not safe anywhere. I do not blame the police dept. I blame lack of supervision in the Report of Open-ended Question 8 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • homes. It's a lot easier to rob and beat people than work. Where are the parents today. It's the gangs who make it unsafe for us. They are everywhere. I want to commend the police for the good job the do- under the circumstances Crime on the south side of Peoria Crime! Rising prices a close second. Drugs rape crime robbery Drugs - no control of kids in some schools uncommited parents. Lack of Christian/Jewish morals. I'm looking forward to river improvements for canoeing. Crime - I am from the suburbs of Chicago and I feel very unsafe here. Crime - drugs - poor police response Crime affordable housing Crime Crime Controlling use of guns used in Peoria to committ violent crimes also more jobs should be created. Also to help young to find work. Keeping youth off the streets & finding more activities for them. Recycling as much as we can - how about a bus route to keystone in Bartonville? Crime, poverty seem to be in 1 section of town. This area seems to need maintenance & care for the people and dwellings. Crime and street repair. Crime, drugs, noise, run down buildings weed junk Drugs/prostitution/crime Crime in the city Crime!!! Crime & drugs Crime reduction youth & young adult not taking pride in their neighborhoods. Parents need to their children involved in cleaning up, painting homes, planting flowers, etc. To make the neighborhood you live-in look warm & inviting. Is there some grant for home improvements for people who don't own their home? Crime is the most important issue. I believe drug and alcohol abuse is another big problem with Peoria County. I think the two of these go hand in hand. Not all of Peoria County has that big of a problem. Specifically the city of Peoria. I am very concerned about crime in Peoria - especially among our youth. Our neighborhood is an upscale, very nice neighborhood, yet we have been vandalized many times by teens “just having fun.” there needs to be stronger laws against this, enforced by curfews, and stiffer punishments for these teens and their parents. Rate of crime Drugs crime children safety Report of Open-ended Question 9 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Crime drug environmental issues we need a countrywide, county sponsored recycling program • Crime • What I think it is our kids killing each other especially over drugs we as a county and as a whole should find ways to help our youth just as well as adults these drugs are killing us. “The drugs”! • Drugs - clean up old housing & buildings on (south) Peoria • Drugs - crime • Drugs & violence • Communication to residents criminal youth placed back in public schools at the risk of other students public education rights. • Crime • Need for an enforced curfew. Assistance for those truly in need • #1 - crime #2 - good paying jobs • Violent crime, drugs, kids doing violent crimes • The drug culture....too much violence and murders related to drug-motivated crime. There are not tough enough laws or enough law enforcement to curb this problem at this point. - also, the hospitals are not in contact with police when ex-criminals are in hospital care, receiving services for free while on probation after extreme drug use. Why are not the police contacted if illegal drugs are found in patient's system that is already in the criminal justice records? Loop hole here. • Safety-crime-development of downtown. High taxes - seem to increase each year. Very high. • Crime • Drugs - drugs - drugs • Crime parental involvement in schools • Drugs & gangs • It seems the homicides put such a bad light on our city. Our PBS station is floundering. Our records are crumbling and it's only February! Peoria is a wonderful place. Just keep it healthy and vibrant! • Crime • Crime, job growth, taxes • Crime - drugs to many regulations and permits required by county board to do anything. Some are way out of line. • I see many law enforcement officers (as do my neighbors) ticketing good citizens for seatbelt violations and Bradley alcohol raids rather than going after the real criminals! This is probable due to fear which we shouldn't have. Police stand on the roadside and Report of Open-ended Question 10 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • • • ticket taxpayers and criminals run free. While raiding students at Bradley - drug deals are only blocks away! Crime and school systems Crime!!! Drugs, homicides, need better community outreach ] “Crime” “housing” Crime drugs jobs 1. Drug trafficing - crime associated 2. Poor work effort of employees that is obviously accepted by management! (Street crews) Crime Drugs - crime Unsupervised youth & drugs. Violent crimes, roads Crime - drugs - homicides I think crime is the most important problem, it needs to be much more controlled. Crimes, drugs, tax increase The violent crimes are out of control! The other is extra cirricular programs for students at an early age I feel the most important problem facing Peoria County is crime. Most of it is due to drug trackifing between gangs. Peoria County would be much safer if they could get a handle on that. Also, we have higher taxes than across the river which loses money for us. Crime - drugs - taxes - speeders on county roads Crime 1) Lower crime rate; make certain areas safer 2) make landlords accountable for the upkeep of rental property 3) monitor run down property to avoid attraction to trash, furniture & rats/rodents and affect the value of “good neighbors” in the community take action as necessary! Gambling & alcohol consumption which leads to crime. Poverty Gang violence gun control education Crime Police the way they talk to people. Drugs - crime Crime Drugs/crime Crime related to illegal drugs and poverty. Peoria County law enforcement should continue to be diligent. Good programs exist to make positive changes and those should continue: crime stoppers, dream center Peoria, not all services need to be provided by government. Private & public agencies cooperating and both working toward the same goals will have the best results. - I think this is happening now & should continue. Report of Open-ended Question 11 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Drugs, crime, violance • The most problems are the high crimes and drugs. Than it also seems as if we the community is never heard. Their should be more help for the people in the community. • Crime, gang violence, road repair. • Crime, gangs, drugs • Drugs/crime economic development • Crime & drugs police know where the crime & drugs are but seem not to do much. They know these drug dealers but overlook them. Why? I dont know. I've seen police drive by drug transactions • Drug's, gun's • Crime/drugs • Crime & drugs • Crime & drugs • Violent crimes and safety in communities. Not enough involvement in communities. • Crime and high taxes • Crime erosion of infrastructure-roads, water supply, drainage • Crime, lack of free or affordable activities for children. • 1) Crime & drug control 2) Peoria public education system upgrade 3) attracting new businesses to locate in Peoria County 4) lower taxes • Crime (drugs & robbery) • Crime and drugs homeless, health ass. • Crime - drugs • Crime the river-siltation -quality well paying job especially for less educated museum idea is a “no go” idea idle-old building by river. Traffic urban sprawl service for rural disabledtransportation for them • Major crimes and drugs should be the major concern of police---not college drinking parties and seat belts! Get the criminals not the tax payers!!!! They are not harming anyone---most police drink and many don't wear seatbelts---this is a know fact. Are they afraid of the real criminals? • Diversity • There isn't much diversity in Peoria which can hurt people moving into the area of ethnicity. • I believe everyone should be treated equal. No matter of race, no matter of income, no matter where you live. Example - if you live in the south side of Peoria, you should get the same street treatment, that those that live out-off of Rt.40. In winter those off of Rt.40 get salt. Those in south side get cinders. • Race relations/Sunday bus service employment peace issues among school age children respect crime free river front concerts Report of Open-ended Question 12 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Job opportunities for minorities is very low. Even with a degree you can't be hired for certain position even if you qualify for the position. I'm currently finishing my B.A. and still haven't found job even though I already have a AA degree. I didn't get a job at Peo. County and I was thinking because I was an African American that's probably why I didn't get the position. Same thing for position at the city hall. • Racial tensions schools - caring about the kids development • Racism!!! With a capital R • Not enough diversity and culture old money runs the city. • *Stagnation - in terms of: 1) Peorians are so behind the times sometimes I think I’m in Peking! Cultural attitudes towards other ethnicities, creeds, & races b) poor access to multi-cultural events - not enough of them c) evil empire - cat! D) Lack of recreational facilities for youth (i.e.: where's the skate park?) E) Too many churches! It's suffocating no diversity I think I’ll leave Peoria in 2 years! • Lack of awareness! People need to understand what's going on in the world rather than just being involved with white American issues. Peoria is quickly becoming a multicultural town...there are tons of Arab, Pakistanis, Indians etc. In the community. Peorial people should try to understand that its' intelligant to make friends with all kinds of races, religious groups & ethnicities • Racism • A large population of low socioeconomic status hindering the funding & progress of the Peoria County economy, safety, and growth. How can neighborhoods, schools, parks, and job opportunities increase w/o the ability of the people to help fund and support such growth? • (2) Work/jobs (3) safe streets (day or night) (4) pot hole maintenance (1) better education in our schools • 1. Job growth 2. Inflation • Job retention & economic growth • The economy • Jobs - economy - low income • Jobs, schools & economic development • Poverty, unemployment, crime, racism, take home paycheck is not enough to cover expenses • I am a single parent, just shy of benifits from the state. It is harder on us working single parents financially. Kick those not working off food stamps and give it to those who work and attend college like me. • Economy issues - high utilities • The creation of good paying jobs. • Employment opportunities Report of Open-ended Question 13 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Economic opportunities for the poor. We need to invest in our minority population. Focus on turning around their lives! We all benefit from the investment. Lets be a model for the rest of our nation. Start with education!! • Lack of any growth incentives • Unemployment • Lack of economic development in terms of “head-of-household” jobs and corresponding vocational training. • Lack of economic development and good paying employment. • Too many people unemployed • Businesses closing and/or moving leaving areas of empty buildings. • *Encouraging & supporting new small businesses helping with financial matters for single (widow) older women (or men) trying to keep their homes. Medical assistance *helping resident's recycle all types of materials by letting them know or giving them a place to take them without penalties. • Jobs, loss of industry • Jobs, crime, education • Peoria City Council crime lack of economic development District 150 • The unused space we have when business move out. There are several vacant bldgs in north Peoria yet business build new ones. I think it'd be good to offer better incentives to use existing structures. Street repair is also very poor - along with snow removal. I understand the low on salt - but plowing still should have been done. • 1) The City of Peoria 2) not using businesses an asset 3) not taking advantage of the interstate for revenue • Try to revitalize the central core of Peoria. • Finding suitable jobs for single parent house holds • Getting projects done - moving forward. Getting the museum done. Bringing business into Peoria • The economy • Crafting and implementing a sustainable economic development plan that positively affects all segments of the county - urban, rural, poor, middle-class, etc. • Not enough jobs • Lack of help for the working poor. • Employment & taxes are to high and keep going up for services a lot of people don't use. • Lack of river front/downtown revitalization • The deterioration of certain neighborhoods, which has caused the owners of long-time local businesses to close or try to move north of the city. Report of Open-ended Question 14 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • The loss of business to the far north side of Peoria. Crime in the south end and east bluff. The absent land lords who allow family neighborhoods to fall apart. All of our children should have the same opportunities no matter what part of the city they live in. • Jobs for young people better crime prevention program communicating with the grass root people. • Economy - raising taxes does not solve problems. It only throws more money into boneheaded economic decisions - make better decisions. • Poverty in lower income communities; cycle of poverty leads to teenage pregnancies, weak family structure, crime etc. • I think their should be more assistance for families who are middle class of $30-40 a year income. The costs associated with raseing a family is outstanding. • Jobs, drug & crime control, feeding the hungry, helping the needy with meds, gas & electric, etc. • Finding job that pay by experience and guarantee 40 hours/week. Affordable housing for single parent households - low income families, parking as some grad schools, more set friendly business or settings. • Cooperation with City of Peoria attracting new business providing safe (from traffic) place to walk and/or ride bicycles. • Large “big box” stores sitting empty all over the place. They build new ones just for the hell of it, it seems. Large realty companies charge huge rentals for the empty stores so that no one can afford to start up a new business. • Economic stability • Development of business for jobs • Large income gap of residents & diversifying local economy to be less dependant on cat. • Jobs housing drugs crime education judicial system • More jobs • Not enough good paying jobs. • I think the most important problem that Peoria County has face is the lack of good jobs to support families. • The economy followed by the public school systems. • Not very helpful in bringing new business into the area. Not helpful to the businesses that already exsist. TV news and newspapers are not in the same class as other cities, extremely cheap media! • (1) Need more jobs other than cat & engineering. (2) Keep pushing for more computerrelated jobs. (3) need a few more stores & restaurants: (a) A “baby”-oriented store like The Baby's Room or Deb 'n Heir or Babies 'R Us. No place, other than goods, to buy nice nursery/toddlers furniture. (b) Another furniture store that sells different types of furniture. - not just oak. (c) More ethnic restaurants: Thai, Greek, Italian, Mexican, etc. • Fewer jobs paying a living wage every year, for example two-tier wage system. Report of Open-ended Question 15 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • Jobs moving out of Illinois areas without city water Getting more jobs taking better care of the streets better snow removal Peoria is not friendly to business owners...especially new businessess Well we need more chain restaurants like Noodles & Company, Show Me's, Heavenly Ham, Q'doba Mexican Grill, Biaggi's Italian Ristorante, and Pottbelly's Sandwichworks. Bloomington has all these restaurants. Why can't Peoria get them? I also wish that Peoria gets an Outback Steakhouse I hope it returns to the Peoria area. Job market increase in wages due to economy lacking I think Peoria is not up to the mark in many aspects. There is a great need of lot of new restaurants, shopping centers, movie cinemas, etc. These stuff would keep the residents of Peoria to stay back in their home town during weekends and other holidays rather than the usual trend of evacuating it. The roads right now need to be paid of serious attention. Developing of factors which would keep the city from dying after 7:00 p.m should be taken into consideration. Jobs * Developing vacant lands for commercial buildings * too much growth! Continued growth and development without raising taxes. Also, keeping up with east Peoria in their positive growth and ongoing efforts to build tax revenue other than property taxes on residents. The unchecked annexation of county properties by the city of Peoria. This leads to poorly planned high density tract developments. The result is high traffic and not enough roads or services. This is an erosion of county tax base. Proper zoning school district 150 medioche support for river front museum crime & drugs What to do about the inner city & handle expansion (Too fast growth) -road congestion/=potholes (quality of secondary roads)/-high taxes compared to other places we have lived The population increase has make many of our roadways not as safe as they could be I don't believe Peoria is as forward thinking about commercial development as they should be. Future growth opportunities - residential - industrial - commercial - recreational involvement w/ district 150 to improve the quality of our schools. -job opportunities for h.s. graduate! - ICC - making current h.s. students aware of how great an opportunity ICC can be. Two yr degree! Development - crime - schools (public) Development lack of recycling need more things to do downtown nicer waterfront 1. Unrestrained growth of Peoria and surrounding communities. 2. Environmental radicals running good jobs out of the county with the boards help. 3. Zoning needs to return to the 5 acre minimum for building a house in a rural area. Report of Open-ended Question 16 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Stagnet overall growth • Growth & crime rate • Too much new housing. Need to save older neighborhoods too much unsupervised youth. Our roads are terrible! Upkeep on dist. 150 schools. • Excessive restrictions on land use. • The most important issue facing Peoria County is in the City of Peoria. My family and friends worry about “old” Peoria (the area south of War Memorial.) I feel “old” Peoria is being neglected as all new development seems to be on the far north side or “new Peoria”. Too many businesses have left “old Peoria” and moved to the north side leaving a ghost town feel. Too many people have moved to the north side and left the beautiful old homes in neglect and disrepair choosing to live in the middle of an old cornfield in a row of identical homes. I am also disturbed by the loss of farmland to urban sprawl! • Continuing to sustain & maintain the growth opportunities we have w/out losing the community feeling Peoria has. • Uncontrolled growth in Dunlap area. Hundreds of homes being built and local roads can not handle the new traffic. Waste of quality farm ground. • Using older empty buildings instead of building new and leaving old ones sit empty. • I live in North West Peoria Co. Too much development on farm land • Sprawling while the interior of the city deteriorates. Road conditions need improved • Overcrowding • Vision - future • Development control to the north; lack of development on the riverfront that is affordable property taxes - too high • I think that planning and control of land use. Also that proper and adequate roads and streets are planned an put in place to handle the development. Prevent bad traffic situations from occurring also, crime control must be maintained. • In our area (Dunlap) growth is absolutely excessive. Far too many homes to possibly be bought. Too many strip malls and “office parks” with countless buildings standing empty (Shopko, K's, soon Menards, Festival Foods). N. University and Sheridan village are like ghost towns. It seems that no one is in charge of growth or direction. • Capping taxes and resisting the temptation to increase taxes during economic disparity. The museum project is an example of this. • High taxes frequent power outages • Property and sales taxes. I would suggest setting priorities with our tax dollars and sticking to it. Find creative ways at performing jobs more efficiently. • Property taxes are too costly in the county of Peoria. There needs to be a reduction in the amount of property taxes. With the continual increases in property taxes, fuel prices, heating/cooling/electrical prices, and major increased in grocery items, it is very difficult to “get by”. The only item not increasing is pay. Report of Open-ended Question 17 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Property tax health care more control over township road commissioners • Most activities are too expensing for most of population -land use 3 code enforcement is good is some area's -health services are too expensive for most of population -public meeting & such I can't hear reason for not going -question 4-with the taxes we pay I fell many services are very poor - I see many people standing around work area's & only 1 or 2 actually working - this is a big waste to our tax dollar. Also-many people won't get married to people the live with because they get payments from government & food stamps curbside recycling would just cost us more. -have no idea what green buildings are. I feel you have raised my real est taxes a lot last year because I was 65 last year - also they came along & reassist them by thousand of dollars - thats not fair to the fixed income families • How our money is spent. • High taxes • Taxes - increase in property values versus what we see in return. • Real estate taxes are way too high relative to other states • Taxes litter • High property taxes Peoria County zoning - keeps changing zoning classifications, fees & rules and that we'll slow or stop subdivision development and it will slow growth & move it to adjacent counties • High property taxes are the reason we did not buy a home here (we rented). -recreation opportunities were slim (i.e. classes, sports facilities) in our n. Peoria location. -#1 problem: lack of recycling program & way to use alternative modes of transport, like walking or biking (not enough sidewalks!) • The increasing property taxes are keeping people from building more expensive homes. Theres a plethora of “cookie cutter” homes in the $200-300,000 range that are affordable, but not good quality. In ten years, the homes will hot have appreciated. The county should consider lowering taxes to a more reasonable multiplier and reassing property values. • (1) Property taxes too high for retirees & etc. (2) restaurant taxes are too high. (3) addition recreation, education sites are great, but, how far out on the limb can people live without the fear of falling to the bottom. (4) civic center tax should be abolished. (Only a increase in ticket price should support or keep civic center in the green. (5) Peoria riverfront museum should be paid for by person housing the units, not tax payers. Tax payer are up to their limit of supporting anymore non supportive buildings & etc. (60 be more fair to homeowners purchasing homes (taxes) more balanced or even. What a surprize to have your taxes increase by $300 to $400 annually, when most homes only increase, be $90-$100 in your area. • Spending too much money. Wanting to add taxes or fees. Taxes to high. • Tax dollar are being directed away from Peoria. Shopping Peoria has not a thing to offer to drawn people to the inner city. Houses that inhan or beautify the area should get tax Report of Open-ended Question 18 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • write-off, than there taxes going-up. Crime that is heavy actives the police should focus on. Stop museum - stop garbage tax - shut down civic center or make it pay for itself - ball park should not been built on Jefferson Expensive to live here taxes too high need for more jobs Taxes and living within income. At home front on many issues we need to say enough thats all we will do or can do. Some it needs to be - we are not getting into or funding that. Do for yourself for a bit. Taxes and budgeting Taxes are getting out of control Taxes Cilco costs, gasoline costs, food costs. We are senior citizens & shudder to think of the constraints we will face prior to our demise. How much can people economize when they live in a very modest home & rarely do any traveling at all due to the high cost of everything. We're too tired & worn out to work any longer. I feel for the taxes I pay; especially real estate, Peoria County is a “bad investment”. That is why there is a “move out of Peoria County” trend. Taxes, cost of living, ie. Health, food, utilities, gasoline. Neighbors who show total disregard for neighborhood by letting their yards look like a junk yard. (Which decreased property value of homes in that area) Money High taxes not enough services for middle to low class citizens especially middle class High taxes. Lack of affordable housing in low crime areas. Very poor roads. Poor senior housing. High real estate taxes Something is seriously wrong with the amount of property taxes charged in Peoria County. The above opinions are not only mine, but also my family, co-workers & friends. The company I’m employed by has severe contract people from out of state they also cannot belive the tax rate in Peoria County. It is just a matter of time until residents will leave Peoria because they can no longer sustain the high taxes. Cutting costs - staying within budget. Taxes Gasoline prices are unaffordable. Property taxes are too expensive. Other people have complained that real estate taxes are too high. Also, real estate taxes are often assessed inappropriately w/o much recourse for the individual. Not fair! High property taxes - my next door neighbor just moved out of state because of them and I know others who are considering it. Tax's & potholes in road! Report of Open-ended Question 19 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • High property taxes • 1) Taxes 2) taxes 3) taxes 4) crime • The fact that when people (low income) cannot get the help they need, because they either get too much from disabled social security - or they are not of a different race or nationality. It seems they don't take in account that every penny they get goes to pay CILCO, water taxes and so forth. • Tax rate is very high. Especially. Property tax is the most issue. • Money and taxes. Peoria County jail inmates could be used to pick up trash during decent weather along Peoria streets and highways. If the guards would take them out. Let them do something useful instead of complaining about minor issues. • Taxes to high and garbage cost too much we nead. Free garbage use pay enough taxes. • Too many taxes in Peoria County, too much investment & spending on non-essential items. • Taxes are compared to other communities, my brother in Springfield, mo pay's half my tax bill and lives in new house, - where did all the money go from gambling boats to schools, yet are school still had budget issues the current group is doing a better job/Stowell is a great rep had good conversations with. Keep local and state government favorable for business to settle here lower taxes and incentives for business means jobs which translates into money for economy - know several millionaires more money in their pockets = more jobs and spending in the area - trickle down works • High taxes and poor services • Property taxes in relation to property value, poor ability to use technology to inform residents of issues such as traffic conditions, disasters, school closings etc. Wm does not post holiday schedule on their website and no clear definition for what can be disposed of and the methods to do so. Please plow every street once before plowing Knoxville av. 10 times. • Whether or not to increase the sales tax. • Keeping taxes low - not feeling inclined to support a vocal minority • Our county wants to spend money it doesn't have, then raise taxes to cover it and think it's ok to continue in this vein. • Taxes, education & healthcare • Cost of service long term vs. benefit. • Real estate taxes & putting more people to work - helping the homeless to be able to help themselves. • Real estate taxes emergency services keeping city of Peoria to be responsible fiscally • Taxes! Bought present home in 1988. Taxes are 4 times higher than 1988. If museum tax passes I will shop across the river & in other counties. Report of Open-ended Question 20 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • (1) Peoria County the property tax is very very high please bring down the tax rate (2) please improve the level of schools in Peoria - they should be got up to the level of Dunlap county. • Lower taxes what did this survey cost?? & will anything come out of this or just more waste of money • Keeping taxs down on people with old homes that may not have the value that new or homes in subdivisions have - people in their retirement years seem to have taxs go up. • For me, it is the high cost of living on a fixed income. The rising cost of utilities, groceries, gas leave little to purchase my medicines. My daughter cares for me on a 24 hr daily basis and cannot get compensation for being my caregiver. I would be in a nursing home if she devote herself to me. Our schools are terrible & the school board does what they want. Replace ken Hinton • High taxes, healthcare is good if you can afford insurance. Is feel once you are sixty-five should not have to pay property tax on your place of residence. Should tax people in appartment instead. • R/e tax is getting to high. Older people are moving to other states to avoid high tax river clean up to slow siltation of river need more work • Cost of living; with constant inflation - only the wealthy can afford to live well. • Do not use tax money to support the Peoria riverfront museum!! • Taxes environmental problems. • High taxes, failure to inforce laws already in effect, attempting to porch programs and plans like the riverfront museum on taxpayers. • To much spending • We feel that Peoria is a slowly dying town - they raise property taxes too much even if you've done not improvements on property. They're trying to do more than can be afforded on tax payers can't foot the bill for this because the jobs aren't that good a its not a big enough town any more. • -We need to lower our sales tax. 8% is way too high for Peoria. -we need to make recycling more convenient for everybody I live in a condo, so I have to drive outside of Peoria to Mossville to drop off plastics. -schools need to improve in all areas. The small towns outside of Peoria are growing very fast because they have better school systems. • Taxes do I get a rebate on my taxes for the 25 minutes it took to fill this out? • Keeping taxes affordable so seniors can stay in Peo. Crime landfill Illinois River siltation • The tax assessor's office thinks he can add acres to a persons property without removing acres from the adjoin property. He says he can do any thing he wants. • Making Peoria County more affordable for senior citizens. (r.e. taxes) • Taxes (property & sales) • Lower property values - less tax dollars the schools seem to think that the tax payer has endless income to support them. I wish I had retirement program like I pay for them. We Report of Open-ended Question 21 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • in the private sector can't stand more over spending & special building programs. Than charge higher tax's-I have made less money in the last three years but the value of my home has risen every year - I wish the county had to buy my home for what they think its value is seat at. Yes I’m mad about taxes!!! (1) The taxes are a little high for people who are trying to make it! Instead of 2 (house taxes) installments it should be 4. (2) CILCO bills should be lowered. (3) More housing for disabled or low income. (4) Health dept. Start taking adults for dental work (teeth pulled) (dentures) needed. (5) Bus transportation from Chillicothe to Peoria, e. Peoria (6) get Mediacom & Insight to lower cable/phone/internet services poor people like to watch TV too. This isn't asking to much from the county, state or federal (1) The storm drain system which overflows after a heavy rain, polluting the river. Recycling Curbside recycling should be manditory and residents should be charged more for garbage removal if they don't comply. Murders in Peoria are still way too high. Hazzardus waste we need a recycling program The fact that we continue to poison our children with lead. The EPA declared 2010 as the year to be lead free & we have done little to advance towards that goal. Other cities, with lower lead rates, have instituted window replacements in homes prior to a child being toxic. More pressure should be placed on slum lords to by making lead a violation of building codes. Air quality - letting people burn (e.g. leaves, is a health issue of allergies or on oxygen) Global warming's future impact Make city more bicycle friendly -better recycling services-why not plastic at Sterling Ave. Location? Need more recyling drop=off spots. Pollution and non union jobs (low paying jobs) Hazzardous waste chemicals being spread on fields for farming drugs -Environmental-having lived in very close proximity to the IL River I am appalled @ its condition, continuing deterioration and the lack of movement to clean it up. I am also greatly dismayed @ the continuing destruction of farm land, wilderness, and open space for developers to build homes for status seekers. Why not gentrify older neighborhoods etc. Peoria has never been able to bridge the gap between the racial barriers and economic barriers. -taxes-we continue to be taxed only to see poor roads, increasing debt for new projects (i.e. museum) high crime and horrible schools particularly dist 150. Continuing “white flight” to outlying areas. We need to be proactive in considering resources, especially land, water, and power (energy). This involved planning for the future, not just tomorrow. We should not have to pay for recycling our paper & cans. But basically, I have no dealings with county; my gripes & concerns are with the city of Peoria & parks. Too much spent on airports; very anti river-plex & civic center costing too much tax moneys. Real estate taxes have risen far too quickly. Snow plows drive too fast & cover freshly-shoveled Report of Open-ended Question 22 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • • • • • sidewalks with chunks of heavy ice. Traffic lights are not timed anywhere near right. Far too many companies leaving & new ones not encouraged to come in. Empty stores: pioneer pkwy? 1 - Require all residents to participate in curbside recycling to reduce landfill waste 2 improve library services/branch on north side Natural resource management - better use of parks, create trails for bike, walking, dog runs - control erosion - prevent run-off to river Going green should be the main focus!!! Stop new housing developments save trees zoning dept needs help - can dealers should of been kept on pioneer pkwy - not Allen rd. Federal support for local programs, such as environmental programs. Bringing in toxic waste from through out the United States with all the bicycle trails within the county why can't we get bicycles off public roads I have no idea where there are recycling services in this county and I’ve lived here for 8 months. Failure to offer curbside recycling. 1. Lack of water for recreational activities I don't consider the Illinois River a good place for swimming, boating, sport fishing. It is mainly for water runoff, barge traffic and sewage convenance 2. Deterioration of Peoria - particularly the educational system and the schools Solving the problem of environmental wastes being “stored” in our county." "1. Peoria Disposal Co. - continue to press for toxic waste importation from 14 surrounding states to their facility in Pottstown in face of massive citizen protest, county board voting no! Iepa & Ill. Pollution control board said no. 2. Collusion of civic leaders (politicians) and business leaders - ignoring citizens in decisions - that effect developments of the city, river front, downtown, historic neighborhoods. 3. Mayor & city council that use “prayer” to control crime instead of developing programs to reduce violence. The environment & city growth Recycling is not a priority. It isn't easy to do. Special programs are not in place. If they are, they are not communicated well. Air, water pollution, hazardous waste stored near residents Poor recycling facilities - collection site, eg. #6, #7 plastics, mixed paper, clothes right now people go to Bloomington to re cycle these items A need for more improved and more convienient curbside recycling. Storm water drainage recycling centers (need more) more access to public transportation & cheaper) Illinois River Control of pig farms. They drain into Lake Camelot. Vandalism Cleanliness of the Illinois River! Hazardous waste dump - please shut down! Report of Open-ended Question 23 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • I would like to see free curbside recyling and charge more for garbage pickup. Lack of local recycling. Potholes! Landfill/taxes My thoughts: we must recycle the park dist should do a better job letting more people use the 9 golf courses. They charge too much to play when we moved here they were reasonable now they are exorbent Curbside recycling outside of city limits. Taxes River siltation crime Saving our river front so everyone can enjoy it - not just those who can afford to sit in a restaurant. I think it was criminal to sell off our beautiful riverfront Preventing situation from going into the Il Rrg In suburban Chicago curbside recycling is taken for granted - there is no excuse for Peoria to be so backward in the recycling department! It is embarassing! -Finding good & easily accessible ways to recycle -clearing roads during winter -fixing roads after winter All of those listed in c above Support hybrid vehicles. Question if ethanol is as environmentally friendly as initially presented. Not sure what the most important problem is, but the roads are once again falling apart after a lot of bitter cold & thaws. No one's fault, just a fact of life in the Midwest. But it's taking it's toll on my van, & I can't keep up w/costs of gas, - and the wear & tear on my vehicle. Road maintenance Don’t know any particular things roadside trash is a major thing - makes us look like we don't care about our surroundings “looks trashy” The condition of the roads is absolutely terrible! All year round the roads falling apart, we should take this money slated to be spent on a museum we do not need and spend it on repairing the roads and cleaning up the river and downtown areas. If caterpillar wants a museum, caterpillar can pay for it. Lack of communcation with the residents on major issues, such as street repair, construction Basic government services - roads, drainage, sensible zoning and enforcement. Old downtown is runned down. It would be nice to repair/build new buildings and grow Peoria's overall downtown scene. The roads are terrible and need extensive work for quick improvement Roads, schools, river cleanup, taxes Report of Open-ended Question 24 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Damaged roads accessibility to buses in the Bartonville area drugs in the schools gang violence in schools lack of police presents in high crime areas. No interest in Illegals, send them back to Mexico • The condition of the roads - particularly the city of Peoria. They're fair at best, poor at worst. • Lack of firm leadership. Lack of enforcing abanded properties from being repaired or removed. Many sidewalks need repairs • Peoria County should increase public transportation including commuter rail service. Public spaces might improve “their” image with “job corps” program for teens • Snow removal & salting of roads & general road repair is pathetic compared to other states or even areas in Illinois. Secondly, there has been a steady decline in the quality of care for the homeless & poor and that should be improved. • Roads, bridges, shoulder repair. Taxes are way to high for older property. I have land I cannot use or build on I am taxes to much for I know I am not the only one. Also sheriff dept could use more money & pay for deputys who have to deal with a lot of things that aren’t real pleasant. • Future growth means new roads = bridges Joanne I hope for new/better businesses in the Bartonville area. Schools need to learn to live on what they can with - the money available. I believe our grocery stores need new competition and further to welcome new “stores” in our area • Road maintenance taxes • We need better road maintenance, (potholes, etc) on county and state roadways. • People, property owners and renters keeping their properties clean, trimmed. Painted, neat & orderly - and not only the fronts but also their alleys. Disorders in these areas can trash a neighborhood almost overnight - in addition it lowers property values. I feel this is one of the major problems in almost all urban areas. Code enforcement tries - but they don't have enough “teeth” to teach violaters a firm lesson! Do something about that situation before our city neighborhoods become “slum looking”!!! • Old structures and roads • Sidewalks that are falling apart. People should be made to clean off sidewalks during the winter. Teenagers that run the streets and there parents at let them. Loud music at all times of the day. Vacant houses. Gangs. Litter that teenagers do. • When we moved from the City of Peoria to rural county 90% of remarks from friends, co-workers etc was their negative view of the lifestyle in the county. Our personal issue is the lack of enforcement relating to garbage, cars, weeds & junk allowed in yards. We've reported these issues & zoning told us there's nothing they can do - we live in a $400,000+ home so we pay a large tax bill-nothing can be done??? The air quality is poor due to lmza. The schools need a lot more money. Class size is way too large. The kids need help! • The roads are bad most of them except Rt. 74 Report of Open-ended Question 25 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • I would like to see some of the older neighborhoods cleaned up and the houses restored so that more young families will be tempted to own a home within Peoria, instead of Dunlap. I would also like to see less big chain stores and more specialty shops. Also, I would like Peoria to have more recycling opportunies i.e. available to lower income neiborhoods & more of a variety of materials allowed for curbside pick up (cardboard, cereal boxes, etc.) • I moved from Texas here, as my job takes me places, but I loved living here, other than following issue - I didn't have any problems in this excellent place - 1 - snow removal in by lanes and sub lanes very poor during this winter (I guess the avg snow fall was less previous years) please note I am not a citizen of USA thanks I work on hib visa here • Downtown Peoria getting rundown. • The area between Bartonville and downtown Peoria. Need to clean up Washington & Adams to be like the rest of downtown. • The roads are horrible, potholes are on Glen, War Memorial, & Knoxville that hasn't been done - they need to be fixed and not take 3 years to do it. • Bill Prather/I am referring to Chillicothe in Peoria County - Muller Manor - was a nice clean neighborhood until a few years ago - the north side of Beech St-1127. The family is also overhauling trucks - day & night, sometimes very noisy. Wilmot St - has a welding business with clutter everywhere Chillicothe needs a real clean up notice. - the whole city. Thank you • *Snow removal & quality of roads • Need new city link buses. • (1) Condition of our roads (2) taxes (3) crime • Clean up Farmington Road and other similar streets. “All naked all the time” is not a good phrase for my children to see on Farmington Road as we drive by. That is one area of the city that looks very scumy. Also stop the price fixing of all gas stations throughout city and county. • The rundown neighborhoods, slum loards, and very bad crime rates in these areas • Maintaining roads. • Livability in older neighborhoods is key to retaining existing homeowners...code enforcement is a “joke” in Peoria County. Educational improvements are very important and therefore school achievement levels will go hand in hand with enforcing cultural responsibility rules!! • Road repair, replacement, maintence • Pot holes in our roads not enough middle income jobs available. The good jobs are shipped out and replaced with jobs that pay one third of the good job pay. People with two incomes of that level can't survive. • Roads • -Growth area infrastructure - Peoria city schools - over use of the districts. Peoria city • Street lights not enough lighting in evening any where Report of Open-ended Question 26 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Better sidewalk/curb & gutter in the more densely populated areas. This could alleviate quite a few concerns in regards to pedestrians (especially school children). An issue that may arise from this is the cost of sidewalks, which is sometimes split between the homeowner and municipality making this more fair could increase support. • County & city “getting along better” sharing duplicate equipment & services as much as possible. The infrastructure is falling apart. • Continue services and improve roads. Work with city • Roadside garbage toxic waste pd.c. • Taking care of old building and do more for dog & cat's that people leave outdoors all winter. Garbage pick up could be better • (1) Bad sidewalks (2) need covers over bus stops plus a garbage can by bus stops (3) bus routes to Bartonville & Bellville, plus Morton • Littering, & drugs • (Highway) I don't understand the interest in this survey, when there are issues at local gov. places. Seems the county board takes the no see attitude, (not all board members). For example the 3 incompetent forman that follows management at the highway, let alone the problems at Bellwood. Seems they need to take a hard look at the problems that already exist. • Since you asked - urban blight! I have lived here 35+ years and watched with dismay as my city decayed in preference to the Owen development of the northside. I had hoped for a regentrfication of our city-but was forced to sell my beautiful east bluff home to save my investment. Now I live in a very highly taxed condo-on the northside. I'm safe but have much less than I had before - I have watched east Peoria develop their riverfront while the good ole boys in Peoria fought over a ballpark-seems to me Peoria just doesn't get it-now you want a museum-I say too little too late! • Street potholes & sewers • County needs better control of bad, burned, falling in houses & buildings. • Education, crime, taxes take your pick! • Assistants for students w/out dependants or children. • I think somebody needs to police our school officials. They seem to be able to do what they want to and there is no accountability. Two administrators have even said you can't touch me to people. Teachers tell parents lies and nothing is done to correct it. • More needs to be done to care for children of broken familys. They need more discipline and one on one education. Many churches are attempting to help in schools with reading programs but more volunteers and more money needs to be directed to these programs. Build self esteem and reduce crime. • Public schools! This affects so many other factors. I wish dist 150 could rebound. • Helping the youth of today to get ready for the future I like the Peoria Christian center, etc. Report of Open-ended Question 27 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • District 150 schools must improve. You can't keep families in city limits and in this tax area if you can't educate the children. • Quality & education and rating of district 150 mental health services that at the quality needed for low-income individuals & families w/children in the system • District 150 Schools - any family considering moving to Peoria - should to advised to investigate private schooling - the school board evidently did not investigate Kay R's employment in Kalamazoo - now, changing a student's grade given by a competent teacher is shameful. Also, major renovation of the Glen Oak Park Pavilion seems unnecessary to me. • Schools roads crime • #1 education in our elementary & high schools no one wants to move to Peoria because of the school systems! #2 crime • Schools and education - I’ve noticed and have personally talked to residents and prior residents of Peoria. The one reason why they move out of the city, is because of the education system. We need better schools, better teachers and parents that care. We also need more update to our roads. Interstate 74 was great for the state & city, but what about widening route 150 through Peoria & the rate Peoria has grown in the north, road expansion is a must. Thank you. • Children receiving good education esp. Dist 150. Needed are more disciplinary plans for trouble makers, including the fining of parents who neglect their parental duties - such as a curfew time. • Lack of activities and gathering places for teenagers • Our educational problems! We seem to have many ideas but can not come to agreement on the solutions. I realize funding is difficult, with government cut-backs, however money is not the only problem we face. We need “community-involvement” to succeed. • School systems should be more competetive like big cities, should be offered more advanced classes and support for smart children. • -Peoria school district 150 is very poor and it mismanaged -Peoria is clearly not residential facility (i.e.: very few sidewalks, poor lighted streets, not animal friendly) Peoria's crime is becoming very unsafe s. Of war memorial -Peoria's infrastructure is very poor. (Bad maintained roads, no sidewalks, no crosswalks, no medians, need newer roads.) -Peoria's tax is absolutely out of hand and is too high. The taxes do not reflect the quality of Peoria as a city. • The schools, public schools dist 150 need more services for the middle & high school students to keep them out of trouble, away from drugs & violence, & bullying students. Teacher assistants in schools needs a pay raise $7.50 is not enough to support a family. If Peoria change their ethics then teachers, teacher assistants & students would be a better place to work & better attitudes would prosper within Peoria County. Thank you. • #1 the school dist 150 is falling way short on providing help & aid to students that are in iep programs. The put things on paper but it never get followed through with wasting the Report of Open-ended Question 28 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • states money. #2 the need to feel safe in sertin area's of Peoria even in the day light. #3 the drugs (my daughter & I were walking out of a store when in the between the outside doors & inside doors stood a man selling drugs to another man.) That's not good! That shouldn't be happing! Juvenile supervision - more programs for pre-teen and teenagers Schools Educating our children providing neighborhood parks for families police officers not living in Peoria County and their taxes being funneled to other entities. Peoria residents pay their salaries with our taxes and they thank us by moving out of our jurisdiction. The youth! We need more after school programs for them. Making parents accountable and knowing where they are and what they are doing. Enforce curfew! Making them to understand that they will be our leaders of tomorrow. Really know nothing yet on county policys to view my point. Have the money to support what we need for our community Poor public schools, high property tax rate (especially in limestone township) busing students away from their neighborhood schools. Quality of education in public grade & high schools There is not enough recreational in Peoria to keep kids out of trouble to meney kids out here soleing durges meney kids, whit gangs they need some were to go have fun if not put the drafting back then they can go to war and shoot up pepal sens they whant to kill pepal in town Quality of education for school age children. Schools! I moved here few months ago and don't know much things about Peoria County yet. However, I have a child and think not much places for children. For example, libraries are not big enough for children to stay and read, cannot find variety educational programs and so on. The schools. They are not teaching truth nor issues of relevance. When morality & truth are taken out that's when you have all the violence. Why are kids learning a foreign language that most of them will never use but they can't balance a checkbook? Use common sense. Willingness to devote adequate funding to keep Richwoods High School current (in regards to maintenance of buildings & grounds). Richwoods has a very active and involved parent population, however this does not absolve the district of its responsibility to appropriately fund improvements at the school. School system Schools are driving home buyers out of the City of Peoria. Taxes on real estate are out of control. Streets are in disrepair. Better air transportation out of Peoria. Complete the Keller branch bike trail. Too many fireman, not enough police officers Things for the young people (tomorrows leaders) Report of Open-ended Question 29 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Thanks for the opportunity to participate in survey! (1) School dist 150 - needs much improvement, if people are to stay in city. (2) Code enforcement regarding homes being run down in older neighborhoods (where I live) (3) street repair - the streets are in only fair condition (potholes, etc) (4) help neighborhoods with crime prevention • I don't know, just moved in less than 1 month ago. From fellow co-workers I’d say education, lack of quality would the biggest problem • Public school system needs improvement taxes are too high. Housing market is too high lack of complete recycling programs or programs informing residents about sustainability • State of our schools, understanding that many of the school-related issues are associated with family/parental problems. • (1) District 150 schools (2) opportunities for teens to engage in constructive activitiets • I think that Peoria (the city) is losing residents because families don't like District 150. Our high school, Richwoods, for example lets many children in from outside the district lines. So why are those of us who are living within the district lines paying such high taxes when we are going to be forced to send our children to school with drug dealers who are bussed up from downtown. I am not prejudiced, but to me this is penalizing those of us who work hard to provide a nice home and neighborhood for our families in a good school district and rewarding those who don't and/or rely on government for their needs. This is wrong and does not encourage good, hard-working citizens to live in and invest in Peoria city. They are moving to Dunlap, Morton, Metamora, etc. Liberalism does not work!! • 4. Poor education - our children must go to private schools & options are few 1. Code of credentials for elected offices, i.e. county coroner should have a degere in forensic medicine comptroller should have a degree in accounting etc. 2. Limited job opportunities - this makes it necessary for our children to move away to find work 3. Limited entertainment options; too few performances few real chefs run restaurants too many chain restaurants civic center refuses to give monetary breaks to the arts • School dist 150 • Unsafe public schooling - especially central, manual, and Richwoods. Drugs and drunk driving among young adults continues to plague our schools children. Accessability to drugs is more of a problem than is realized. • The public schools in the City of Peoria are facing major problems. The biggest problem is the lack of respect, obediance, and pride the children don't have in the schools. Most of the schools in Peoria have major behavior problems. There needs to be something done about the horrible behavior of these kids. These are the future were talking about, well this is supposed to be the parents responsibility. The parents (most) are inept and negative themselves. This carries over to the children. The district can't get sub teachers to go into the classes. Talk with most teachers they can't wait to get out of educ. You can't enjoy your job when it is a daily hassle and they show no respect. • Negative press for Dist. 150 recreational opportunities for youth • Schools and drug dealing curtailed Report of Open-ended Question 30 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • Peoria schools to much crime • Education - “no child left behind” is a disaster - the districts are being forced to teach to the tests. • Public school systems. District 150 is beyond pathetic. The entire system needs to be stripped to the core and start from scratch. We are going to be moving outside of Peoria city but will still be in Peoria County. We can't wait to get out of this city. The city police dept. Is another huge problem area of this county. The way they treat teeangers is inexcusable especially if your child has someone of color in their car! • During the two-years I have been here the most problem is education and employment the way school have been closed to cause over crowding in the others and with employment that you can be qualified for the job and because of the color or your skin they'll over look you! • (School’s) blight & disrepair in older neighborhood. • Schools & crime teens raising babies • The school district • The financial problems w/Peoria school district #150 and the lack of direction in the school district. • Schools. Kids not graduating. Quality extra-curricular activities/mentoring programs to keep kids focused & out of trouble! If parents aren't doing it, some one else is needed to help each child. Drugs & thugs also seem to be a problem! If my responses in any way mean you should raise taxes...please dis-regard my responses! • Education • Public schools and crime • Our youth not having anywhere to go and then turning to gangs and selling drugs because there bore. Not enough jobs for 15 and 16 year olds. I do think it starts @ home with with the youth having values. But if they don't at least giving them a place or someone they feel they can talk to, get them off the streets. • Schools - you will not get more population in negative sections of city without better schools - give more authority to school officials (teachers) (principles). I am retires - no children in school but worry about up coming generation. • Gas prices • Overall image. • Lack of progressive thinking of residents and elected officials • We need neighborhood parks. • Peoria County could keep all citizens better inform in all sections of the county; not just north Peoria • Peoria has bigger problems than a museum - fix those first • Give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. Now get off your ass • Fire protection (limestone) why not contract to city of Peoria in some areas? Report of Open-ended Question 31 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • The complete lack of enlightened governance. I have lived all over the U.S. & around the world, & this is the most poorly-run place I’ve encountered. Evidently, no one lives here who has any idea of how to manage a county, a city or a public school system. Instead, we elect/hire people who decide, for example, to discuss the desirability of Hooters for many months. • Animal control unsupervised children (pre-teen - teen) • Peoria County's DHS is understaffed & has no customer service. • Having better communication to the citizens on what is available i.e.: prescription card, speakers bureau. I strongly urge keeping all communications in English only it is not fair to our forefathers who were required to know English prior to coming off Ellis Island, and the American Indians were forced to learn English. If the immigrants (legal or illegal) want to be here so badly, they can learn our official language. Just as my 2 Mexican uncles did 30 years ago. When they came in legally. • Changing its name from Peoria. • Well I think if people get together things will get better Eleanor Compton • Good place to live • Greed!!! • I am sorry to see “middle” Peoria shops disappearing & being all moved to northwest. At the same time Lakeview is being put down town, everyone is supposed to go n.w. no one will want to make a trip down town to Lakeview. I used to take my grandson to all the classes, but I wouldn't go down town for just one hour unless I stayed there, & there isn't anything down there anymore. When developers “arranged” to move the south side up to west Peoria, so people would move n.w., it destroyed both the center & west Peoria - the area that surround the university. I feel as if a giant hand is holding Peoria & just squeezing it to where a few people want it to go. People don't want to go from N.W. Peoria to down town, so if course the down town will die, I remember when it was just “great!” • I don't think there should be breed restrictions on homes. If needed, a higher pet deposit should be issued for larger breeds of dogs. Declawing of cats should be illegal as this is a very painful and inhumane procedure. There are several alternatives to declawing that would work just as well to protect furniture/property from clawing. Peoria County needs to re-think its animal cruelty laws and make changes to benefit the pets as well as pet owners. • If Peoria city is going to back the museum we need to secure commitments from surrounding counties - we should not foot the entire bill. • It seems to go along pretty good. Peo city has most of the problems! Of course it is part of the problems • Re organize fire districts in whole county • *The County & City of Peoria should consider more joint efforts toward combining governmental service etc. *both must show more leadership in solving district 150's Report of Open-ended Question 32 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses • • • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • • • • • • • problems. *the county as well as adjoining counties should provide assistance (financial) toward the construction of the riverfront museum project 1) Proper assessment procedures. 2) Proper valuation of property. 3) Combining city & county government 4) lower tax rates 5) higher standards for district 150 6) better principles for growth & annexation. Too many people refusing to take responsiblity for: acquiring an education, raising their children within the context of a strong nuclear family, abiding by the laws of our society, and working to support themselves. Lack of concern of under-legislated issues - some citizens are fully investigated/laws are enforced, others go by the wayside; the common m an has little recourse (I think pet protection is important) They are too conservative. The world has changed and their ability to be more futuristic is nil. How to convince the general public that in order to keep the quality of services we have, and continue with growth, wages, etc., the taxes have to be increased. I hope those in control will have a positive, matter-of-fact, manner of presenting the inevidebility of this, along with a plain plan for where the increased revenue will go. I've been in Peo. County 3 years. Comment - Peo. County is invisable to me. All of my needs/problems (tax, zoning, drainage, snow removal, etc.) Cause me to deal with the City of Peoria. Welfare is mostly for lazy people who don't want to work! I believe government housing should be tempory and tenents need to keep the home & area around it clean. This isn't just a Peoria problem - it's a national one! Political egos - more concerned about politics than people - too much in fighting and not enough progress Spending too much money on hiring city manager and other research. Why do we have to teach Chinese language when lot of kids don't learn proper English language. -Lack of social responsibility of other people, i.e many people are dependent on social services, and there people are not unable to work at all. Negative Peoria city council; hard to do business in the City of Peoria Lack of communications, the city does not listen to its people, only to supporters. -Intergovernmental relationships with City of Peoria -additional funding for unfunded mandates from the state i.e. smoking enforcement, pension changes, etc. Corruption of public officials Procrastination in going forward with projects already started. Most of the time they are talked to death before presented to public in a manner that is understandable by an average resident They think they are a big city, like Chicago or St. Louis, and they're not. They need to be their own city & stop trying to compete with the larger cities. Report of Open-ended Question 33 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • 1. I think people instead of computers should ans the phone when residents call anything concerning Peo County 2 -I think that all garage sale signs should be taken down within a day after garage sale or fine them • The way homeless people are treated there should be a safe place for them to go to stay during the daytime such as the salvation army in Rockford, especially during bad weather the community center on Adams is not safe especially for femails and there should be better counseling for them. • The speed of the cars on Plank Rd. semis & all. 50 mph around all the houses are entirely too fast. How many fatalities & wrecks do we need for you to listen to us? • The divide we have in Peoria County between the south side and the new developments up north. Also, media's negative portrayl of District #150. Finally, the lack of development on the riverfront especially compared to east Peoria. (I know that is 3 problems, but I listed them in order.) • Dcsfs issues are very poor and never really look at as a problem here in Peoria County. • For myself & others (smoker's), I feel that smoking is my choice, my right. As far as the buisnesses I can't control that. But my car come on now. That's being taken from me. Crime (drugs-murders, shootings, etc.) Needs more attention and action done to it than someone who smokes. To me, Peoria can't handle the real crime. So now people like myself who isn't committing crimes, are being picked on. That's not fair!!!! • It is a backwards Midwest town with it's head in the sand. However, it is filled with second generation trailer park families that came into some money and can now eat @ Steak & Shake regularly. • Lack of teamwork. Use of good old boys and not using regular citizens to lead! Need to work together need to get input from poor, and disenfranchised or its the same failure over and over • Places for homeless • Citizen involvement • A waste of resorces that will not binifit all money, programs, etc etc etc • To much going into downtown Peoria which other area's suffer! • Lack of middle class income sources: the divergence between the wealthy and the poor. • The city lacks the arts. • Amount of people abusing public aid and being told while on it not to get a job because they don't get so much help. Make them do something and we would have a lot less abuse of the system, people who need it can't get it people who have it may not need it as bad as ones who can get it. • Not the most important, but a better service of seniors and their children of contacts as seniors are aging with problems. When the children finally find help after a time, nursing homes are then needed! Too late!! Report of Open-ended Question 34 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. • I feel it is very important to maintain the Peoria animal welfare shelter, not just as 'animal control; but the use of the shelter for animal adoption to public. I believe more emphasis should be put on the shelter as to location/promotion. The uniqueness of the county, city & humane society should remain in tact for the community good. Without this relationship, the shelter could not exist. I think the county needs to show more support to issues the shelter faces such as dog fighting, spay/neuter programs, animal adoption, etc. As to public awareness. I am certain most residents in Peoria County do not know where paws is or that a humane society exists. • Everyone should learn & speak English!! • To many chiefs not enough Indians. • Riverfront museum • No more peple get in the county and big store not many • Lack of communication and direction from management to city residents. Lack of concern with what the people vote on i.e. the water company. • Effective communication to the people who live in the city limits of the City of Peoria. They are slow to support some efforts that are rural in nature. Also many city living persons have no idea of the positive operations of the county board which positively impact the city residence • I think the Peoria County need to get involve with the state to start getting them to take time and go after these deadbeat dad about paying child support the child enforcement office don't do nothing or they just don't care I’m a grandmother, trying to help my daughter stay on them about during they job. Which is very poor somebody needs to inform them poor people need help. My grandaughter 8 year old now her father work everyday, which he live out of town. • Don't know • Don't know as a answer. • I really couldn't tell you. • No opinion • I'm not for sure what the problems is for Peoria County. • Thanks for the survey! • I am not aware of any important problems. • I dont know you!! Tell me? • No response! • No comments • Don't know = people moving to Chilli Washington Metamora aeot - building new homes even with the hi taxes - people still are buying & moving we are look for this soon • I'm realy not certain. I live at Lutheran hillside village, & we are somewhat removed from many of the pedestrian problems of daily living. • Don't know Report of Open-ended Question 35 Peoria County Citizen Survey Appendix A: Verbatim Responses I have lived here a short time & do not have an openion Do not have an answer at this time Have no opinion Don't know Don't know No comment I do not feel I have lived here long enough to have an opinion having just moved to this address the last of August, 2007. I am currently living in a retirement community in an apartment building where meals are provided. • I do not know I just here about 1 month ago. • • • • • • • The National Citizen Survey™ by National Research Center, Inc. Report of Open-ended Question 36