Richland County is asking residents to help identify concerns in their neighborhood by completing a brief survey.
County staff will use the feedback to prioritize issues that residents face and then work collaboratively to help resolve those concerns. Through April 30, residents can fill out the survey online or download and print a PDF version and submit responses via mail or email.
“We recognize the importance of listening to the community voice,” said Bryant Davis, assistant director for the County’s Government and Community Services Department (GCS). “We want to make sure that we give residents the opportunity to not only offer their feedback, but to participate in community conversations.”
GCS collaborated on the survey with the Richland County Neighborhood Council (RCNC) in response to residents’ concerns that the public was being left out of the County’s decision-making process, Davis said. GCS plans to use data it receives to facilitate community conversations for determining how the County can better address residents’ needs.
Survey organizers also hope the process will push residents to encourage their homeowner and neighborhood associations to join the RCNC. The council aims to assist in all matters affecting residents’ daily lives, serve as a conduit of information between residents and County government, and involve a diversity of residents in addressing shared community concerns, from overgrown vegetation and noise issues to meeting neighbors’ basic needs in light of COVID-19.
“We know the important role that data can play in addressing challenges,” said Julie Ann Dixon, RCNC president. “If this is done correctly, our communities can rely on the RCNC as an agent for change and create a streamlined process for resolving community issues.”
The survey is open through Wednesday, March 31 and contains multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Residents have two ways to complete it:
For more information on the survey or the RCNC, contact Davis at 803-576-1546 or davis.bryant@richlandcountysc.gov.