Mr. Whayne becomes the first African-American elected to City Council since the 1890's. This allows representation from areas outside the City limits and Greene County and recognizes the growing regional nature of the airport. Each year the City commissions a survey of its citizens to get a better idea of how City government is doing and what concerns citizens may have. The results were recently presented to City Council. Overall citizens continue to rate the City highly for quality of life, good neighborhoods and a good place to raise children.
Traffic congestion continues as a concern, along with reducing crime.
Approximately 2,000 households in Springfield were chosen at random to participate. The survey is conducted and analyzed by an independent research company, Opinion Research Specialists of Springfield. The results are used to evaluate City services and budget planning for the coming year. Thanks to the winners for the special gift of their time but also to the hundreds of other volunteers who give unselfishly to many local organizations and to the City as well. Last month we reported on the inventory of trees being completed by the City.