Friday, May 4, 2007

Times' Readers Sound Off

The results are in!

This week, the Dorchester Times conducted its first-ever poll, asking readers: What one thing in Dorchester needs immediate improvement? More than 40 comments were received either on this Web site or at our private e-mail address regarding the April 29 post. Exactly 30 recommendations were submitted by Times readers. (***Note: Our e-mail address has changed to Dorchester.Times@gmail.com)

As promised, here are the results based on the recommendations from our readers. While this poll is very non-scientific, the results will be delivered to City Hall:


"Pave the streets" ......................... 40% (12 responses)

"Downtown makeover" .............. 20% (6 responses)

"Tow junk cars/Clean yards"...... 20% (6 responses)

"Fix water system" ...................... 6.7% (2 responses)

"Hire town cop" ......................... 3.3% (1 response)

"New ball field" .......................... 3.3% (1 response)

"Repair sidewalks" ...................... 3.3% (1 response)

"Fix electricity poles" ................ 3.3% (1 response)

12 comments:

  1. Very interesting.....shame the village board didn't conduct a survey like this years ago.

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  2. The Village Board members are our leaders & they need to lead. If they formulate a plan of action for themselves & the village employees & then follow & reevaluate that plan with new info at every board meeting positive changes will occur.Before paving is even considered if the land work & curbing is done & the streets maintained regularly this will improve the visual & show the Village Board has a plan & Dorchester a future. When it's time to pave, start at the business district & work out. The other issues, main street view, housing & economic development & community cleanup need to be intertwined in that master plan. This blog has created some excitement; let's use that in a positive way. Everyone needs to board 'The Dorchester has a Bright Future Train'.

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  3. Now we need someone to put these suggestions into action. Does anyone know which town board members are up for reelection???? It would be good to know their level of support for some of these projects. Do they have ideas of their own to raise money????

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  4. I was quite certain that the number one response for improving Dorchester would be paving the streets, and I agree. From what I hear, the main problem is that the Village Board is either against it or too afraid to speak up if they aren't against it. If people in a position to get something done sit back and say nothing, what will this accomplish? Maybe the board should have a chat with board members of other small towns that have paved streets. I'm sure they would be happy to tell how it has greatly improved the quality and look of the town. Now, how do we take this poll information and turn it into action? Will it even do any good to present it to the board?

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  5. Far from rich farmer.
    I should have suggested that the town board give every farmer within 10mi of town a $1000 voucher to spend in town. I would have gotten a peice of the pie.
    Town board elections are usually about finding anyone to just run. I'm sure if you want on the board they will put your name on the ballet. maybe a rich farmer will pay your filing fee!

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  6. Just a suggestion, but if our village board is not doing the job that they were elected to do---why don't some of the posters on this blog run? As I understand it, at the last election there were 3 open seats, 2 people filed to run for office which left 1 seat that no one ran to fill so it was an appointed seat or a write-in (whichever).

    While I do agree that there could always be improvements made to ANY town, the $$$ for these projects doesn't just fall out of the trees. It has to come from somewhere--it comes from the homeowners that live INSIDE the city limits of Dorchester and I sure don't want my taxes to go any higher than they already are.

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  7. We couldn't agree more with comment above regarding the need to follow good ideas with action. That includes running for office.

    And while property taxes pay the bulk of the expenses for any economic development and improvements, we at the Times believe Dorchester could use a variety of methods to find needed funding, such as:

    1.) Implementing a .5% city sales tax on non-grocery items, as larger towns do (including Crete and Friend).

    2.) Continuing aggressive fundraising activity through community organizations such as DACA.

    3.) Ensuring the town aggressively applies for economic development grants, such as the federal Community Block Development Grant or the state's Entrepreneurial Communities grant, which specifically targets efforts to retain young people.

    There are options other than soaking our property owners or praying that money falls from the sky. And there are certainly better alternatives than being cynical and accepting the status quo.

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  8. hahahah hire a town cop.... that would be one of the most stupidest things you could ever spend are money on..... but i do think that paving the streets would make the town 100% better

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  9. I'm thinkin about goin around and gathering signitures to see if we can put a measure on the ballot like a town in Texas did. They allowed voters to decide on an ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting apartments to illegal immigrants. Better yet, how about a town ordinance that if you're in the country illegally and livin in our village, we'll write you up for trespassing every night you come home?

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  10. I will take the immigrant people who for the most part keep their places decent over a lot of "locals". Look around, most of the bad places are our own "white trash" people.

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  11. Maybe we should include "taking pride in your property" in the next vote. I don't live in a new or elaborate home, but hopefully some day I will be able to afford one. And I will still live in or around Dorchester. My point is, just because I don't have what I hopefully will in the future, I take pride in what I do have now.

    Paved streets would be great if or when we get them, but guess what, I live outside of town on a gravel road that will always be gravel, and I still mow my lawn, dump my trash, fix things when they break, and do what landscaping I can.

    Don't get me wrong, I think we should work on all of these improvments to better our town, but the pride should start at home!!!!

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  12. hey bob
    lets see your name on the ballot next time.

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Village Dweller checks all reader comments to determine if they are appropriate for print.