Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 14, 2017
Dallas gets ‘mostly good’ marks Dallas chamber
forms female group
Citizen survey shows positive outlook on police, fire; low on streets
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
By Emily Mentzer
DALLAS — A community survey the
city of Dallas conducts every two years
shows, by most measures, citizens view
the town positively — with a few ex-
ceptions.
Citizens were asked to measure each
category on a four-point scale: Poor,
fair, good or excellent. Positive re-
sponses were those that were either
good or excellent.
The 2017 survey was conducted by
National Research Center in January
and February. It was mailed to 1,500
residents, and 485 people completed
and returned the survey.
It measured eight characteristics:
General safety, mobility (ease of travel),
natural environment, built environ-
ment, economy, recreation and well-
ness, education and enrichment, and
community engagement.
Among the highlights for Dallas are
ratings in public safety, and recreation
and wellness.
Dallas Police Department was rated
as 86 percent positive. Dallas Fire rated
at 91 percent, and Emergency Medical
Services (ambulance) was given a 92
percent positive rating.
Citizens viewed city parks at 89 per-
cent positive, and the Dallas Aquatic
Center received an 80 percent grade.
The Dallas Public Library received
an 86 percent positive rating, and 63
percent of respondents said they used
the library.
People are particularly pleased with
the ease of travel in town, ranking traf-
fic flow, travel by bicycle, ease of walk-
ing, and path and walking trails higher
than the average for similar cities.
Sixty-four percent of those who partic-
ipated in the survey said that they had
DALLAS — Since JD
Shinn took over as execu-
tive director of the Dallas
Area Chamber of Com-
merce, membership is up
from 121 to 154.
“That is 100 percent Ash-
ley (Kahl),” Shinn said.
“We’ve been making more
efforts on a broad scale.
Rather than going out and
asking for membership,
we’ve been trying to engage
the community.”
Kahl said one of her
biggest focuses has been on
quality over quantity.
“Our members are hap-
pier than they were before,”
she said. “We want to make
sure who we have currently
are satisfied and their
needs are being met.”
One way Kahl is filling a
need for chamber mem-
bers is through a new
monthly meeting aimed at
woman, Women Engaging.
The group meets on the
third Wednesday of the
month from 8 to 9 a.m. at
Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar.
“It’s for women at any
level of business,” Kahl said.
“If you have a job, come.”
The group, which will
meet for its third time on
June 21, is a safe place for
women who work to “have
coffee, eat treats, and talk
about our struggles and our
triumphs over the last
The Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file
Overall economic health is rated at 30 percent by those who responded to a
community survey conducted by the city of Dallas every two years.
walked or biked around town instead
of driving.
Not all results were positive, but the
areas with the most negative ratings
weren’t surprising to city officials.
Street repair received a 34 percent
positive rating. Bus and transit services
ranked at 36 percent positive. City
Manager Ron Foggin said he expected
those results, due to lack of street
maintenance funding and public tran-
sit service.
Citizens gave recreational opportu-
nities a 45 percent positive and social
activities 34 percent. Dallas approved
funding for a recreation coordinator to
help in both of those areas.
The lowest ratings were given to how
residents view the local economy and
economic development. Overall eco-
nomic health is rated at 30 percent,
shopping opportunities at 15 percent,
employment opportunities at 13 per-
cent, “vibrant downtown” at 22 percent
and places to work at 34 percent. All
those measures rated below those of
similar cities.
“Folks recognize that they want to
see new businesses,” Foggin said.
“They want to see improved businesses
and they want to see industry.”
The city recently hired AJ Foscoli as
tits economic development director to
help bring more business to town.
“As we move forward through the
next couple of years, there’s a couple
of spots where we are going to be
laser-focused, and we are going to try
to increase these percentages,” Foggin
said.
month,” Kahl said.
Networking is not pro-
hibited, but not the focus,
either, Kahl said.
“I want everyone to find
their new best friend in this
group,” she said. “Network-
ing will happen organically,
but first, let’s find out how
long have you been married;
where do your kids go to
school, and then just con-
necting people, having peo-
ple available who’s gone be-
fore you, who’s been there.”
Two women have agreed
to be mentors for others,
Nancy Adams and Sue
Dunham.
“They’re available for all the
women to call and say, ‘I’ve
had a bad day, do you have a
minute?’ or ‘Can you go over
this with me?’” Kahl said.
When she was beginning
her business, Crunchy
Mamas, she said she longed
for the guidance of a mentor.
“There were so many ele-
ments to the business, I
didn’t know where to start,”
Kahl recalled.
Dunham and Adams can
help point others in the
right direction or be a lis-
tening ear, Kahl said.
“We need people; we
need a community; and
that’s what it’s about,” she
said. “Yes, it’s business, and
supporting each other in
that aspect, but just in life
in general. Just being able
to run into each other and
say, ‘How are you?’”
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