Chatham County residents give the county a B+, according to the results of a recent Satisfaction Survey.
First announced at the Chatham Board of Commissioners meeting on May 6, the results came with a mean of 3.45, the highest since the county started the survey and above the 2021 results of 3.33.
The survey conducted by BKL Research, polled 407 residents by phone, asked questions about quality of life in the county. Residents were selected at random, with 95% of respondents answering by cell phone though landlines numbers were included.
Specific attention was paid to how happy residents were living and working in Chatham. The questions were phrased in an open ended manner to allow residents to elaborate and identify key areas of concern.
While residents polled with a higher satisfaction rating then in previous years, multiple areas for improvement were identified. Issues of rapid growth in the county, related infrastructure concerns, school and education issues, affordable housing and water quality were all common areas of concern. Taxes, road improvement and problems with traffic were also addressed.
County staff earned an A- grade, something which drew the attention of the Board of Commissioners. “My fellow Board members and I are pleased with these positive results and the excellent customer service County staff provide. We look forward to working with staff on any potential areas for improvement,” said Chair Mike Dasher.
In addition to questions about living and working in Chatham County, residents surveyed were asked about their interactions with county government staff and programs.
“The survey is a great opportunity for us to hear directly from the people we serve regarding the services they receive and their satisfaction with living here in Chatham County,” Dasher said.
Across all the categories, some 24 grades increased, 46 remained the same and just five declined, with three of those related to water utilities.
Respondents reported issues with opening and closing accounts with the water department, timely service and knowledgeable staff at a lower rate then in 2021. Staff in the Register of Deeds office was also rated slightly lower (A- to A) in terms of knowledge and overall staff grade.
Overall, it was a solid report for the county.
