Sandpoint survey's goal was to begin dialogue

On June 30, Councilman Michael Boge and I mailed out surveys to 200 city addresses (potentially 300-350 citizens) at a personal cost of around $200. While a wider distribution would have been nice, the cost to print the survey in the Bee would have been greater. (Four years ago Councilman Boge personally conducted a smaller similar survey at his own expense.)

Dialogue is an essential element of good government. Such conversation can result in an exchange of information and possibly education for all parties. The intent was to initiate a dialogue through a sampling of people who voted in the 2005 election. That dialogue has expanded throughout the community. This is as an unexpected but healthy result of our effort.

Surveys arrive daily. Many include comments and suggestions about ways our survey could have been improved. In retrospect, perhaps we should have called the document "Our private non-professionally prepared imperfect attempt to collect a sampling of opinions through a non-scientific selection of names from the 2005 voting poll books about issues having a potential impact on future city budgets."

It has been suggested that recipient's names were hand-picked friends and supporters of ours. I can report that for myself an analysis reveals that I know 10 percent well, 70 percent conversationally and 20 percent I could not personally identify. I would expect the same proportional results with all 1,026 who voted in 2005. My only regret is not knowing the 20 percent.

Thanks to all who responded, called or e-mailed. Your input is valuable and important!

This letter represents solely my own position and that of no other elected official or the city of Sandpoint.

HELEN M. NEWTON

Sandpoint City Council

Sandpoint