Granite County study commission adopts short survey and outreach plan to collect public views on local government

The Granite County Local Government Review Study Commission on April 17 agreed to distribute a short, three-question survey and to visit local civic organizations to gather residents’ views about local government.

Commissioners said the outreach will focus on a simple handout and a short set of questions designed to capture gut reactions rather than long written responses. The commission discussed visiting service organizations, chambers, senior centers and civic clubs in Drummond, Hall, Phillipsburg and Maxfield and leaving a short half-sheet the public can return or drop in a collection box.

The move follows a training session the commission took earlier that day; commissioners said they will use a perception-investigation-education framework (sometimes abbreviated verbally during the meeting as “PIE”) to guide questions and presentations. Commission members agreed to lead visits by splitting up duties: “If you want to start down in your neck of the woods, I’ll start up here, and then maybe we can switch at some point,” one commission member said while assigning venues.

The commission narrowed its initial instrument to three items to be fielded in person at organizations rather than a long mailed questionnaire. The three starting items the body agreed to use are: (1) “What would you like to see your government do?” (open response), (2) “Do you have any comments or recommendations you want the local government review study commission to consider?” (open response), and (3) “In providing essential services, does your local government make reasonably good use of the taxes and fees it collects?” (yes/no, with an optional example field). Commissioners emphasized keeping the form short and easy to complete so people will respond.

Commissioners also discussed leaving collection boxes and later expanding to a newspaper notice or small business‑card style promotional blurb to raise awareness. They agreed to check logistics with the local paper about advertising and to prepare a one-page or postcard‑style handout summarizing the commission’s purpose and the forms of local government the study covers.

The commission set outreach as an immediate priority and planned to begin visits in the coming weeks, coordinating calendars so members know meeting times for the local civic groups. They left the detailed questionnaire draft and the presentation materials for follow-up work before the next outreach visits.

Ending: Commissioners said they will report back with finalized handouts and a schedule of visits at the next commission meeting on May 15, 2025.