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Consultant: Smithville survey shows high satisfaction with police, parks and overall quality of life
Summary
A consultant told Smithville aldermen that a 2025 citizen survey (323 responses, ±5.2% margin of error) found high satisfaction with police, solid waste and parks, strong perceptions of safety and mixed views on traffic and planning for growth.
Robert Haycock of ETC Institute presented results of the city's 2025 citizen survey to the Smithville Board of Aldermen, saying the firm received 323 usable responses and achieved a margin of error of approximately 5.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. "We received 323 surveys," Haycock said, noting the sample was sent by mail and made available online.
Haycock told the board that residents rate solid waste services, local police protection and customer service among the highest areas of satisfaction. "Overall quality of services provided by the city, very high at 65%," he said, and he highlighted that safety metrics were especially strong: "Residents are engaged and supportive... an overwhelming 98% said they feel safe in their neighborhoods during the day." He also flagged that roughly 20–40% of respondents were neutral across some items—an opportunity, he said, for targeted communication and engagement.
The consultant noted lower satisfaction in traffic flow and in how the city manages and plans growth, with roughly 38% expressing concerns about planning and growth. Haycock recommended using the combined importance–satisfaction analysis to prioritize maintenance of major streets and the city's water and wastewater systems, which ranked high for importance but lower for satisfaction.
The board asked questions about methodology and trends, and Haycock compared the city's scores to regional and national benchmarks, saying Smithville scored above U.S. averages in most categories assessed.
