Community survey for 
comprehensive plan gets under way

By JENNIFER NELSON

OST news editor

The Southern Iowa Council of Governments is seeking the community’s input via a survey – the input is needed to help guide the future of Osceola.

SICOG is currently contracted to complete a comprehensive plan with the city of Osceola. The survey will help identify priorities for the plan.

According to SICOG Regional Planner Andrew Collings, a comprehensive plan is a written document that “identifies the goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards and strategies for the growth and development of the community.”

“In short, it’s a guide for future development,” he said.

The plan will identify the vision for the community, 20, 30 or 50 years down the road. The plan identifies the assets and polices already in place, said Collings.

“It then combines the community vision for current assets and policies by identifying what the community does well and what should be done differently to achieve that future vision,” he said.

The survey

The survey will be available online until Feb. 9 at www.questfor2022.wordpress.com.

A hard copy of the survey is available at Osceola Public Library and Osceola City Hall for those who don’t have access to the Internet.

The survey, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, asks community members to respond to questions regarding land use, transportation projects, public facilities and services, economic development and the housing market, as well as other topics impacting the community.

All answers are anonymous and will be used to guide discussion during seven public meetings to be held between February and June. Collings said the goal will be to make the survey responses a “vital part of the plan.”

In addition to the survey, community members will also have the opportunity to participate in an online forum. The forum allows community members to post ideas, topics or comments about Osceola and provide feedback on the comprehensive plan, once it is written. To access the forum, locals will need to have a valid e-mail address, Facebook or Twitter account. A link to the forum is available on the Quest for 2022 website.