Survey Said

1) What is your first choice for getting local news?

Local radio.......................................................................<1%

WSAZ Channel 3.............................................................48.7%

WOWK TV 13....................................................................1.7%

The Daily Independent Newspaper.................................38.4%

The Internet......................................................................6.8%

Other................................................................................2.5%

No response......................................................................<1%

Comments:

WSAZ web page

We take the Huntington paper.

The Independent would be for more in-depth stories and is read on daily basis.

I go from site to site.

Kevin Gunderson's email/facebook updates are a great source of news and information.

both wsaz & daily independent

TV News first, newspaper 2nd, printed news is usually old news by the time it makes print and is
delivered to home.

Wsaz would be secondary source.

ALSO THE NEWS PAPER

The newspaper has let the city down greatly. It no longer puts the city first or actively seeks to find out
what is happening here.

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2) During this winter's overly harsh conditions, how would you rate Ashland for cleaning and clearing
street?

Very Good......................................................................50.8%

Good..............................................................................43.1%

Very Poor........................................................................1.7%

Poor................................................................................3.4%

Don't live or drive in Ashland..........................................2.5%

Comments:

I have heard other comment on what a good job the city employees have done with the streets this
winter. My hat is off to them. This is the worst winter we have had in many many years.

ONLY ONCE THIS WINTER DID I ENCOUNTER LACK OF SALT ON STREETS WHEN I THOUGHT THERE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

good on main roads not so good on residential streets

Seemed that 'plows' made it to many side streets that I've never seen treated before.

Better than very good-------EXCELLENT!!!

HOW EVER AFTER THEY PUT COLD PATCH ON STREETS, IT COMES OUT OF THE HOLES AND CARS
THROW IT ON THE SIDE WALKS, THERE IS A LOT OF THE SIDE WALKS THAT NEED THE CITY TO
SWEEP THEM OFF, LOOK AT BLACKBURN AVE.

Probably could have used a little more salt downtown, but over all stayed pretty clear.

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3) During a 2008 survey, I asked what resturant you'd like to see in Ashland. Many said Panera Bread
and Cheddars. Same question today?

Red Lobster.......................................................................17.9%

Olive Garden.....................................................................25.6%

TGIF Fridays.......................................................................5.9%

Frisches.............................................................................13.6%

Steak n Shake...................................................................11.1%

Logan's Road House...........................................................2.5%

Independent like Jim's Spaghetti or Jewell
City Seafood.....................................................................10.2%

No Response.......................................................................<1%

Comments:

I understand that local folks own the franchise territory and own the Steak n Shake in Barboursville. I
think one could be supported in Ashland.

Must have been an oversite on your part, Commissioner, because this one is far and away the best one
we could land and has been requested here forever. Furthermore, didn't the guys who have the KFC
franchises commit to building a Steak n Shake here? Unfortunately, they manage their KFCs and their
existing SnS in Barboursville very poorly. Myles at Chick-Fil-A has set the bar for service very high in
this area and, sadly, these guys fall short. Good get with Panera...Covelli does a nice job.

Jim's Spaghetti rules. I wish you hadn't put it on there it only gets my hopes up.

WOULD LIKE A FACTORY,WITH REAL JOBS.

Would be great to have a nice sit-down Italian restaurant also.

ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GOOD HEALTHIER TYPE OF FOOD WITH MORE NATURAL INGREDIENTS. A
LOT OF THESE PLACES SAY THEY ARE GOING FOR THE HEALTHIER FOOD BUT IT IS NOT FRESH
MEATS, SEAFOOD, AND VEGETABLES.

Floyd's Steak & Seafood - small, family owned & operated chain in Texas.

Followed by a TGIF's, love both places

Olive Garden, Steak and Shake, Independent.

I would also like Red Lobster and Cracker Barrel but the closest Fridays is in Charleston.

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4) If you could pick a retailer to locate here that we don't have in Ashland, what would be your first
choice? List second choice or suggestions in comment area.

Target............................................................................35.0%

Kohls.............................................................................17.0%

Old Navy.........................................................................4.2%

Best Buy.........................................................................6.8%

Home Depot....................................................................7.6%

Macys..............................................................................5.1%

Factory Outlet Stores......................................................18.8%

Other................................................................................5.0%

Comments & second choices:

Old Navy - 2nd Choice

home depot

Khol's

High quality goods at closeout prices. An upscale TJ Maxx or Marhall's. I think owned by the
Schottenstein family of Columbus. We shop at the one in Lexington and Northern Kentucky at every
visit.

This would be great since we do not have any outlet stores.

Wal-Mart needs competition, so I go with Target. Lowe's needs competition, but we already dropped
the ball with Home Depot. I get tired of trekking all the way to Russell from South Ashland just to get to
Lowe's. Best Buy would be great, but forget Macys...will never happen. How about a Walgreens, a
Dick's, or a Gander Mountain?

Any retailer that would compete with Wal-Mart gets my vote.

Target

Stein Mart

Kohl's for second choice

Macys

Best buy

Old Navy

Factory oulet stores

Best Buy

Good medium-priced clothing for whole family - casual and dress.

SOMETHING THAT DEALS ACTUALLY WITH THE FULLER FIGURE PEOPLE. LANE BRYANT IS VERY
LIMITED AT THE MALL AND MOST TIME MORE EXPENSIVE. MAYBE AND OUTLET STORE FOR US
FULLER FIGURE PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WAS MADE IN A HURRY.

outlet stores,Target at top also

Second Choice: Best Buy

target

Ouch! This is a toughie. Ashland could benefit from Target most definitely. Kohl's would boost sales of
both establishments if located near to each other. Factory outlet stores would be almost too good to be
true, but they would have to locate in the county, in my opinion.
(10-5 from She Who Must Be Obeyed)

LOVE KOHLS!

Kohls and Macys Why didn't Kohl's go in as planned?

Best Buy would also be good.

Factory outlet stores

Factory outlets are customer magnets.
2. Best Buy
3. Kohls
4. target

Had heard Kohl's was coming and was very excited. I guess that is off the table now. A big outlet mall
would be cool and bring people and money into the area. marina14@windstream.net
Factory Outlet Stores.

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5) This question deals with recyclying. The City is considering a private curb side recycle service but
need 1,000 residents to participate at a cost of $3.60 a month. Would you participate?

Yes.............................................................................46.9%

No..............................................................................19.4%

Live in apartment building or out of town..................15.9%

Stay with current recycle program of drop
off locations...............................................................21.2%

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6) If curb side recyclying comes to Ashland, should
it be mandatory or voluntary?

Mandatory...................................................................40.1%

Voluntary....................................................................47.0%

Live in apt. building or out of town............................11.1%

No Response................................................................1.7%

Comments:

It should start out voluntary, but evolve over time. What do cities like Lexington charge? I think its
mandatory there.

I take my recyclables to the bins at Walmart and on Oakview Road. I don't mind doing that at all,
however if I ever became disabled, I would want the recycle items to be picked up at my home.

Very unpopular, however necessary to position our area as one of being environmentally friendly, i.e.
important to any corporation that would even consider moving a branch office here.

Any mandatory recycling must include all of Boyd County to maximize returns.

Seems to work in other metropolitan areas that are much larger than we are.

Recycling will become popular once it becomes cost effective or profitable. Why should we pay
Rumpke to haul away material when it can recycle it and make a profit. Green Valley Landfill was
originally designed to be a recycling facility.

In order meet the environmental needs, I think it must be mandatory. The cost is not enough to cause a
hardship. Maybe, once established if possible with landfill savings, cost would be adjusted.

If curbside recycling comes to Ashland, then all people should be required to participate.

I live in Boyd Co so my yes on #5 shouldn't count but this area is waaaaaay behind on efforts for
recycling. Not only should we have easy convenient curbside paper, plastic (WATER BOTTLES!!), and
glass, but electronics, too. This area is leaving a HUGE carbon footprint!!

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7) Do you favor merged government, much like Fayette County?. This would merge Ashland,
Catlettsburg, and rural Boyd County

Yes...................................................................27.3%

No....................................................................20.5%

Maybe.............................................................16.2%

Yes, and merge the school systems................11.9%

Yes, but don't merge the school systems.........16.2%

Don't live in area or don't care.........................4.2%

No response......................................................<1%

Comments:

I would have to know what the advantages would be.

Absolutely. This is a no-brainer. Has worked well with Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette, but was
defeated in Charleston-Kanawha County. Our voters would never vote for it, but we are about 20 years
behind in our thinking. I applaud you for even considering it, though.

This has been needed for many years. Would save untold thousands of dollars.

I can't answer without having more information. What are the pros and cons of both?

More information is needed to make a choice.

So much bad blood exists between county & city. This might put an end to decades-long rivalries and
ugliness.

Ten years ago I would have said theat there would be no advantage to merging the school systems, but
there may be no harm now, given what seems to be a decline in the city school system.But I realize this
is opening a huge can of worms that would not go away for years.

I would have to know the costs and benefits of a merger before I could answer this question.

Not enough information on what that would mean to Ashland to decide. If yes, don't mrge school system

I think a merged local government would give better service to all people in those areas.

The more we merge the more we could save, both from reducing duplicative services and increasing
our clout/buying power.

Many, many economic benefits (and MAN what a sports team!) but a little nervous at the prospect.
Wouldn't want Catlettsburg or the county to get lost.

I do not know enough on this issue to make an informed decision.

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8) Have you contacted the City about a problem and was your call or email returned in a timely
manner?

Yes, my concern was addressed promply.....................43.1%

Yes, contacted City but got no response........................3.4%

Have not contacted City...............................................47.4%

Live out of area............................................................6.0%

Comments:

Response(s)

Water leak in front of our has was repaired, but the yard is still a mess where it was torn up to find the
leak.

Speed, speed, and more speed on Boy Scout Road. Police department promptly addressed my
concerns, however I honestly still see little police presence here. There is a reason people are hesitant
to speed on U.S. 52 in Ohio. Here, everyone knows the odds of seeing an actual patrol car monitoring
speeding is slim to none.

need to get the cat out they kill your planys and trees

The City dug up a line, backhoe damaged parking lot, I had to have it repaved myself.
Also, sidewalks & curb on one side are terrible.

One concern was addressed, but not exactly promptly. Took some time to be solved, and not entirely to
satisfaction.
Second concern was addressed and promptly.

WE NEED A PERSON ANSWERING THE PHONE. I have e-mailed Rob Ratliff, no response...called several
times to various departments, but no answer. This is totally unacceptable. Staff should be available at
normal business hours. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN CITY. I was told by one city employee that the
city basically does not want folks calling...and that seems to be correct by the way they handle calls.

Promptly -- dog pound needs to drive around and pick up the strays. They don't ever answer their phone
just a message machine. By the time you report a dog, it has moved on to another street.

Yes, but my problem was not addressed.

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9) What is your gender?

Male...............................................................................55.5%

Female..........................................................................42.7%

No Response...................................................................<1%

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10) Which age category describes your age?

Younder than 18..............................................................0%

18 - 24.............................................................................0%

25 - 34.............................................................................5.16%

35 - 44.............................................................................19.6%

45 - 54.............................................................................29.9%

55 - 64.............................................................................29.0%

65 or older......................................................................14.5%

No response.....................................................................1.7%