Polk County Community Vision

1. Which community best describes where you live? (Select one)

• Aragon
• Cedartown
• Polk County
• Rockmart

2. Which best describes your residency in Polk County? (Select one)

• Full-time resident
• Part-time resident

3. Which community do you work? 

• Aragon
• Cedartown
• Polk County
• Rockmart
• Another county
• Retired or otherwise not working
• Work from home

4. Which best describes your employment? (Select one)

• Retail
• Medical
• Construction
• Government
• Education
• Hospiltality
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing/Industrial
• Food service/Restaurant
• Professional services such as legal, financial, etc.
• Automotive
• Retired
• Other

5. What is your age? (Select one)

• Less than 18
• 18 to 34
• 35 to 54
• 55 to 69
• 70 years or older

6. How long have you lived in Polk County? (Select one)

• 0 to 1 year
• 1 to 5 years
• 5 to 10 years
• 10 to 20 years
• 20 to 50 years
• 50+ years

7. What do you like about Polk County? (Check all that apply)

• Friendly and helpful neighbors
• Strong agriculture community
• Small town atmosphere
• Local businesses and restaurants
• Outdoor activities (fishing, hiking, paddling, etc.)
• Good EMS, fire, and police protection
• Strong tourism economy
• Public schools and libraries
• Accessible public buildings and parks
• Variety of housing choices
• Good neighborhood churches
• Scenic views and natural wildlife assts
• Educational opportunities (post-high school)
• Cultural diversity
• Access to active recreation
• Career opportunities for residents

8. What don't you like about Polk County? (Check all that apply)

• Not enough career opportunities for residents
• Young professionals leaving
• Not enough housing options
• Blight and unkept properties
• Lack of public water and sewer infrastructure
• Too much traffic
• Loss of scenic views and natural areas to growth
• Not enough local store and restaurants
• Crowds resulting from tourism
• Limited emergency services such as fire, EMS, and police
• Lack of sufficient road maintenance
• Lack of public engagement
• Lack of sidewalks/bike lanes
• Limited public transportation
• Poor access to high-speed internet

9. What types of local government management actions would you support for future development? (Select all that apply)

• Stronger land use regulations/zoning
• Higher density in planned city areas
• Lower density in planned rural areas
• Growth limitation boundaries
• Higher density in planned rural areas
• Limiting development on flood zones
• Requiring wider stream buffers
• Agriculture and forest conservation
• Acquisition of land for public uses
• Provide sidewalks/bike lanes
• None

10. What type of housing are you interested in seeing developed in your community? (Select all that apply)

• More housing for retirees and/or seniors
• Assisted living/long-term care facilities
• Workforce housing for all income levels
• Luxury housing developments
• More rental housing options
• More apartments
• Townhouses/Condos
• Owner-occupied homes on large lots
• Planned subdivisions
• More short-term rentals
• None

11. What types of public projects would you support to make your community a better place? (Select all that apply)

• Increase and improve public water and sewer infrastructure
• Incentives of new housing development
• Removal of blighted buildings for new development
• Improvements to transportation infrastructure such as: roads, intersections, street lighting, etc.
• Invest into the downtowns to preserve historic landmarks, improve walkability, increase parking, etc.
• Recruit more local businesses
• More strict land use ordinances to control future growth
• Recruit more commercial retail and dining businesses
• Improvements in public parks, such as: parking, trails, signs, and other amenities
• Invest in and improve public safety
• Increase efforts to promote tourism
• Recruit more industrial and manufacturing companies
• Projects aimed at improving education
• Enhanced public transportation program
• Protect more scenic open spaces and woodlands
• Preserve more farms & agricultural land
• Improve high-speed internet broadband access throughout the county
• Increase the number of free public Wi-Fi locations
• Better access to behavioral health treatment
• More sidewalks and bike lanes
• More community-owned industrial parks
• Increase outdoor recreation options
• None of the above

12. In your opinion, what is the most significant issue for your community? (Select one) 

• Not enough career opportunities for residents
• Young professionals leaving
• Not enough housing options
• Blight and unkept properties
• Lack of scenic views and natural areas to growth
• Not enough local stores and restaurants
• Crowds resulting from tourism
• Limited emergency services such as fire, EMS, and police
• Lack of sufficient road maintenance
• Lack of public engagement
• Lack of sidewalks/bike lanes
• Limited public transportation
• Poor access to high-speed internet
• Lack of public water and sewer in the county
• Too much traffic