Tabulations for the Columbia/Adair County Survey are complete, and they indicate that, while Adair Countians want change, they are in sync with the nation in that they do not want radical change.

The survey was included as part of the November, 1996, Columbia!, provided by Dr. Ben Arnold, who continues to conduct surveys of public opinion.

The results are as follows:

JOBS/NEW INDUSTRY

Average pay to recruit

$6/hr. 20%

$9/hr 61%

$12/hr 19%

Primary reason for new jobs

For current Adair Countians 32%

Increase population, work force 51%

Increase economic base with

new managers, new well-

trained work force 17%

Motivation for corporation

to move here

Low taxes, wages

and land costs 43%

Owners would live

here 27%

Low costs to build,

low utilities,

higher profits 18%

Don't care 12%

Type workers new plant should hire

50% skilled, 50% unskilled 46%

50% skilled, 50% technical 38%

50% degreed, 50% technical` 16%

Type companies likely to be attracted

Timber processing, heavy mfg. 31%

Light mfg. 49%

High technical 20%

Ranking jobs desired

High quality jobs for children,

grandchildren with advanced

degrees or training to keep high

trained children home 10%

Jobs for current unemployed 09%

Higher pay for neighbors to

improve standard of living 01%

All are important to me 80%

How man jobs needed?

3,000 36%

1,000 57%

500 07%

RETAIL

Q. What do you want for retail stores, including clothing, home furnishings, gift items, etc?

More choices, like C-ville,

Bardstown, or better 60%

Would welcome new shopping

mall nearby 35%

Is acceptable now 05%

Restaurants

Selection now acceptable 11%

Want more choices 45%

Want to draw customers

from out of town 44%

Food, groceries

Shop 1-2 times outside Columbia

and it's OK 11%

Buy all food here and it's OK 13%

Want large grocery, bakery,

and different food choices 76%

Entertainment

OK now, no more traffic 01%

Would like bowling lanes, bigger

theatre, live music, youth center 65%

Would like town to be noted

as entertainment center with

some distinguishing entertain-

ment concept 34%

TOWN SQUARE

Q. I see the town square as:

Primarily for owners of bldgs 18%

Central part of Columbia,

important mostly to city residents 14%

Cultural and business center

of Adair County, important

to all Adair Countians 68%

Q. An improved and revitalized town square will:

Of those answering this question, only approximately one-third thought its importance was merely to improve businesses on the square.

Three times as many people thought that an improved and revitalized town square would:

-Improve industrial recruiting efforts by making the town more desirable as a place to live.

-Improve community spirit, cultural enrichment, and town pride.

-Encourage customers and visitors from other areas to visit and shop in Columbia.

PURPOSE OF LONG RANGE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In order of importance, the answers were:

1. Most thought the purpose of economic development should be to improve financial situation for all citizens from spin-offs of higher paying jobs and industry profits.

2. Replace existing jobs which might be lost was next most important.

3. In third place was the idea that economic development would improve community life by bringing more services-recreation, restaurants, entertainment, etc-and products to our town.

4. Respondents were least interested in improving the tax base to allow local government to provide more services.

SIZE TOWN WANTED

Grow moderately, to

about 5,000 66%

Grow faster, to 8-10,000 34%

Don't want any growth 00%

Bypass

Purpose

Reroute traffic from town center

(60%) provide industry and

housing development (40%) 45%

Provide for industry and housing

(60%); reroute traffic from town

square (40%) 55%

Bypass, Where?

Further out of town to provide

more growth and development 71%

Near the town center

largely for traffic control 29%

Where and what

West, from 55N to 55 S to

connect with 66, W80, Greens-

burg and Old Greensburg 20%

East to connect with Bull Run,

206, and E80 31%

Either, but with a second on/off

ramp to open land across

the parkway and to improve

traffic flow 49%