More than 70 people gathered in the Superior Auditorium Monday evening for the 2014 Community Needs Assessment Survey report. This was the fourth such summary to be conducted in Superior. The surveys are required every five years if the community is to participate in a number of grant programs.
The survey was conducted by the South Central Economic Development District. District representatives, along with a representative from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, presented the report.
Thirty percent of the Superior households responded to the request to complete the survey. Of these, 18 percent of the respondents have lived in the community for five years or less. Of the 315 households responding, 115 represented two-person households and 57 represented a one-person household.
Of those responding, 39 percent earned less than $50,000 per year and 42 percent earned between $50,000 and $99,999. Two percent had incomes of more than $100,000 per year.
Respondents reported favorably on the adequacy of fire protection, library and ambulance service, the appearance of the downtown and the condition of the Superior Auditorium and the parks.
There was strong support shown for park improvements with improved bathroom facilities and playground equipment heading the list. Eighty percent of those responding said the Simic Recreation Center should be renovated. One hundred forty-one households indicated they would be willing to physically help with the renovation. Two hundred twenty-six responding households said they would contribute funds for the renovations.
Residential street maintenance and sidewalk reconstruction were identified as the top projects to be worked on.
Eighty-nine percent of those responding supported community cleanup days.
Only 58 percent of those responding supported the construction of a new public safety building,
There was strong support for opening a cafe with evening hours. This was followed by the need for appliance sales and repairs, handyman services, computer and mobile phone repair.
Eight-two percent of those responding supported housing development and 93 percent supported business development.
Thirty-two of those responding reported an interest in starting a business and 26 business owners said they were interested in transition out of their business. The need for childcare was indicated by 66 households. Twenty-five of the responding household did not have internet service.
Eight-eight percent of those responding said their residences were structurally sound. Eighty-one respondents were interested in changing residences. Of these, 57 wanted to upgrade and 24 wanted to downsize.
Ninety-four percent rated vacant homes as fair to poor and 90 percent indicated their support for nuisance regulation enforcement,.
Forty-one of 43 respondents said it was difficult to find quality childcare and 18 of 44 households responding said they went outside of Superior for childcare,
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