The Johnson County Commission authorized last Thursday a 2007 DirectionFinder Citizen Survey of Johnson County to assess community needs and priorities as part of the county commission's long-range planning policy.

The survey is conducted every two years. On Thursday, the commissioner's authorized $31,055 to fund the 2007 survey, which will be conducted by ETC Institute, an Olathe firm that's one of the nation's leading community-based market research firms in public surveying and polling processes. ETC also conducted the 2005 survey, costing $29,860.

"This survey helps us measure how the county is doing in using its resources effectively to provide the services that our citizens want and expect from their county government," Commission Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh said.

As part of the survey, ETC will seek residents' levels of satisfaction with Johnson County services and programs, including perceptions about overall quality of service, availability, affordability, accessibility, expertise, timeliness and responsiveness.

ETC was founded in 1982 by Dr. Elaine Tatham, president of the firm, and has worked with more than 300 state and local governments across the nation in citizen and public surveys.

The survey will be mailed out in August. ETC plans to select a random sample of Johnson County households for the six-page survey of 24 questions. The survey is expected to take about 15 minutes for residents to complete. Only one survey will be sent to each selected household.

The goal is to complete at least 1,200 surveys by a combination of initial mail responses and follow-up phone interviews in order to receive an adequate database to compile results. At least 200 surveys will be completed in each of the county's six commission districts.

Plans are to have initial survey results tabulated by early September. A final report of findings from the 2007 DirectionFinder Citizen Survey of Johnson County is expected by the end of September.