Village officials encourage cooperative spirit in upcoming Census

By: 
Dennis Mansfield, Contributing Writer

KALKASKA – While giving information to a stranger might be awkward or even overwhelming, Village of Kalkaska officials are already encouraging local residents to adopt a cooperative spirit for the upcoming 2020 Census.

The U.S. Constitution requires a census to be conducted every 10 years to collect data regarding the county’s population. And, 2020 will be 24th such census to be conducted in U.S. history.

The Village of Kalkaska has already started its work with the U.S. Census Bureau, the federal agency tasked with the census.

Trustees Diana Needham and Robert Larsen have worked to correct data from previous counts to provide for a more accurate picture of the village’s population, information that Needham said can be critical when applying for federal programs or funding.

“We’re hoping we get a population increase,” Needham told her fellow council members at their regular meeting in September.

She added that accurate data can be key when trying to address such issues as a community’s needs in areas including health care, education and transportation, among others.

According to Needham, local residents should receive a postcard in March 2020. She’s hopeful residents will answer the questions honestly and accurately, and mail it back to the Census Bureau.

“They just want to know how many people are living in the house,” Needham added. “You can fill (the postcard) out and it’s off your plate. It’s done.”

Those households failing to return the postcards will then most likely receive a visit from census workers.

Needham and other village officials repeatedly stated how important an accurate count can be to a community. That means also reporting persons, such as “couch surfers,” who might be staying at residence. And, they should do so without fear that giving out such information could lead to a visit from any law enforcement agency.

“That’s very important for people to understand,” said Sgt. Aaron Popa of the Kalkaska Department of Public Safety. “We’re prohibited from acting on census information.”

Needham said the upcoming census might yield another benefit for area residents – a number of good-paying, temporary federal jobs.

“If you need a job, there you go,” she said, adding there is a chance that the temporary census jobs do have the potential to lead an individual to full-time employment.

For more information, visit online at 2020Census.gov.

 

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The Review

 

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P.O. Box 313
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: 231-533-5651
Fax: 231-533-4662
 
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Bellaire, MI 49615

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