Progress on a new Monroe County comprehensive plan is soon set to resume as the online survey which has run through the summer is coming to a close.

The newest attempt at a modern update to the plan – last updated in 1994 with only supplemental revisions implemented in the early 2010s – began early this year following an unsuccessful bid at a new plan last year.

Emily Calderon, director of planning with Moran Economic Development, has served as the new outside organizer of the Monroe County Planning Commission, whose members convened a few times through the spring to discuss what they perceived to be major strengths and needs throughout the county.

Over the past few months, a survey has been available to residents in order for them to share their thoughts on the future of Monroe County. 

Major questions on the survey include identifying the top three strengths and challenges to living in the county, whether or not the quality of life in Monroe County seems to be improving and what elements of development the county need most.

Calderon recently spoke with the Republic-Times to discuss the survey and some of its larger takeaways – though the results have yet to be fully compiled and analyzed.

She said the survey has currently received 459 responses – 391 residents had responded as of early May – which she described as a very strong response.

“I wanted to get as many as possible. I think we’re in a good spot with this,” Calderon said. “Although it may seem like a relatively small number compared to the amount of people in the county, I think it’s actually a really good number for a comprehensive plan survey.”

Concerning some of the common responses received, Calderon said about 60 percent of respondents have lived in the county for over 20 years. She further noted the residential diversity, with responses coming from many communities and locations throughout Monroe County.

Many commented in their responses that they live in Monroe County chiefly due to family connections, with the rural nature of the county, low crime rates and high quality of schools also noted as major strengths.

On the perceived needs, Calderon said survey respondents mainly identified a need for additional living-wage job opportunities as well as housing options – housing for seniors and young professionals were particularly of concern.

As something of a promotion of the survey, the Monroe County Planning Commission also had a small presence at the recent Monroe County Fair.

Though the booth didn’t seem to prompt a substantial number of additional survey responses, Calderon did speak positively about those who stopped by to share their feedback.

“We only got a few additional survey responses from the fair, but we did have a booth there,” Calderon said. “It was an interactive booth where we asked folks to share their opinion on various future development scenarios in the county, for example, taking a conservation approach to development.”

Along with asking about development in the county, those who stopped by the booth were asked about their general hopes for Monroe County over the next 15 years.

A third activity at the fair booth also had residents marking a map of the county with labeled dots, pointing out specific places and attaching a note to identify concerns at each location such as issues with transportation.

With the fair now passed and the survey having been available for several months, Calderon said feedback from residents will soon be wrapping up so the responses can be compiled and summarized to members of the planning commission in order for meetings and the planning process to continue in the next few weeks.

“We got a great amount of feedback,” Calderon said. “I’m really pleased with the level of participation and the thoughtfulness of participation.”

Those who haven’t participated in the survey can still do so until next Wednesday, Aug. 21.

The survey can be found online at surveymonkey.com/r/JFSR279. A link is also available on the main page of monroecountyil.gov.