Published: November 02, 2009 09:49 pm      

County asked to promote census

A representative of the U.S. Census Bureau has asked the Woodward County Commission to promote the upcoming census, which will begin in mid-March 2010.

Census Bureau partnership specialist Jeronimo Gallegos visited the commission's regular meeting Monday morning and said he would like to see educational material posted about the census in the courthouse.

“An awareness campaign can be as elaborate as you want it,” he said and asked the commissioners to “maybe issue a proclamation about the census....”

He also asked the commissioners to sign a partnership agreement, showing their support.

Because he approached the commissioners under the new business part of their agenda, they were not able to vote on whether to go along with Gallegos’ request.

Questioned about the process involved in conducting the census, he said it would begin with a mailing, where residents would receive questionnaires asking how many people live in the household and about other general information.

“In 2000 in Woodward County, the mail-back response was 60 percent,” he said, noting “that’s very good.”

Census takers will then visit homes that failed to respond by mail, he said.

“We will notify county and city (officials) to let them know there will be census takers in the area,” he said.

He noted the “biggest bulk” of the house to house-to-house census will most likely take place in mid-April.

In other business, the county approved payment of a note owed to Terracon Consultants of Oklahoma City, which conducted a survey of geophysical data around the courthouse grounds.

The survey examined core samples from the ground to determine water table levels and soil composition to determine if more dirt needs to be added before construction of the new Woodward County Jail can begin.