Residents who have a post office box as an address did not get a Census form.
Jackson County GIS manager, Joel Logan, who is coordinating the local census effort, said the federal government inadvertently failed to send Census forms to people who have post office boxes.
“We are getting lots of phone calls and traffic because so many people have not gotten a Census forms,” Logan said. “It appears that if you have a post office box, you did not get a Census form. But there are also a lot of folks we heard from that did not get one at a normal mailing address too.”
County residents who did not get a form can pick one up at one of the three centers open in the county through April 19.
The centers with staff members available are open Mondays through Fridays at the following locations: Jackson County Tag Office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Commerce City Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Maysville Public Library from 9 a.m. to noon.
Census forms not sent to post office boxes
The unmanned centers are at Maysville City Hall, Nicholson City Hall, the Braselton Library, and the Denny’s on Hwy. 441 near Banks Crossing.
Logan points out that some people have received two Census forms.
“The official answer from the Census Bureau is if you have already sent one in, do not send the second one in,” Logan said. “One explanation is that that they have not processed your first form yet.”
Logan also points out that the form needs to be filled out completely.
“The other thing I am really worried about is a lot of folks think they can just put the number of people in the home and not answer anything else because of what they have heard folks on the radio saying,” he said. “This is a whole debate unto itself, but if people do this it will probably end up in a enumerator visiting their home. Most of the 10 questions have been on the Census in some form since 1790/1800.”
A website is in place showing the percentages of people who have already submitted a Census form. As of Tuesday, 61 percent of Jackson Countians had submitted a form. This is one percent above the national average.
As of Tuesday, a breakdown for the cities in the county are: Arcade – 58%; Braselton – 66%; Commerce – 60%; Hoschton – 61%; Jefferson – 60%; Maysville – 60%; Nicholson – 60%; Pendergrass – 64%; and Talmo – 52%.
To check out the percentages, go to http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.
Logan points out that some people have received two Census forms.
“The official answer from the Census Bureau is if you have already sent one in, do not send the second one in,” Logan said. “One explanation is that that they have not processed your first form yet.”
Logan also points out that the form needs to be filled out completely.
“The other thing I am really worried about is a lot of folks think they can just put the number of people in the home and not answer anything else because of what they have heard folks on the radio saying,” he said. “This is a whole debate unto itself, but if people do this it will probably end up in a enumerator visiting their home. Most of the 10 questions have been on the Census in some form since 1790/1800.”
A website is in place showing the percentages of people who have already submitted a Census form. As of Tuesday, 61 percent of Jackson Countians had submitted a form. This is one percent above the national average.
As of Tuesday, a breakdown for the cities in the county are: Arcade – 58%; Braselton – 66%; Commerce – 60%; Hoschton – 61%; Jefferson – 60%; Maysville – 60%; Nicholson – 60%; Pendergrass – 64%; and Talmo – 52%.
To check out the percentages, go to http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.
My husband and I both work out of county and it is very difficult for either of us to get to the tag office once a year - to get our auto tags - it is out of the question to take an afternoon off of work to go to Jefferson or Commerce to pick up a Census form. And I, as a teacher, know the importance of their completion and submission. I have been looking for our survey and would like to participate, but I can't understand the reasoning that people should have to take off work to pick up the forms in locations that are only open M-F, 8-5.
I can't believe that we are the only family to find difficulties with participation based upon these guidlines. Are there any other opportunities for persons to be counted - even if they have employment that doesn't permit them to pick up forms at offered locations and/or times?
Isn't the Census a 'government' administered poll? How is it that every other 'government' hoohah can locate our mailbox, but the Census - has 10 years to organize and create a detailed plan for smooth achievement for maximum results.
Just a rant from frustrated citizen.