News File Photo The Alpena County Courthouse is seen in this file photo. Alpena County, city, and township officials have extended the master plan survey period for an additional eight weeks, encouraging residents to give their feedback.

ALPENA — Only about 1% of Alpena County residents have responded to a survey that local governments will use to help establish future goals and initiatives.

Currently, Alpena, Alpena Township, Alpena County, and the rest of the townships in the county are working to update their master plan. The municipalities are creating plans that will mirror each other, but in order to draft the best plan possible, it is important for residents to share their views and concerns.

The goal was to have about 10% of the county’s population answer the survey, which equates to about 2,100 people.

So far, few people have shared their views on what the future direction of Alpena County should be.

Because of the lack of participation for the survey, the original deadline of July 31 was extended at least another eight weeks. Then the response will be reviewed again and local officials will decide the best way to proceed.

Not completing the survey could impact the area’s natural resources, development, roads and blight, as well as policy and zoning.

Municipalities are required to submit their plans to the State of Michigan and update them at least every five years.

Alpena Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski said the survey includes 70 questions, most of which are multiple choice and doesn’t take long to complete. She added that at the end of the questionnaire, there are about 18 questions that are specific to the City of Alpena and people can answer those whether they live in the city or not.

Having a large response to the survey, Kaszubowski said, helps create a plan that local governments can use when making decisions.

“The survey really sets the groundwork for the county as a whole and it’s important that people give their input,” she said. “If people don’t tell us what they want or need, how are we supposed to make the decisions they want us to make?”

In order to promote the survey and master plan, Kaszubowski said some local officials will make presentations to local groups, organizations, and clubs. She said promoting the survey at Alpena Community College and Alpena High School could be one way to get more input, especially from young adults.

For four years, Alpena, Alpena County, and Alpena Township each drafted their own master plans, and although they were similar in many ways, there were also differences that showed a lack of cohesiveness.

Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer said having unified master plans helps municipalities work together to achieve shared goals and projects.

“We all have a history of working together and this helps keep things consistent, countywide,” Osmer said. “Plus, there are some people who work in the city, but live in Alpena Township, and maybe have a cabin in another township. This just keeps things clean and everyone is on the same page about where we want to go as one large community.”

The survey is available on the Alpena County, Alpena Township, and the City of Alpena websites and anyone can take it. Paper surveys are also available in local clerk’s offices and can be filled out and returned there.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.