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Show "Water bill" survey nixed by expert The idea of using the city water bills as a medium of conveyance for a public opinion survey on power attitudes was given little support in discussion Wednesday by the Cedar City Electric Utility Board. Craig Jones, SUSC professor who has experience in survey research, said the random sample method, using about 200 responses, would be the most ef-I ef-I fective means of guaging residents' ' feelings toward the municipal power I issue. Jones also recommended to the I board to check into the possibility of using a professional polling ' organization from other parts of Utah I to conduct the survey. He personally would be unable to supervise a survey I before chairman Louie Tong's October deadline, due to lack of student ' pollsters, he said. Jones said the water bill method would lead to a possible "upper-income bias" and would also leave the board open for criticism. An organized effort could also influence the outcome, he said. Board members also discussed the introductory paragraph to the survey, that is, how to keep it as impartial as possible. It was decided each member of the board will write down "a good opening paragraph", with a final draft, using all ideas, being critiqued by Jones. In other business Wednesday, a motion was made to recommend again, that the city join ICPA (Intermountain Consumers Power Association.) The motion was tabled, with a decision pending for next meeting. |