By Greg Ellison

Staff Writer

(Jan. 30, 2020) In contrast to earlier efforts that sought to assess residents’ sentiments on a variety of issues, the OPA Communications Committee is looking at developing less involved inquiries with a sharper focus.

Communications Committee Chairperson Jenny Cropper Rines said unlike the massive community survey undertaken in summer 2018, subsequent information requests would be streamlined.

“It falls specifically to us as the communication committee to figure out how people wish to receive information,” she said.

Rines said the discussion among the advisory committee members has repeatedly concluded that a higher percentage of residents would respond if surveys concentrated on specific matters.

The OPA survey from summer 2018 drew 1,773 respondents. Of that tally 90 percent were 55 or older, with 24 percent 75 or older.

Nearly three quarters of the respondents listed Ocean Pines as their primary residence, with 36 percent owning their homes between 11-20 years and 28 percent owning over 20 years.

In terms of rationales to live in Ocean Pines, perceived community safety ranked very high for 70 percent of respondents and high for 24 percent.

Reputation ranked very high for 56 percent of survey participants and high for 32 percent, while community attractiveness was rated as very high by 58 percent and high by 32 percent.

Most of the respondents — 69 percent — saw a need for improved enforcement of covenants and regulations, while 65 percent listed drainage as a top priority issue.

Rines said the intent now is to step back from comprehensive surveys running dozens of pages to take the neighborhood pulse in smaller samplings.

“At our last meeting, we decided to talk to [the] marketing/public relations [department] to develop the surveys,” she said. “Later in the year, people should be seeing shorter targeted inquiries for information to give guidance for specific points.”

While precise approaches are still being fleshed out, the goal is to include one- or two-question surveys, potentially in OPA newsletters, which could potentially reach a younger demographic.

Rines said the committee plans to continue to provide residents a forum to address concerns through town hall meetings several times per year.