Town and Country to Expand City Services?

The Town and Country Board of Aldermen is considering expanding city services, but at a cost to residents. In an effort to determine if residents are even willing to pay for additional city services, and if they are, what would residents like to have offered, people in Town and Country may soon be surveyed. 

Mayor Jon Dalton said additional services is something the city should consider since other nearby cities, like Chesterfield, offer more to their residents.

However, before services are offered, a survey would be sent to residents. So the first step would be a decision by aldermen on whether or not they want to proceed with surveying residents.

"I'm very interested in three things, the level of the city's services, the level of the city's amenities and the overall level of resident satisfaction with whatever experience they have in Town and Country," Dalton said.

Dalton said some services he is interested in hearing from residents about is leaf and trash pickup. He also wants to hear from residents on amenities, including city roads, parks, the establishment of a dog park and the city's overall parking situation.

Alderwoman Lynn Wright is also interested to hear what residents think about Town and Country's current state and what they'd like to see in the future.

"I just think things are changing in the community. I think people are thinking differently," Wright added.

Monday night, aldermen discussed whether the survey should be done by phone, like a previous deer management survey, or by mail.

Alderman Fred Meyland-Smith, who was involved with the previous deer-management survey, cautioned that if the city does conduct a survey, questions must be very clear and straightforward.

"If we're going to do it, we need to make sure these are truly actionable items that we can support from a city level," Alderman Tim Welby said.

No decision was made on the survey or any additonal city services. Monday was simply a discussion about whether aldermen felt either were avenues the city should explore.