City official, business owner share takeaways from QR code feedback system

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- It's been a little over a week since the City of St. Joseph launched its new means of residents providing informational feedback.

The signs with QR codes attached are stationed at multiple city-run facilities where the community normally interacts with employees. When scanned, the code will open up a link to a brief survey with questions.

The early indications have been positive from the data the city has gathered, with there being appreciation for having an accessible feedback service.

"Going into the City, especially to get licenses and permits, we're down there quite a bit," Seventh Street Cafe Owner Brennon Calvin said. "There's always things that can be improved. For me personally, I love the idea of the giving praise to the people I worked with, they crush it. Now I can suggest the little things that I think could be tweaked because they don't see it from our side a lot."

St. Joseph City Manager Mike Schumacher explained some of the data trends the City will be looking at, including wait times for services and the interactions people have with City staff.

"Let's say, for example, the lines for gas or utility billing are too long. We don't want to hire more staff or make changes based upon one or two comments," Schumacher said. "After a year, if we have a couple hundred of them, then I think it warrants a conversation." 

As the survey becomes utilized on a more frequent basis, the City may consider making changes to the questions based on the responses.