Jim Reed, Tom Pytel, and four other members of ‘Independence Goes Green? are at the half way mark to reaching their goal of $10,000 in order to conduct an official poll for the public to vote on a new mileage for preservation of natural green spaces in Independence Township.
‘We feel that we have a real commitment from the township board to do so if we can demonstrate public support,? said Jim Reed.
Reed said they hope to have a pollster picked out by early January.
‘Our objective is to put a mileage on the November ?08 ballot,? he said.
Reed suggested that the township board participate in developing the questions with the pollster.
‘I don’t know if they will react to that or not, I hope they do,? he said. ‘I feel positive about it,? but maybe the second half will be harder, so we still need some money,? said Reed. ‘I’m optimistic that we’ll get there by the end of the year.?
Tom Pytel said the price range for pollster’s range anywhere from $7,500 – $9,500.
‘Some of them specialize in land ballot initiative and that’s what we’re looking for,? he said.
Pytel said they have had pollster recommendations by both the ‘Natural Conservancy? and ‘Trust for Public Land.?
‘Hopefully we can get a good result, and then we’ll go through with it,? he said. ‘If we don’t, then I don’t know we’ll see what happens.?
The cheapest route is to poll 300 people, said Pytel. But if they poll 400 people the margin of error is a lot less.
‘I think your margin of error at 300 is like five percent, then when you go to 400 it goes down to three percent,? he said. ‘If we can get 62 percent in favor, that’s really good.
That almost assures you that your measure will get passed because that accounts for people who say they would for it, but don’t. And people who say they won’t, but will.?
Pytel said they have received donations ranging anywhere between $75 – $2,000
If anyone would like to help, send checks to Independence Goes Green, P.O. Box 1591, Clarkston Michigan 48347.