Wal-Mart sends out survey to get community feedback

If you have an opinion on Wal-Mart's proposed supercenter, now's the time to speak up.

Wal-Mart officials mailed out a survey card last week to thousands of Lake County residents and potential customers in nearby counties in an effort to get what they consider a more accurate view of just how folks feel about the proposed supercenter.

Wal-Mart manager Dave Tolley said he didn't have an exact number of how many of the postage-paid cards were mailed last week, but that they were intended to reach not only residents that currently use the Polson Wal-Mart, but also those that might be going to Missoula or Kalispell to do their shopping — potential customers Wal-Mart is relying on for its plans for the supercenter.

"The survey went out to the entire Mission Valley — Polson, Ronan, Charlo, Hot Springs, and other places — basically any market we currently serve," said Tolley.

Tolley said the survey was also sent to Sanders County residents and others outside of Lake County to get their feedback, positive or negative, on the proposed supercenter. He said Wal-Mart wants to hear from not only current customers, but those that might shop at the supercenter if it were built instead of going to Missoula or Kalispell.

Wal-Mart officials made their intentions to try to build a supercenter public at a city/county planning board pre-application meeting in October, and since then, the Lake County Leader has been flooded with dozens of letters to the editor, mostly against the proposed supercenter but some in favor of it. Tolley said the survey was an effort to get an accurate picture of just how folks feel instead of just relying on feedback from what he characterized as an orchestrated anti-Wal-Mart campaign taking place around the Polson area.

"This filters out the detractors, the people who are loud but don't necessarily represent everyone's opinion. Even if we send out 20,000 surveys and only get 5,000 back, we will have a much better idea of how people feel," Tolley said.

Wal-Mart officials will need to have the proposed site annexed into the Polson city limits, among many variables that they must juggle before the supercenter becomes a reality. They have yet to file a formal application with the city, but have begun to address certain parts of the application process.

Tolley said he wants to hear from people all over the valley. He said groups like the recently formed Lake County First, which was started in an effort to combat the opening of the supercenter, don't necessarily represent everyone, and that the survey will ensure everyone has a chance to voice specific concerns or support.

"It allows people to give us feedback on it, pro or con. If it's negative, then we want to know why you are negative. What is it that we can do to change your perspective, or what do you want done, or is there something we have overlooked?" Tolley said.

Tolley said he's concerned about misinformation being spread about the project. The survey cards, which ask for your name, phone number and an e-mail address, will allow Wal-Mart officials to try to contact people to address their concerns, Tolley said. He cited concerns about the proposed store's blocking of the views of Flathead Lake as one source of misunderstanding, and that the store's architecture plans call for lake views to remain at various points around the building.

Tolley acknowledged that he's expecting some of the cards to have some sharp words of criticism, but that store officials would like to address as much criticism as possible.

Tolley expressed frustration at those people who write letters to the editor about Wal-Mart that have nothing to do with the situation in Polson. He said the goal is to address concerns and answer questions at the local level.

"Somebody wrote a letter last week that mentioned a Wal-Mart heir who bought a painting for $35 million and donated it. What does that have to do with the supercenter in Polson? This [survey] allows us to address real concerns of the people of Polson," Tolley said. "We want to get feedback from everyday people who don't necessarily have a set agenda."

Tolley said folks who didn't receive a survey in the mail can get one at the Polson Wal-Mart. The company will begin compiling the results and organizing comments later on this month, Tolley said.