KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – A recent survey of Keene residents shows generally positive opinions of the city’s Public Works Department, while also highlighting concerns about roads and sidewalks.

The survey was conducted through FlashVote on behalf of the City of Keene and received 288 responses. Residents were asked about their satisfaction with the department, priorities for future improvements and how they would prefer to receive information about construction projects and service advisories.

Keene Public Works is responsible for a wide range of city services, including roads and sidewalks, water and sewer services, solid waste and recycling drop-off, snow removal and stormwater systems.

Overall, residents gave the department an average satisfaction rating of 3.99 out of five when asked about the quality and reliability of its services.

Road maintenance was the most commonly identified source of dissatisfaction. A total of 138 respondents said they were dissatisfied with road maintenance, including paving, potholes and street sweeping. Sidewalk maintenance was the second-most common concern, selected by 88 people, followed by snow removal with 54.

When residents were asked what they would prioritize for the department, upgrading neighborhood road surfaces came in first, with 155 selections. Expanding and repairing sidewalks and crosswalks followed closely with 146.

Improving stormwater drainage and flood prevention was selected by 61 respondents, while 59 chose better snow removal. Thirty-one respondents said making solid waste and recycling drop-off easier should be a priority, and seven selected improving Public Works customer service.

The written comments showed that many residents are happy with the work being done by Public Works and its employees.

Several respondents praised the department’s staff, describing them as helpful, friendly and hardworking. One resident said Public Works responded to a report about a burned-out traffic light in less than 30 minutes. Others praised the condition of public spaces, downtown maintenance, leaf collection, snow removal and the city’s response to reports submitted through SeeClickFix.

Communication surrounding the downtown infrastructure project also received positive feedback from several respondents. Some residents specifically praised the city for keeping the public informed about construction and its impacts.

However, road conditions were a recurring issue in the written responses. Residents pointed to several roads they believe are in need of repaving or more significant repairs, including Court Street, West Street and roads in East Keene and residential neighborhoods.

Sidewalk conditions were another common concern, particularly uneven or deteriorated sidewalks that can create problems for pedestrians, people using wheelchairs or walkers, and parents with strollers. Some respondents called for greater attention to accessibility and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city.

Snow removal generated mixed feedback. Some residents said the city does a good job clearing roads, particularly after major storms, while others complained about residential streets and sidewalks taking longer to clear. Some respondents also raised concerns about snow being pushed into driveways, yards and around mailboxes.

A number of residents used the survey to suggest changes to the city’s recycling and waste services. Suggestions included expanding the types of materials accepted for recycling, making electronic recycling less expensive, allowing credit or debit card payments at the recycling center and providing more frequent curbside trash and recycling collection.

Transportation and pedestrian safety also came up in several comments. Some residents called for additional sidewalks, bike lanes, safer crosswalks, traffic-calming measures and improvements designed to make roads safer for people walking and biking.

Some written comments also raised broader questions about city spending, taxes, construction priorities and how Public Works resources are allocated. Others suggested better coordination between infrastructure projects to reduce the number of simultaneous road closures and detours.

Despite those criticisms, many respondents expressed overall satisfaction with the department. Comments included praise for Public Works employees, appreciation for the services provided and recognition of the challenges involved in maintaining roads and infrastructure in New Hampshire.

One respondent summed up their view by saying they were “really pleased with how Keene works,” while another described Public Works employees as “unsung heroes.”