By Ken Ward

Springfield Times Intern

LOWELL – Got people?

During Tuesday's Lowell City Council meeting, a local census worker stopped by to inform the citizens of the town's need for census takers.

Faith Bowlsby addressed the council and community members, passing out flyers and practice tests while explaining the procedures of the census.

"This is the only time when they count every living soul in the country," Bowlsby said. She specifically addressed the fact that anyone living within the U.S., legal or otherwise, would be counted. She added it affects government money given to communities based on population using public services.

Various audience members aired concerns over privacy issues.

"This census has fewer questions," Bowlsby said, noting the survey has 10 questions as compared to 23 that have been asked the last 100 years. "Everything is confidential for 72 years."

Bowlsby warned that if people did not answer all of the questions, census takers had the right to ask neighbors for the answers.

Bowlsby said workers will be chosen primarily by test scores, but other parameters including language skills would be taken into consideration. Census takers will work mostly nights and weekends when people are home, up to 40 hours a week over a span of two to 10 weeks. Pay is $12 per hour.

City administrator Chuck Spies told residents there is a chance census surveys will not be put into P.O. boxes so there will be surveys available in Lowell City Hall.

For more on this and other news from around the Springfield area, be sure to pick up a copy of the March 5 issue of Springfield Times, available at news racks and stores all around the area. Look under the 'Newspaper Locations' link on this site to find out where. To subscribe to the paper, call 741-7368 or stop by 741 Main St.