FAST FACTS:
(Somerville, TN 03/17/2010) The issue may seem trivial to some folks but in Somerville it is a serious matter. Most people here have gotten a US Census Bureau form in the mail, only it has what they call a very big mistake. The zipcode is right but the city and county is wrong.
"When somebody puts something so blatantly wrong on the front of an envelope I've got a lot of concern," said Fayette County Mayor Rhea Taylor.
Barbara Parker is just one of the people in Somerville who got the census form with Mason on it. She and others are hoping the mistake doesn't cost the town and the county.
"We think something is going on to correct it but we just want to be sure. We don't want to miss all these people. We need them," said Vip Lewis.
The last time a census was taken Fayette County had a little more than 28-thousand people. Fayette County Mayor, Rhea Taylor, says the county has grown and not being counted correctly could put federal, state and local funds in jeopardy.
"When they want to find out what's happening in Fayette County they look at those numbers to see what Fayette County is doing. If my numbers end up in another county, Fayette County doesn't receive the benefit and we lose at there."
A representative with the US Census Bureau says the envelope will not affect how they are counted. In a statement she says:
"The address on the census form may not list the city name or zip code that the resident is used to seeing is a result of an efficiency cost-saving measure that streamlines how the forms are sorted and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service."
The representative says its all about the barcode at the envelope, "Contained in the barcodes on the form is information about the correct geographic location to which your housing unit belongs" the statement continued.
The explanation isn't sitting well with those we interviewed. They say they can't read a barcode so they won't really know if they will be counted. The US Census Bureau says folks can cross out Mason and put Somerville on the envelope.
- Mason Posted On Somerville Census Forms
- Folks Afraid They Will Not Be Counted
- US Census Bureau Says They Will Be Counted
(Somerville, TN 03/17/2010) The issue may seem trivial to some folks but in Somerville it is a serious matter. Most people here have gotten a US Census Bureau form in the mail, only it has what they call a very big mistake. The zipcode is right but the city and county is wrong.
"When somebody puts something so blatantly wrong on the front of an envelope I've got a lot of concern," said Fayette County Mayor Rhea Taylor.
Barbara Parker is just one of the people in Somerville who got the census form with Mason on it. She and others are hoping the mistake doesn't cost the town and the county.
"We think something is going on to correct it but we just want to be sure. We don't want to miss all these people. We need them," said Vip Lewis.
The last time a census was taken Fayette County had a little more than 28-thousand people. Fayette County Mayor, Rhea Taylor, says the county has grown and not being counted correctly could put federal, state and local funds in jeopardy.
"When they want to find out what's happening in Fayette County they look at those numbers to see what Fayette County is doing. If my numbers end up in another county, Fayette County doesn't receive the benefit and we lose at there."
A representative with the US Census Bureau says the envelope will not affect how they are counted. In a statement she says:
"The address on the census form may not list the city name or zip code that the resident is used to seeing is a result of an efficiency cost-saving measure that streamlines how the forms are sorted and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service."
The representative says its all about the barcode at the envelope, "Contained in the barcodes on the form is information about the correct geographic location to which your housing unit belongs" the statement continued.
The explanation isn't sitting well with those we interviewed. They say they can't read a barcode so they won't really know if they will be counted. The US Census Bureau says folks can cross out Mason and put Somerville on the envelope.
