Pictured above are (from left): David Chadwick, Center mayor; Luciana Barr,
and Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge.
March 12, 2020 - It's time once again for Shelby County to participate in the Census. Luciana Barr is the Shelby County Census Outreach Coordinator through Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG). According to DETCOG, Barr and others holding similar positions are not officially U.S. Census Bureau representatives; however, they are working under contract with DETCOG to help ensure all residents of the region are counted in the 2020 Census.
"This is the first time in history that it's ever been online, but it worked well," said Barr. "We live in an area a lot of people don't have internet, but they can call."
Contractors, such as Barr, will work with local city, county, and school officials, and other community leaders in a coordinated “Get Out the Count” effort.
"The Census opened today, I've done it online. If you live in town, you will get a mail-out, If you live in a rural area, you will not get a mail-out. You'll either do it by telephone or you'll do it by [internet]," said Barr.
She stated the Census will not send to post office boxes, nor county roads, the recipient has to have a street address if participating by mail.
Allison Harbison, Shelby County Judge, remarked that was why the county switched to a "County Road" desingation in the past to give residents a "street address."
Based on that, Barr indicated it won't be 100% clear who will receive a mail-out until they're sent.
April 1, 2020 is actually Census day; however, the ability to participate online became available March 12. Barr said she filled out the form online and it took seven minutes, which included reading over some questions more than once.
The questionnaire asked where she lives and had several questions pertaining to city residents, but there was a check box to indicate if a resident lives outside city limits as well.
One thing Barr suggested participants should pay attention to is when they enter their address, it will require they identify the road number before the box number, which may seem out of sequence. Up until the form is submitted, those filling it out will have opportunity to correct mistakes.
Larger families are likely to take longer time periods to complete with each occupant in the home needing to be listed.
"The 2010 Census was not a very good indicator, and so they have added some things, that being coordinators which is what I am," said Barr.
Judge Harbison agreed the numbers for the Shelby County area were not correct, especially in Center.
"The city [of Center] had to take the U.S. Government to court to get some more numbers put on theirs, because we were below 5,000 in the city," said Judge Harbison. "The city fought and finally got theirs up to 5,000-something and we know it's more than that."
Barr said they would like to send fliers home with students for parents to receive with students progress reports. She said it doesn't cost the school district anything to include the fliers, and she said 5,000 fliers were printed for Lufkin ISD.
There is a great need of the information to be disbursed to assist residents in avoiding potential penalties.
"By law you have to take the Census, because you could be fined up to $250,000 and 5 years in prison if you don't do the Census," said Barr.
There are a lot of people not in favor of the Census and Barr said a lot of those people believe it's getting their social security number and other information of which the government already is in possession.
"The Census by law is protected not to give out any information, but their not getting bank accounts, they're not getting social security numbers. All they're getting is where you live and how many people live with you," said Barr. "It's strictly for statistics, it's not to do anything to you. Even if you are not a legitimate citizen of the United States, they want that information, because if we have a catastrophe we need to know how much bottled water we need in Center, Texas."
Barr reitereated she is not a Census worker; however, she has computers available for anyone needing help if they run into a problem she can help be a guide.
Barr listed several reasons the count is necessary to be accurate including funding for roads, school districts, special education, political lines and how they're drawn, as well as the number of delegates representing the state. She explained a lot of counties don't receive money they're eligible for as a result of the count not being complete and having a true number.
David Chadwick, Center mayor, spoke on the importance of the Census to the community.
"All of the grants we get, which is what we live on, it depends on an accurate count. We have not, in the past, had what we think was truly an accurate count of the number of people," said Mayor Chadwick.
Additional information about the Census can be found by visiting the 2020 Census website at https://2020census.gov/
