In just 10 minutes, Dawson County residents can give opinions that will last 20 years.

All they have to do is complete an online survey.

Planning and Development Director David McKee has posted the survey to get opinions for updating the Dawson County Comprehensive Plan. Getting local opinions is part of the updating process.

The Dawson County Comprehensive Plan is a 20 year plan, updated every five years, evaluates land use, zoning and community development throughout the county. It is required by the state and Department of Community Affairs in order for the county to receive state funds. Some of the money tied to the plan goes to the adult learning center and the Appalachian Regional Commission, McKee said.

McKee said he doesn't expect to add any new zones to the plan, only to make small shifts in the current zones. He hopes to have the board of commissioners adopt the plan by Dec. 31, 2013.

The survey has 50 questions and room at the end to write in comments. It is completely anonymous, McKee said.

McKee said results of the survey are expected to be compiled by the end of June. The next step will be to hold community meetings in the county and finalize the update.

Gary Pichon, a representative stakeholder for the comprehensive plan and a county commissioner, encouraged the community to participate in the survey.

"It's a chance for the community to weigh-in and let their voice be heard," Pichon said. "We'll have some idea what the general population wants, more than just guessing what they want."

To take the survey residents may go to the county's homepage, www.dawsoncounty.org, or to the Dawson County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DawsonCountyGovernment.

Residents who don't have Internet access may call McKee's office at 706-344-3500, and his staff will make arrangements to have a hard copy of the survey available to pick up or deliver.

The link to the survey is also posted here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R8QGHD7