The Town of Innisfail will soon have a new modern phone system that will add another information delivery component to the municipality's communications strategy.
On Aug. 11, town council at its regular meeting approved a request from administration to commit $30,000 from the 2013 surplus account to purchase the new phone system.
“The current phone system is well over 15 years old, and is reaching the point where it is obsolete,” said Heather Whymark, the town's director of corporate services. “The new phone system will bring both here and next door (FCSS and bylaw enforcement offices) into a more modern system. We have a tough time getting through to them as they have different phone lines.”
Whymark said the new phone system will give the public direct access to town employees. As well, the new system will enable the town to offer important announcements and messages, such as for local services, as soon as citizens' calls are connected.
“At times that is what the majority of our calls are for. If there is a power outage we will put that on there and that will help them. Otherwise, it is tying up our lines, those calls that are repetitive,” said Whymark, adding the new system will boost the town's communications capability for the public. “We are good with Twitter and Facebook. This is just another avenue of information for the public. It might even be about the Tour of Alberta that we are currently promoting.”
Whymark said she hopes the new phone system will be up and running at the town offices within a month.
Town supports Morris Flewwelling
The former mayor of Red Deer has received the Town of Innisfail's endorsement to be Alberta's 18th lieutenant-governor.
Town council approved a request from a letter it received from City of Red Deer representatives to have revered former mayor Morris Flewwelling nominated as the province's next lieutenant-governor when Donald S. Ethell's appointment ends this coming January.
“Morris has a distinguished record of professional service in education, museums and heritage and municipal politics as well as a diverse record of community volunteer service and leadership,” said the letter, signed by current Red Deer city councillors Lynne Mulder and Dianne Wyntjes. “As you are aware, Morris has many personal attributes that make him an appropriate candidate.”
The letter from Red Deer officials requested the town to send its letter of endorsement for Flewwelling's nomination to the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, no later than this coming mid-September. It is expected Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be making the appointment in early 2015.
