OLDS — Town council members are left with some tough decisions to make when crafting their next budget after a budget survey contained several contradictory responses from residents.
Results of the survey, contained in a nearly 120-page report, were revealed to councillors during their Oct. 10 meeting by finance director Sheena Linderman.
Linderman noted that residents are generally happy with the fire department but would like to see more enforcement and visibility from the RCMP bylaw enforcement officers.
However, when asked if the Town of Olds should invest more into bylaw enforcement, 47 per cent said to keep it as is, with only 37 per cent calling for more enforcement.
Similarly, several respondents criticized black garbage bin service, closure of the recycling centre and the decreasing number of compost bins in the community.
In fact, 45 per cent of respondents described solid waste management as below average.
However, when asked if they would be willing to pay more to continue a recycling centre, 67 per cent said ‘no.’
When asked how satisfied they were with snow clearing in town the response was 50/50 between satisfied and dissatisfied. Some wanted more snow removal, some wanted less.
When asked if the Town of Olds should spend more money on snow removal, 57 per cent said ‘yes.’
“Pray for a chinook,” one person wrote.
Many respondents were critical of the number of potholes and crumbling sidewalks in the community and the time it takes to get them repaired.
Sixty-nine per cent of respondents rated the maintenance of parks, including athletic fields and boulevards as average and 20 per cent as above average. Eleven per cent rated that service as below average.
Comments ranged from being very happy with that service to great dissatisfaction.
Those that were unhappy with the parks didn't like the mowing schedules or the presence of weeds. As in previous years the planting and maintenance of flowers on the boulevard along Highway 27 was questioned.
In the case of the Olds Aquatic Centre, it was noted that the hours the centre was open were reduced to cut costs. Respondents were asked how that affected them.
Nineteen per cent said it has a big impact on them. However, 41 per cent said it had a minimal effect and 40 per cent said they don’t use the facility at all.
Comments were mixed between those who felt the facility had too much staff, to those who felt it had too little. Most comments received said it’s not open long enough.
“If this place can’t be run properly it needs to shut down and save the (waste) of my tax dollars,” one respondent wrote.
Respondents were asked whether they felt the town’s Economic Development department and its Invest Olds initiative provides good value for tax dollars spent.
Seventy-two per cent said the return was average, 20 per cent said below average and eight per cent said it was above average.
Several respondents said they don’t know much about what the department does.
Some said the Town of Olds doesn’t know how to run itself well and thus should not be involved in efforts to attract business.
“In general, I got a sense that there's a lack of understanding in the community as to what Economic Development is doing and how it can benefit the town as a whole," Linderman said.
Respondents were asked how valuable they felt the existence of the town’s new Community Connections Centre is.
The facility, located in the provincial building just north of the Mountain View Museum & Archives, houses the Town of Olds' three community facilitators.
It also provides space for non-profit groups from out of the community to meet and run programming and includes a long sought-after youth centre in the basement.
Fifty-three per cent of respondents said it provides reasonable value and 36 per cent described it as highly valuable. Eleven per cent said it provided no value.
Linderman said there was a mix of positive feedback and an indication that many don’t know what Family and Community Support Services does in the community.
Respondents were also asked if the Town of Olds should invest more money into O-NET, if there’s a need to stabilize it so it can grow.
The company, which provides high-speed internet, phone and TV service, is owned by the Town and is in partnership with Calgary-based FourNetworks and Nation Fiber Corp.
Responses were spit 50/50 between those who said the town should not invest any more money into O-NET and those who said it should be supported no matter what or should be supported “with limitations.”
This year’s edition of the annual survey ran from mid-August to mid-September.
Several councillors said perhaps future surveys should contain some kind of preamble to each question, explaining things like the cost of operating each department so respondents have some context before replying.
It was noted for example, that some respondents seemed to not understand that the recycling centre was not closed by the Town of Olds, but was one of several such stations closed by the Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission because recycling is simply no longer commercially viable.
However, chief administrative officer Brent Williams said questions in this year’s edition did contain a preamble and he questioned how much difference those explanations might make to respondents’ answers.
Coun. James Cummings was among those who recommended preambles.
He said he was also encouraged by the demographics of the respondents to this year’s survey. The largest segment were in the 30-45 age group, followed by those aged 46-60.
“Traditionally, we tend to see a lot of older people respond, so we’re getting more into those families,” he said, noting that more than 54 per cent of respondents had families.
“I think that’s a great response/turnout and I hope to see that continue in the future, because those are the ones that will be, for us, using our facilities for a greater period of time,” he said.
