OLDS — As of April 26, at least 80 businesses had responded to a town survey to find out how best to help them cope with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Jennifer Lutz, the town’s acting director of emergency management, described the response to the Town of Olds survey as “a fairly good uptake.”
The survey was expected to close at 4:30 p.m. on April 28. Lutz said a reminder was to be sent out to businesses, giving them a chance to respond before the opportunity ends.
Results will be shared in a report which will be presented during the town’s May 3 policies and priorities meeting.
Lutz also noted that several residents have dined in outdoor patios set up by local restaurants.
The town fast-tracked approvals for those patios a few weeks ago as a way to help local restaurants and bars stay open and still stay within COVID-19 restrictions.
Coun. Heather Ryan also praised town officials for fast-tracking the approvals of outdoor patios “so that our restaurants could at least have some business going without too much trouble – weather permitting.”
Coun. Wanda Blatz and Mayor Mike Muzychka went one step further though, pointing out that all local businesses – not just bars and restaurants – need help from residents in order to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think it’s very important that we as citizens try to support local as much as we possibly can during this time," Blatz said.
In the case of restaurants, she suggested people order food to be picked up at curbside if they’re not comfortable dining in outdoor patios.
Muzychka described that as an “excellent point.”
“Another way, before you pick up or log on to Amazon, please maybe pick up the telephone and phone around to local businesses and see if the item you’re looking for, shopping for, is available at a local business,” Muzychka said.
“I’m sure they’d be more than happy to find a way to get it into your hands in a very safe manner and probably a lot quicker than Amazon and those types of businesses. So please think of our local shop owners first.”
