OLDS — Town of Olds officials want to do a better job of engaging with residents, volunteers and businesses, chief administrative officer Brent Williams says.
Williams gave that message in an address during the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting, held March 8 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105.
Williams listed the chamber, Olds Regional Exhibition (ORE), and Uptowne Olds as examples of groups town officials need to engage with in a better way.
“You folks play a huge role in the current and future state of the town, as does ORE, as does Uptowne,” Williams told the chamber crowd.
“We have to do a better job of engaging. We’ll never be able to tell you what to do because we have no idea what you do and you do it better than we do," he added.
“But how can we either support you – or not inhibit you, I guess – is right now where we’re coming from.”
Williams said local service clubs have shown a great willingness to coordinate projects and events with the town.
“That’s been, I would say, one of the most fun things I’ve done since I’ve been here, engaging with those volunteer groups,” he said.
“(They’re) a lot of passionate people, facing volunteer shortages of course, as I’m sure you know, but that’s incredibly important to the town.”
In general, Williams said, town officials want to know how best to communicate with residents.
“No one wants to hear from the town too often, we’re not that exciting,” Williams deadpanned.
“But when information needs to go out, what’s the best method to get it there? How to communicate, how to let people be informed of the things that affect them and how to make their voices known?
“Not everyone can come to a council meeting nor want to. But there’s other avenues,” he said, citing public surveys as one option.
