A household survey launching May 2 will help the Town of Okotoks gauge the priorities of its residents.

Joan Botkin, communications manager, says they're hoping for a good response from the community, as results will be used in future decision-making and strategizing for the town.

She says the survey contains about twenty questions on everything from recreation to roads and transportation to municipal enforcement. It also invites residents to give their opinions on three things that make Okotoks a great place to live, as well as to provide three suggestions on what they think could make Okotoks an even better place to live.

"We're trying to gauge public satisfaction with the services that are provided, with ideas for what's important to the community going forward," Botkin explains. "It helps council to make decisions and to prioritize."

She points out that communities in Canada, and specifically in Alberta, have been mandated to develop public participation strategies.

Green door hangers, containing an authorization code and the website address for the survey, will be distributed to homes in Okotoks starting this week. The survey is anonymous and Botkin says the authorization code has been implemented to avoid having more than one survey submitted from each household.

She says anyone not comfortable with completing the survey online can call the Municipal Centre at (403) 938-4404 and request to have one mailed to them. Printed copies will also be available at the Municipal Centre and the Public Library and completed surveys can be deposited in boxes that will be placed at those locations.

"We're challenging citizens to come forward and participate in that conversation with your municipality," Botkin says. "We impact their daily lives and it's very important to hear their opinion and to find out what is important to them so that we can make the right decisions for the whole community."

The household survey will be open from May 2 to June 10.

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