Ipsos Reid was on hand at council to present their findings from the 2014 ‘community survey’ conducted in September.
Vice-president Jamie Duncan presented the ‘overwhelmingly positive results’ to council through a detailed presentation.
The survey was based on interviews with a wide demographic of 400 Cochrane residents; the average interview was 16.4 minutes in length.
Previous surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2008. Highlights included that concerns over traffic, roads, the intersection at Hwy 1A and Hwy 22 and recreational facilities have risen to the top of the priority list for the average resident.
Following the presentation, Coun. Jeff Toews emphasized that this was likely impacted by the timing of the survey — noting that these issues were saturated in local media at the time the surveys were conducted; however, he did acknowledge the importance of these issues for the town.
Affordable housing was also a growing concern.
Cochrane residents continue to be ‘satisfied’ and ‘very satisfied’ with the overall quality of life in Cochrane (99 per cent).
According to the survey results, people are largely pleased with the growth of local businesses, amenities, industries, new stores, shopping opportunities and the growth in arts and cultural facilities.
The results indicated that people are largely pleased with how their tax dollars are being spent and the majority of people support an increase in property taxes to expand services (66 per cent; up from 58 per cent based on the 2009 survey).
Overall satisfaction with town staff and customer service ranked high at 82 per cent, as did sentiment over the town’s approach to environmental protection and local community services including Cochrane Family Community and Support Services, the Eco-Centre and the RCMP.
While more people are becoming informed by the Town of Cochrane’s ‘new and improved’ website, the majority of residents still rely on their local community newspapers as their go-to sources of local issues, events and information.
This Nov. 17 will mark the first ‘Project Red Ribbon Day’, as designated by town council Nov. 10, following a presentation by Denise Dubyk, past president of Mothers Against Dunk Driving (MADD).
Dubyk delivered a presentation, summarizing the MADD campaign and accomplishments and highlighting the never-ending need for community advocacy and support to decrease the number of injuries and deaths that result from impaired driving each year.
Dubyk explained that MADD is asking communities across the country to mark a day, or week or month to dedicate some time that would honour the fight against impaired driving and lives lost.
Members of MADD will host a celebration of ‘Project Red Ribbon’ this Nov. 17 at the local firehall at 10 a.m. — as it has been 27 years since their signature ribbon campaign was born.
“Every day in Canada four people are killed on average from impaired driving and 170 are injured…it has to stop,” said Dubyk, who lost her son-in-law to the actions of a drunk driver in 2000.
Dubyk commended Cochranites Al and Donna Lyon for their commitment to MADD and volunteer work.
Council unanimously supported the impromptu motion to mark Nov. 17 an annual designation day to support the MADD campaign.
Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 14/2014 to permanently close the portion of the Fourth Avenue road allowance from the CP Rail crossing to the Railway Street intersection.
Members of council unanimously approved the first reading of the bylaw back in June; according CP Rail, only three railway crossings are permitted within a town.
