Twenty years of being actively involved in the community has prompted an Okotoks resident to run for a seat on Town council.
Trellis Palmer said she’s known as a community connector and business influencer, and has used her marketing and networking skills to help friends and business owners in Okotoks for the past two decades.
It’s given her an appreciation of the town, and a vision for its future.
“I’m very proud of what our community looks like,” said Palmer. “I’m proud of the work that’s been put in by previous councils – the events, the innovative, forward-thinking of projects – and I want to get on board and help evolve that even further.”
One of those projects is the regional water pipeline solution. She said partnering and collaborating with Foothills County was the right move and the waterline is showing promise with land secured funding options being explored.
“I’m excited the construction of the project is slated to go as early as 2022,” said Palmer. “I know lots of people are concerned about the water.”
She said it’s important for the Town to continue investing in things like the Arts and Learning Campus.
“It’s taking initiative to get projects going that are going to keep our youth local, attract more money and funding, attract more businesses,” said Palmer.
Ideally, she said more innovative technology and environmentally sound solutions to infrastructure would be included in future development, such as installing more solar energy systems and looking for water conservation methods and energy efficiencies wherever possible.
Transportation and affordable housing play a large role in the move forward for Okotoks, she said.
While she said the action and direction of affordable housing initiatives is a good step forward, Palmer said more can be done on the transportation side to also help make the town more accessible and affordable.
“I want us to run further with mobility-sensitive transportation as well as more increased transit services and more regular daily schedules,” she said.
Over the last few years, and particularly through the pandemic, the economic crunch has hit people hard and she said these services are easy on the pocketbook but also benefit all residents.
Affordable housing and more transit service allow for more people to live and work in town, which can help drive business. Providing a service such as a handi-bus would allow more physically challenged or senior people to visit local shops and events, which could also boost the economy as well as their quality of life, she said.
There should be more focus on attracting more business to Okotoks in the next council term as well, she said.
“I’d like to see more streamlined processes for businesses, tax breaks for residents as well as businesses, more consideration of mixed-use bylaws,” said Palmer.
Taxes are a hot-button issue in Okotoks, and she said council would benefit from communicating better with citizens as to how the dollars are spent.
“I think the community needs to see and understand where those dollars are going,” said Palmer. “We do, as a community, as residents, citizens, need to collaborate together to reduce those costs.”
Most people are proud of Okotoks and appreciate the amenities it provides as far as recreation, education, arts, and family opportunities and events, she said.
They should be shown clearly where their taxes go and how they are allocated, especially since the average homeowner pays close to $3,500 per year, she said.
Palmer said she would be willing to discuss service wants and needs with any residents.
“I’m prepared to listen and take action on behalf of our municipality and voice those concerns and take those directives,” she said. “I’ve got my finger on the pulse with these items, but truly this is a community decision and the citizens decide where the money goes.”
