There’s a new online tool that some residents of Ritchot may not yet be familiar with. It’s a portal on the RM website called Service Request and its aim is to provide a convenient way to report concerns spotted around the municipality.
Dominique Lemoine, Ritchot’s assistant CAO, says that out of the 200 requests for service received from residents this year so far, almost 50 percent came via the online portal.
It’s pretty good uptick, she says, but its use could still be improved upon.
“I believe council would like to see this used whenever possible,” says Lemoine. “We have a list of available service types on our website that can be submitted directly from the resident. The [Service Request] allows staff to keep track of all concerns under one portal as well as provide reports to council when needed.”
The tool was developed by All-Net, the company behind the RM’s web design and Ritchot Connect, the municipal communication app available to all residents. Using the Service Request portal, residents can report or inquire on anything from building inspections and bylaw enforcement to recreation and utilities.
Submitted requests are received at the RM office and forwarded to the appropriate staffer or department. So, for instance, if a service request pertains to road conditions, it will be forwarded to the Public Works department. If it’s in regard to animal control, the bylaw officer is notified.
However, the portal should not be used to report suspicious criminal activity. These concerns need to be called in to the St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP detachment directly.
Lemoine says that RM staff do their best to reach out to residents who submit service requests in as timely a manner as possible. Lines of communication stay open until the request or concern has been satisfactorily resolved and the file is closed. If follow-up is required, the bylaw officer will indicate a date by which it should be carried out.
“[This] is a valuable tool to both the residents and the RM staff due to its accessibility,” Lemoine says. “It allows residents to submit requests or concerns at any time of the day. Staff can access the portal anywhere by simply logging in to their account via the web. All past requests are archived which can be easily accessed if needed.”
