Everyone has at least a few ideas about how the town should be run, right?

Where should we prioritize spending? How can we continue to cut costs? What’s the best route to new forms of revenue? What types of activities would we prefer to see elevated around the community?

The good news is, Fountain Hills residents have a way to actually have their voices heard on these matters and more thanks to a couple of upcoming activities.

First up is the open house scheduled by the Town of Fountain Hills and the Technical Advisory and Steering Committee set for tonight, April 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Community Center.

The main purpose of this meeting is to gather input from Fountain Hills residents concerning the direction they feel the community should head in the next decade. The local government is actively reaching out for your two cents, so we encourage everyone to reach into their idea pocket and offer it. An online survey will also be offered in the future, but there’s no better way to share your concerns/aspirations than having a face to face chat with the people who help guide the community’s decisions.

Then, next Monday, April 15, a public outreach open house will be hosted out of council chambers at Town Hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. If you’ve got questions or comments concerning the current budget, this meeting is specifically set aside to give residents an opportunity to chime in.

It’s not uncommon to hear someone bemoan a government that “just isn’t listening.” These meetings, and additional events planned for the coming months, are an example of the Fountain Hills crew holding the lines of communication wide open. If you’re not willing to speak up now, it’s kind of difficult to complain nobody is listening later.