In recent weeks, the County of Stettler Council signed three separate Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICF) with Red Deer County, Lacombe County, and Camrose County.
Following discussions, the municipalities worked out details for the ICF document, which specifies what and how services are funded and delivered, ensuring they are working together efficiently and economically for their ratepayers.
“The signing of these Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks demonstrates the positive, collaborative relationships that we have with our municipal neighbours in Stettler County, Camrose County and Red Deer County,” said Lacombe County Reeve Paula Law.
“While we might not share direct services – like road maintenance – ratepayers access public amenities, like recreational spaces or parks, on both sides of the border. This framework ensures continued collaboration and communication between our municipalities.”
• Each County will continue to provide all services to its respective residents independently of the other County.
• If either County initiates a new project and/or service that may require a cost-sharing agreement, appropriate notification to the other County is required. The criteria for assessing the desirability for funding the project and/or service and a process for determining participation in it is also identified.
• An Intermunicipal Committee comprised of two elected officials and two staff members from each municipality will be the forum for reviewing the ICF on a go-forward basis.
“This agreement formalizes the strong relationship between our two Counties. I would like to thank Administration on both sides for their hard work. Red Deer County shares values as well as borders with our neighbours, and we will continue to build relationships that lead to healthy and prosperous conditions for everyone living in this region,” said Mayor Jim Wood, Red Deer County.
“We appreciate the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate existing opportunities and investigate new collaborative opportunities through the creation of the IFCs. We look forward to maintaining these municipal partnerships,” said Stettler County Reeve Larry Clarke.
“Lacombe County and Camrose County, through our council members and our administration, have fostered good working relationships with our rural neighbours for the benefit of our ratepayers. The signing of the ICF reinforces our continued success,” said Cindy Trautman, reeve of Camrose County.
Municipalities that share a common boundary must create an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF), which is a new legislated requirement that was introduced in the Modernized Municipal Government Act in 2016. Municipalities have until March 31st, 2020 to finalize all required ICFs for their municipality.
Frameworks are intended to:
- provide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal
services.
- allocate scarce resources efficiently in delivering local services.
- ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents.
Each framework must also identify which service they provide, which service is shared between municipalities, and which are provided by third parties. The ICF also details how the services listed below are funded/delivered:
- transportation
- water and wastewater
- solid waste
- emergency services
- recreation, and
- any other services that benefit residents in more than one of the municipalities that are parties to the framework.