By rdnewsNOW staff

Working Together

Lacombe County signs Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks with neighbouring counties

Mar 9, 2020 | 12:30 PM

Lacombe County has teamed up with a few of its municipal neighbours to ensure they are working together efficiently and economically for their ratepayers.

In recent weeks, Lacombe County officials say council signed three separate Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICF) with Red Deer County, County of Stettler, and Camrose County.

Following discussions, the municipalities worked out details for the ICF document, which specifies what and how services are funded and delivered.

“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,” says Lacombe County Reeve Paula Law, in a news release. “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.”

Officials say the individual agreements that Lacombe County has with each of Red Deer County, County of Stettler, and Camrose County entails that each county will continue to provide all services to its respective residents independently of the other county, and 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.

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

1h ago

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

1h ago

Prevention, Access, Recovery, and Coordination

Safe Harbour officially hands over shelter keys, establishes accessible navigation hub

20h ago

The criteria for assessing the desirability for funding the project and/or service and a process for determining participation in it, is also to be identified.

In addition, 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,” adds Jim Wood, Mayor of Red Deer County. “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.”

Larry Clarke, Reeve for the County of Stettler, points out they look forward to maintaining their municipal partnerships.

“We appreciate the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate existing opportunities and investigate new collaborative opportunities through the creation of the IFCs.”

“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,” says Cindy Trautman, Reeve for Camrose County. “The signing of the ICF reinforces our continued success.”

Officials note municipalities that share a common boundary must create an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF), which is a newly legislated requirement introduced in the Modernized Municipal Government Act in 2016.

Municipalities have until Mar. 31 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, and ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents.

Each framework must identify which service they provide, which service is shared between municipalities, and which are provided by third parties.

The ICF also details how many services are funded and delivered, including 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.