It is a done deal.
On Jan. 28, Town of Barrhead councillors gave their stamp of approval on Bylaw 1-2020 a.k.a the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Bylaw.
ICF agreements are established between neighbouring municipalities on a wide variety of issues that impact both communities such as recreation, shared water and sewer to joint land planning.
These agreements were made mandatory under the province’s revised Municipal Government Act (MGA).
The deadline for coming to these agreements between rural (county) and urban (town) municipalities is April 1, 2020. Rural to rural municipalities have until April 1, 2021.
County of Barrhead councillors put their stamp of approval on the ICF agreement when they ratified their similar bylaw on Jan. 7.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Edward LeBlanc called the ratification of the bylaw a “good news item” as it marked the end of months of hard work by the ICF committee.
The committee was a joint effort between representatives from both councils. The county was represented by reeve Doug Drozd and deputy reeve Dennis Nanninga while the town was represented by mayor Dave McKenzie and Coun. Don Smith. The CAO and county manager also served on the committee as advisors.
The ICF is broken into seven categories: transportation (Johnson Industrial Airport), Family Community Support Services (FCSS), Emergency and Protective Services (the fire department), Enhanced Level of Policing Service (RCMP student resource officer), Barrhead and Area Regional Crime Coalition, Water Services (Barrhead Regional Water Commission), Solid Waste Management (landfill), Recreation (recreation facilities and programming as well as the twinning committee), vegetation management and Land-use.
The agreement also has a dispute mechanism built into it.
Coun. Rod Klumph thanked the committee participants for their efforts but questioned the section about vegetation control.
“Did we have an agreement on that before?” he asked.
As part of the ICF negotiations, the committee asked if there were any additional areas, other than the areas the municipalities already had service agreements with that they would like to collaborate on, Leblanc said.
“That was one of our asks and the county was gracious enough to agree to collaborate with vegetation management with us,” he said.
Although the ICF portion is done, the committee’s job is not quite done. While the province does not require municipalities to have an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) per se, under the MGA, municipalities have the option of creating an IDP that works in conjunction with the ICF, and both the town and county believe it is a good idea.
The deadline for IDPs between urban and rural municipalities to be in place is April 1.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
