Mountain View County council has adopted an updated vision statement and strategic goals, both of which Reeve Bruce Beattie says will help guide future council decisions and directions.
“When you are framing and deciding on a particular initiative, we want to make sure they hold to the goals and statement,” said Beattie.
The vision statement for the new council states that Mountain View County is a “community that fosters agriculture, balanced growth, rural lifestyle, and a healthy environment.”
The strategic goals focus on six principal areas (quoted):
• Agriculture – provide an environment in which traditional and new forms of agriculture along with innovative, value-added agricultural industry can thrive.
• Infrastructure – provide an effective road network that meets the need of Mountain View County's people and business; provide infrastructure that services the public's service needs responsibly and effectively; and maintain the county's infrastructure efficiently, effectively and in an environmentally responsible way.
• Environment – Exert maximum influence to protect and preserve the region's unique and precious natural environment.
• Community/Quality of Life – Maintain safe communities; support local communities in providing cultural and recreational opportunities that contribute to people's quality of life; foster an environment for people of all ages to remain in their communities; encourage a vibrant, rural culture in Mountain View County.
• Economy/Financial Health – Diversify to increase Mountain View County's taxable asset base and mitigate revenue risk; ensure adequate revenue to meet council-approved service levels; programs and services are delivered efficiently, economically, equitably and remain relevant.
• Governance – Mountain View County will have a culture of open, responsive and effective governance; promote respectful, positive and productive relationships with other municipalities and orders of government; and communicate openly and effectively with the public.
“We like to make sure we review our strategic plan and statements to make sure they are correct,” said Beattie. “We wanted to make sure our new council and councillors are comfortable with them.”
Council decided to defer adoption of the new mission statement pending further discussion.
The proposed mission statement reads: “Encourage focused sustainable development in growth centers to preserve agricultural land while promoting diversification through collaboration and the building of strong partnerships, enabling a healthy environment, and a rural lifestyle, to provide a flexible, healthy, and safe county for all.”
