MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – County council has approved a new intermunicipal collaboration agreement with Clearwater County.
The move came by way of motions at a recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“It’s a good move forward,” said reeve Bruce Beattie.
Mandated by the provincial Municipal Government Act (MGA) the agreement is designed to “provide for the integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal services, steward scarce resources efficiently in providing local services, and ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents,” the agreement states.
Services that both parties can address within the framework include transportation, water and wastewater, solid waste, emergency services, recreation, and any other services that might benefit residents in both municipalities.
The framework plan was put together by a committee (ICC) consisting of councillors and administrative staff.
Regarding future projects and agreements, the document states:
• In the event either municipality initiates the development of a new project and/or service that would benefit from a cost-sharing agreement, the initiating municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO) will notify the other municipality’s CAO, providing the rationale as to why that project/service has a benefit to both municipality.
• Once either municipality has received written notice of new project/service, an ICC meeting must be held within 30 days of the date the written notice was received, unless both CAOs agree otherwise.
• The ICC will be the forum used to address and develop future mutual aid agreements and/or cost sharing agreements. In the event the ICC is unable to reach an agreement, the dispute shall be dealt with through the dispute resolution process outlined in the plan.
That dispute resolution process includes the appointment of a mediator to resolve disputes if needed, and that if a dispute is not resolved within a year, the ICC can proceed with arbitration under the Municipal Government Act.
Council passed three readings of the bylaw setting out the framework agreement, and directed administration to inform the minister of Municipal Affairs that the agreement has been approved.
All councillors were in attendance at the Jan. 29 council meeting.
