SUNDRE – A new agreement that outlines management and maintenance responsibilities for a street used extensively by both town and Mountain View County residents and businesses, is said to be a first.
Over the past several months, administrations of both municipalities have worked to develop the agreement for 10th Street SW under the direction of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Committee, which late in January recommended the document be presented to each respective council for a decision.
“We have not had an agreement of this type for 10th Street in the past,” Linda Nelson, the Town of Sundre's chief administrative officer, told council during the Feb. 26 meeting.
“We believe that it meets the interests of both Mountain View County and the Town of Sundre,” said Nelson.
Coun. Jaime Marr, who moved for council to approve the agreement as presented, said it would be good to have an official understanding among the municipal partners for a street shared by both town and county users.
“I think that it also shows the collaboration that we have and the great working relationship we have,” added Marr.
Coun. Owen Petersen applauded the work done by both municipalities’ administrations in bringing forward what he called a simple yet solid agreement, and asked if the county had already approved the document.
Nelson said the agreement would be on the county council’s agenda for the Wednesday, Feb. 28 meeting.
Speaking in favour of the motion, mayor Richard Warnock said the agreement would provide long-term guidance on the street, which also provides access to the airport gravel pit.
“We’re talking 30 to 40 years that this agreement will be in place,” the mayor said.
“This is not a short-term acknowledgement. So hopefully our roads crews and their roads crew can make this agreement work well.”
Council unanimously carried the motion approving the agreement.
The agreement largely pertains to the paved portion of 10th Street SW, also known as Range Road 54, between Highway 27 down to Township Road 325A, over which the Town of Sundre maintains direction, control and management responsibilities.
But the town also agrees to allow the county to use the road as a designated haul route as required to provide access for the airport gravel pit, subject to terms and conditions.
The town also agrees to “remain solely responsible for, including the provision of funding, any upgrades to the road including addition of curb and gutter, extension of the asphalt surface beyond its current footprint and any repairs or improvements needed to permit the installation of utility services required for town residents or businesses,” reads part of the document.
Additionally, the town will provide the county with 12 months notice of any scheduled repairs that are expected to cost more than $50,000 to allow the county time to consider the repairs as part of their own annual budgeting process, with a further understanding that the road will remain without load restrictions or bans to facilitate operations of the airport pit unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between both municipalities.
Meanwhile, the county’s responsibilities include agreeing to fund 50 per cent of the surface maintenance costs, asphalt overlays, and other capital projects as mutually agreed on between the municipal partners for the specific portion of road between Highway 27 and Township Road 325A.
The county also agrees to be responsible for grading and dust control on the portion of road that extends beyond Township Road 325A to the south end of Range Road 54.
The agreement will be reviewed every five years by each municipality’s respective chief administrative officer, and the term of the agreement is set to begin at such a time that Alberta Transportation completes the roundabout intersection upgrades at the street’s junction with highways 27-22-584.
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