SUNDRE – Although the municipality does not have in mind any particularly pressing concerns pertaining to the intermunicipal collaborative framework (ICF) with Mountain View County, council decided as a course of following best practice to request a review of the master agreement.
The document identifies areas of mutual interest and provides a guideline on collaborating for matters involving for example land use planning and growth management that affect both parties.
Partner municipalities had until Jan. 15 to issue a notice to the county requesting an opportunity to renegotiate the their respective ICF master agreements.
Among those to do so were the Town of Didsbury.
Sundre’s council carried a motion to that effect on Jan. 9 during its first regular meeting of the new year.
“There is nothing pressing; there is nothing that we are unhappy with how it’s working,” mayor Richard Warnock told the Albertan.
The ICF master agreement between Sundre and the county was established about four years ago, he said, adding the document includes sub-agreements for shared services.
As part of the review process, he said those agreements will be given another look to determine whether they’re still working as intended or whether perhaps any revisions might be needed.
Additionally, as there are also newer councillors who are only a little more than one year into their first terms, the review will also offer a beneficial opportunity to provide them with a refresher and greater understanding of the document, he said.
“Following a continuous improvement model, it’s always good to review agreements,” Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, told the Albertan in a separate interview.
“It’s something brand new that the province brought in, that municipalities have to enter into these intermunicipal collaboration framework agreements,” she said.
“That was mandated by the province.”
Nelson added the two municipalities already work very well together.
“We have such a terrific relationship with Mountain View County,” she said.
So revisiting agreements like the ICF within the outlined permissible timeline to discuss what is working well and to determine if any aspects require additional clarification to further improve that working relationship, is a good idea, she said.
The municipality has since received a response by way a Jan. 16 letter from reeve Angela Aalbers, who on behalf of county council extended an invitation for an all-council meeting with Sundre.
During the regular Jan. 23 meeting, Sundre council carried a motion directing administration to coordinate with county counterparts on setting a date.
