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Province says no to amalgamation

Alberta’s Municipal Affairs minister, Danielle Larivee, is giving the respective councils of the town and county of Barrhead six months to come up with a new recreation agreement. And if they don’t, Larivee said her ministry is prepared to intervene.

Alberta’s Municipal Affairs minister, Danielle Larivee, is giving the respective councils of the town and county of Barrhead six months to come up with a new recreation agreement.

And if they don’t, Larivee said her ministry is prepared to intervene.

That is what Barrhead town council found out during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 26. Earlier in the day, council received a letter, which is addressed to both Gerry St. Pierre, Barrhead’s mayor and Bill Lee, County of Barrhead reeve, from Larivee stating after reviewing the amalgamation study report, she is not prepared to recommend amalgamation - at least not at this time.

“It was apparent from the community feedback that the ratepayers from both municipalities want the town and county to work together for the betterment of the region. While I recognize amalgamation may not be the solution, I too strongly encourage you to pursue such opportunities,” she wrote in the letter dated April 20, telling the two councils that they need to come to a renewed recreation agreement.

Larivee goes on to say that if the two parties do not come to an agreement in six months, she may be forced to use section 570(c) of the Municipal Government Act to ‘make a decision to settle an intermunicipal dispute.’

Coun. Ryan Warehime said he was encouraged by Larivee’s response.

“We have been working on this process, settling some long standing disagreements and getting a recreation agreement with the County of Barrhead,” he said. “I am really happy that the province has shown some interest in helping us do that.”

Mayor Gerry St. Pierre agreed, adding he hopes to start the process as soon as possible, possibly as soon as the next council meeting.

In Larivee’s letter she said Municipal Affairs staff will work with the town and county to adjust existing grant agreements under the Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) program to redirect funds toward the effort, adding she has directed Michael Scheidl, manager of municipal dispute resolution services, to contact both councils to start the process.

In the meanwhile, Larivee instructed both councils to submit a work plan outlining efforts to come to an agreement.

“It is very, very encouraging and while we are in negotiations for recreation, which is a big topic, we will also request that the fire services agreement be included as well,” St Pierre said. “Those are the two biggest areas of misunderstanding between our two councils.”

Coun. Roy Ulmer thanked the mayor and Martin Taylor, Barrhead’s chief administrative officer, for their efforts in getting both councils to this point.

“The best way to deal with each other is right across the table and thanks to both of your efforts it looks like we will be able to do that,” he said.

St. Pierre said an example of the two councils’ ongoing disagreement regarding how to share recreation funding is the Agrena.

He said for a number of months the town has asked the county how much they would be contributing towards the operational costs of the facility and they still haven’t received a firm number.

Under the terms of the Barrhead Aquatic Centre project capital cost agreement, signed in January 2014, the County of Barrhead will contribute what they deem is fair for its portion of shared recreation facilities and programs.

Because they haven’t received a reply, the town, in order to complete its budget, is using the amount the county contributed last year.

“Which was approximately 14 per cent of the net operating costs of the Agrena,” St. Pierre said. “Meaning the town has to absorb 86 per cent, regardless of the fact that more than 50 per cent of the users of that facility reside in the county.”

Ulmer said that is unfortunate, adding he remembers a time when the county shared the cost of recreational services equally.

“I was on county council, over 20 years ago, when they decided to come up with a figure and then increase it by $5,000 annually,” he said.

Coun. Ty Assaf said what excited him most about Larivee’s letter is the prospect of the province becoming involved.

“If we can’t come to an agreement, which we haven’t done in 20 years, Municipal Affairs has full authority to jump in and make the decision for us,” he said.

The Town of Barrhead started the amalgamation process on Sept. 9, 2014, when council unanimously voted to approve Coun. Don Smith’s motion to contact Alberta Municipal Affairs to start amalgamation negotiations with the County of Barrhead.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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