Striking Winter Landscapes
LESLIE CHOLOWSKY PHOTO
On the weekend scattered pockets of fog coated surfaces with a light coat of ice, turning the Flagstaff and area countryside into a winter wonderland, despite being no picnic for travellers.
Revamped FIP Committee members developing new working agreement Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Flagstaff Intermunicipal Partnership (FIP) committee held a re-organizational meeting on Sept. 14, with elected representatives from Forestburg, Sedgewick, Killam, Daysland, Alliance, and Hardisty, and included administration from Heisler. The meeting opened with a discussion between elected officials and CAOs on how to proceed with FIP, maintaining meaningful partnerships, and potential topics members would like to see brought to the table to be discussed. “The committee agreed that the importance of creating a platform that municipalities could work together through
Volume 113, Issue 21
was extremely beneficial; to share information, discuss challenges, and attain common goals,” the minutes read. These include projects like the Flagstaff Regional Subdivision and Development Appeal Board and the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board. The group discussed how future projects could be picked, and the advantages of strategic planning sessions where groups could be formed to come up with ideas. Some of the areas identified by the committee that would benefit from partnerships included public works, economic development, water and wastewater, recreation, protective services (Emergency management), and legislative, or bylaw development.
The committee reviewed the existing FIP protocol, calling it ‘onerous, with terms and references that do not meet the objectives of the ‘new’ FIP.” Sedgewick CAO Jim Fedyk offered to develop a new simplified working agreement outlining how the group would work together and what the objectives of FIP would be going forward, which was accepted by the group. While that agreement was being drafted, FIP tabled any formal budget discussions. During the reorganizational meeting, the Chair and ViceChair positions were reaffirmed, with existing Chair Bob Coutts, Deputy Mayor of Forestburg, reelected. Sedgewick Mayor Perry Robinson will serve as Vice-Chair.
The committee met again on Oct. 5 with the CAO of Lougheed joining the discussion, where Fedyk presented a draft of the new FIP working agreement. The committee accepted the new agreement, commending Fedyk for simplifying how the group can work together, and members will take the draft agreement back to their individual councils for approval. Discussion on potential requisitions and a budget began, with a recommendation that any monies refunded from the dissolution of the previous FIP be reallocated to the new group by member councils. The Town of Hardisty will continue to act as the managing partner for FIP going forward, and will also act as financial
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
trustee for FIP requisitions and expenses. Hardisty CAO Sandy Otto was asked to provide samples of potential requisitions, based on equalized assessments, as well as project development requisition based on a percentage of member’s operating budgets, for the next meeting. The committee will meet again in December, if possible, or whenever all member councils have had the opportunity to review and approve the new agreement. The committee agreed that copies of meeting minutes and a copy of the new agreement should be sent to Flagstaff County, who in 2019 withdrew from FIP. Some highlights from See FIP P26
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