After months of discussion and deliberation, Lacombe County has executed three Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF)agreements, one with the Town of Bentley, one with the Village of Clive and one with the Village of Alix. 

Luckily, Lacombe County and their urban and rural partners have already been using Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDP) and this helped to create the new ICFs in a fairly streamlined manner. 

Lacome County Manager Tim Timmons said the ICFs are the result of recent changes to the Municipal Government Act, handed down by the Conservative Government. 

"Really the ICF process for us and our neighbours was a fairly easy process in the sense that we already had a number of agreements in place and it was just a matter of refining those agreements," Timmons said. 

"The manner in which we were able to proceed through the ICF process is a reflection of the excellent working relationship we have with all our urban neighbours. It was a great process and it really gave us the opportunity to sit down with our neighbours and talk - which is something that we really should do more often."

Timmons said they are currently working to complete ICFs with the City of Lacombe, Town of Blackfalds, Town of Eckville and a number of summer villages within the county. 

The deadline for getting these agreements in place is March 20th, 2020. 

From Lacombe County:

The Lacombe County / Town of Bentley ICF includes the following key points:

  • An update and consolidation of the Fire Services Agreement between the town and county
  • An endorsement of the existing Facilities Operational Cost Sharing Agreement
  • A joint approach to capital planning for capital assets used by town and county residents
  • An opportunity for each municipality to have input into policy and service level development for operating cost-sharing;
  • Service inventories outlining the types of service, funding mechanisms, and the party(ies) responsible for delivering each service (transportation, recycling, fire response, bylaw enforcement, etc.).

“There has been a lot of work done to get to this point, and on behalf of the town council, our staff and citizens, we are proud to have adopted the final ICF Master agreement,” said Town of Bentley Mayor Greg Rathjen.

“This ICF with Lacombe County simply documents the cooperative and supportive attitude and approach that the Town of Bentley and Lacombe County have always brought to each shared activity, challenge and partnership.”

The Lacombe County / Village of Clive ICF includes the following key points:

  • An update and consolidation of the Fire Services
  • An endorsement of the existing Facilities Operational Cost Sharing Agreement;
  • A joint approach to capital planning for capital assets used by village and county residents;
  • An opportunity for each municipality to have input into policy and service level development for operating cost-sharing;
  • Service inventories outlining the types of service, funding mechanisms, and the party(ies) responsible for delivering each service, including Water, Solid Waste, Fire Response Services, Emergency Management, Library Services, Family and Community Support Services, and Seniors Housing.

“We were pleased to work with the County on our ICF; through this process, it was evident that both the Village and the County truly believe in the power of partnerships,” said Village of Clive mayor Luci Henry.

“The ICF allows us to plan and deliver programs and services effectively, efficiently and economically to the residents we both serve.”

The Lacombe County / Village of Alix ICF includes the following key points:

  • An update and consolidation of the Fire Services Agreement between the village and county;
  •  An endorsement of the existing Facilities Operational Cost Sharing Agreement;
  • A joint approach to capital planning for capital assets used by village and county residents;
  • An opportunity for each municipality to have input into policy and service level development for operating cost-sharing;
  • Service Inventories outlining the types of service, funding mechanisms, and the party(ies) responsible for delivering each service, including Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, Fire Response Services, Emergency Management, Recreation Services, Library Services and Seniors Housing.

Background Information: Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs)

Municipalities that share a common boundary must create an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF), which is a new legislated requirement that was introduced in the Modernized Municipal Government Act in 2016. Municipalities have until March 31, 2020 to finalize all required ICFs for their municipality.

Frameworks are intended to:

  • • provide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of inter-municipal services
  • • allocate scarce resources efficiently in delivering local services
  • • ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents

Each framework must identify which service they provide, which service is shared between municipalities, and which are provided by third parties. The ICF also details how the services listed below are funded/delivered:

  • transportation
  • water and wastewater
  • solid waste 
  • emergency services
  •  recreation
  • any other services that benefit residents in more than one of the municipalities that are parties to the framework