Town of Barrhead councillors unanimously approved the recreation agreement that will see the municipality receive a minimum of $312,679 from the county for the core operating costs of the Agrena, aquatics centre and curling rink.
The agreement, which is based on Deborah M. Howes’ binding arbitration ruling that was released to the municipalities Nov. 3, goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018 and runs for 10 years.
Council’s approval, which came Nov. 28, was the last step in the resolution of a long-lasting dispute between the two over operational funding for recreational programming that the residents of both communities use. County of Barrhead councillors ratified the agreement Nov. 21.
Coun. Don Smith said while he was disappointed in the decision, was pleased the issue has been resolved.
“Certainly from the town’s prospective we really wanted to see a 50/50 working relationship as we do on many of our other joint projects. Moving forward we know what we have to work with for the next 10 years,” he said.
The decision is based the county’s contribution on its total taxable assessment, or an average thereof.
In 2018, the county’s contribution will be equal to 0.03403 per cent of its 2017 total taxable assessment. In 2019, it will be equal to 0.03403 of the average of the total taxable assessment for 2017 and 2018.
From 2020 to 2027 the percentage increases slightly to 0.03404 and the county’s contribution will be based on the average of its total taxable assessment for the prior three years.
“I think we are all in agreement that its nice to have the process completed,” said mayor Dave McKenzie. “We will be able to take this [agreement] and use it to foster a good relationship with our county friends. Great things are in our future.”
County of Barrhead Coun. Walter Preugschas who attended the meeting on behalf of reeve Doug Drozd, echoed the mayor’s sentiments saying county councillors were pleased to have the issue settled.
“I’m happy I wasn’t part of the last three or four years when the recreation agreement was being negotiated,” he said. “Because of that I don’t feel and harbour the same frustration that some of our other councillors have when they think back about that difficult process . . . but they are all prepared to move forward and really work with the Town of Barrhead just like they have on so many other issues.”
In addition to the funding issue, the agreement states that the town will manage and make all decisions related to the facilities. It also includes a dispute resolution mechanism.
In late March, Alberta Municipal Affairs minister Shaye Anderson ordered the town and county to enter binding arbitration to come up with a long-term recreational agreement after multiple failed attempts, including a provincially mandated mediation session. The municipalities had until Dec. 1 to officially ratify the agreement.
