Town passes third reading for IDP framework

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore council voted to pass third reading of the Strathmore, Wheatland County Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) bylaw during the Dec. 11 regular meeting of council.

According to the Alberta Municipal Government Act (MGA), all municipalities that are not members of a growth region which also share common boundaries are required by the ministry of municipal affairs to adopt an IDP framework.

The Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County left the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board (CMRB) in March 2022. 

A deadline of Dec. 31, 2024 was established for Strathmore and Wheatland County to come to an agreement and establish their IDP.

Oct. 1, Wheatland County held a public meeting, and voted to grant both first and second readings to the IDP, with some amendments to the presented document.

The following day, the Town of Strathmore held their own public hearing for the IDP, concluding in the passing of first reading. 

Following the initial presentations, both municipalities exchanged memos proposing further amendments to the document.

As of Dec. 3, Wheatland County gave third and final reading as amended to the IDP. This was the same iteration of the document, which was presented before Strathmore council on Dec. 11.

Immediately following the presentation of the IDP to council, Coun. Denise Peterson motioned to grant second reading as amended.

“It was at the behest of Wheatland County that the Town of Strathmore, in the interest of future collaboration, left the CMRB,” said Peterson. “We both left the CMRB so that we could do this, and so I am really hopeful that this is the beginning of a really fruitful partnership where we will work together to make sure that all of our community acts as one and that we recognize that whether you live in the villages, the County of Wheatland or the Town of Strathmore, that we will work together for the betterment of all of our citizens.”

Second reading was passed by council unanimously without further discussion or debate.

Following second reading, the amendments to the document recommended by administration were motioned to be voted on by Coun. Melissa Langmaid. These recommendations are available publicly via the town’s Dec. 11 meeting agenda. 

Langmaid’s motion to approve the amendments was carried unanimously by council. Third reading was motioned by Coun. Richard Wegener. This was also carried unanimously.

The final IDP document is publicly available via the Town of Strathmore website. An expanded history of the process which led to the creation of the IDP is documented in an array of previous editions of The Strathmore Times.