County declines invitation to attend regional collaboration meeting

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the Feb. 4, regular meeting, Wheatland County council voted to decline an invitation from the Town of Strathmore to attend a regional collaboration meeting.

The invitation from the Town of Strathmore, dated Jan. 27, indicated the town would like to host a meeting with the county, as well as with representation from the Villages of Hussar, Rockyford, and Standard, on Feb. 26, at the Strathmore Civic Center. 

Coun. Glenn Koester had motioned for the county to attend the collaboration meeting, which was supported solely by Coun. Rick Laursen. 

“This is a collaboration meeting and especially with all the development coming into the county, annexations, and it is … a regional collaboration meeting … I think it is vital that the county is part of this planning initiative,” said Koester. “We just passed a $10 million pipeline to take water to the area, we are still looking for water for another development in the area and I believe Strathmore was one of the asks to get the water from. I think it is crucial (to attend).”

Coun. Donna Biggar said she would like to see a specified agenda put forward regarding a meeting of this nature before the county agrees to attend. This sentiment was supported by Coun. Shannon Laprise. 

Coun. Biggar and Coun. Laprise added the county has just recently concluded the successful development of an Intermunicipal Development Plan, and Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework with the Town of Strathmore and are satisfied with the communication between the municipalities.

Koester pointed out despite the IDP and ICF frameworks established with the Town of Strathmore, the Villages of Hussar, Rockyford, and Standard were also invited to the meeting, with which the county has not established such plans alongside.

“We can work individually with each of the villages and with Strathmore very easily. We have got requests from different villages for different things that we can address one on one,” said Laprise. “Given the reasoning for not attending, I think we still have collaborative relationships with all of them, just separately.”

Koester expressed concern regarding the message it would send from the county regarding their refusal to attend such a meeting.

“The least we can do is show up and collaborate and be there and be in attendance … this feud has been going on for nearly three years. The villages have asked the county to come and speak with them and the county will not move … it will probably last until the next election,” he said. 

The invitation to attend the town’s regional collaboration meeting was defeated 5-2 against, with Koester and Laursen being the only councilors in support of attending.