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County eyes strong position
Jul 28, 2007 23:19:51
Gary Hickling Editor Thursday November 30, 2006 Wheatland County Council is looking at a Community Economic Development Strategy that will put the county into a strong economic position. Council, at its Nov. 21 meeting, received the results of a one and a half day strategic planning session held Nov. 1-2 to develop a strategic plan for community economic development. Reeve Ben Armstrong said it was a worthwhile process. He said the role of Wheatland County’s involvement with Wild Rose Economic Development Corporation was to promote growth within the hamlets and to sell the municipality (county) for further development. Once that occurred, any development would be guided by the rules and regulations laid out in the various planning documents, including the new Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw. County Manager Jennifer Deak agreed, saying it was important to keep planning separate from economic development. Coun. Glenn Koester said the session saw a lot of thoughts expressed, but he wondered if it could be “funneled down to something we can take home (or to their divisions).†The strategy is to serve as a living, working document that charts Wheatland County’s economic development course for the future. Strategies identified by council in the plan include regional partnerships, business support, community development, tourism enhancement, diversified agricultural industries, communication and marketing, promotion of the next generation and industrial/commercial development. The vision statement is to “provide responsible, accountable and effective governance†and the mission statement states “Wheatland County is committed to provide services that recognize and encourage balanced, sustainable, long term growth and opportunities. We advocate prudent use of our resources and promote a quality of life for our citizens that reflect our agricultural heritage.†Both Armstrong and Coun. Ken Sauve noted the importance of regional partnerships. “We’re not a closed shop anymore. You have to talk with your neighbours,†Armstrong said. Sauve noted that if the municipality did not take the lead in forming regional partnerships, it seemed other levels of government would make that decision for the municipality. “It’s better to be pro-active,†Sauve said. A number of councillors raised concern over the strategy of promoting diversified agricultural industries. They felt it was up to the farmer or rancher to decide what was best for their operations. They noted agricultural was an industry and farming was a business. They would rather promote the strategy that Wheatland County supports the agricultural community and its rural family values. “We (Wheatland County) believe in promoting community economic development in the hamlets and rural areas, driven by people,†Deak said later, adding that the county wants to encourage “sustainable growth that recognizes the social and environmental values of our communities.
Source: Strathmore Standard
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