Kneehill County residents are being asked to participate in the formulation of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) by attending one of two Open Houses being held next week. Community sustainability can be defined as a strategy to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The process focuses on identifying issues currently facing Kneehill County under the five pillars of sustainability: environment, economy, culture, society and governance.
Kneehill County began working towards a formal sustainability plan in 2007 when it revised its mission and vision statements. The County developed its core values for the day-to-day operations of the County in 2008. These declarations form the basis of Strategic Priorities and Action Plans, used to guide Council decisions and administration's daily activities. The ICSP document will help guide the community into the future by indentifying short, medium and long term goals, with actions for their implementation.
As part of the initial process, Kneehill Council and administration have participated in an internal survey designed to determine whether the County's core values, identified in 2008, continue to hold true today. The next step is to ask County residents to share their vision. "It's important to obtain feedback from our citizens on what they want Kneehill County to look like in the future," commented Reeve Carol Calhoun, "so that we ensure County projects and activities are directed toward achieving that community vision."
Another benefit of the plan is the County's ability to access federal gas tax funding. In 2005, the New Deal for Cities and Communities (NDCC) between Canada and Alberta was signed to transfer federal gas tax funding to Alberta municipalities and provide financial assistance to municipalities to support the sustainability of capital municipal infrastructure. In order to access that funding municipalities are required to develop an integrated Community Sustainability Plan.
Kneehill County invites all County residents and County business owners to attend one of two Open Houses to participate in the shaping of the County's future. The first Open House will be held in the Huxley Community Hall at 7:00 pm, on Tuesday, August 31, with a second open house scheduled for 7 pm, Thursday, September 2nd at the Swalwell Community Hall.
To learn more about Kneehill County's ICSP initiatives, you can contact the County Planning Department by calling Toll-free: 1-866-443-5541 or email icsp@kneehillcounty.com
