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MD achieved its goals in 2016

The MD of Foothills’ mayor is remembering 2016 as a banner year, despite being tripped up by a loss of oil and gas tax revenues.

The MD of Foothills’ mayor is remembering 2016 as a banner year, despite being tripped up by a loss of oil and gas tax revenues.

Mayor Larry Spilak said the past year packed plenty of coups and exciting projects and may have been one of the best he’s seen during his decade on council.

“We got a lot done this year,” said Spilak. “In 2016 a lot of things came together, so it was a very good year in that respect.”

He said the only drawback he saw this year was the setback with local oil and gas companies not paying their linear taxes for the past two years, which has the MD holding the bag for $4 million.

The MD doesn’t anticipate the $2 million tax bill for 2017 to be paid in 2017 either, he said.

As a result, he said the MD froze all hiring and staff wages, and is making budget cuts wherever possible to maintain service levels and manage it’s revenue loss.

Though he would have liked to see a zero per cent increase in municipal taxes in next year’s budget, Spilak said the oil situation won’t make that possible.

“Had we not had that shortfall we would be at zero, no question,” he said. “As far as that, we will end up having an increase but it will be small.”

In spite of taking a hit on the budget, Spilak said there is a list of successes from 2016, including completion of the annexation agreement between the Town of Okotoks and the MD of Foothills.

After two years of negotiations, which became heated sometimes causing tensions between the two municipalities, he said it was a relief to see the process come to an amicable end.

“That was a huge one,” said Spilak. “There were probably some bad feelings between both councils throughout, but I think we’ve recovered. In fact, I know we’ve recovered in a big way, and we’re working together.”

The annexation agreement for 1,950 hectares of land into the Town of Okotoks went before the municipal government board in October. No decision has been announced at this time.

Spilak said the MD has also worked closely with the City of Calgary in the past year on its new intermunicipal development plan, setting goals for future city growth.

“Calgary knew what they wanted, and we were very close to what we felt they should have, so it has gone on without too many problems,” said Spilak. “There are a few landowners who are affected that are not totally pleased, but for the most part it’s been successful.”

He said the MD expects the plan will be finalized in 2017 and set the stage for Calgary’s next annexation, which is likely to occur five to 10 years from now.

Another successful partnership in 2016 was working with Black Diamond and Turner Valley to provide a water pipeline from Turner Valley to residents in Millarville, he said.

“We’ve had water problems in Millarville for some time, getting decent potable water to those residents,” said Spilak. “The ground water is just not suitable in most cases so a lot of people are hauling water in.”

With grants from the federal government’s Small Communities Fund, a pipeline will carry water to Millarville residents who sign up to receive it, he said. Those who live along the pipeline route can also opt to tap into the water, he said.

One point of pride for the MD of Foothills was the opening of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools’ St. Francis of Assisi Academy at Heritage Heights, he said. The K-9 separate school complements the public Heritage Heights School, and provides the MD with amenities many municipalities would love to see, he said.

“We have a situation here many jurisdictions would love to have,” said Spilak. “We have two schools and in the centre we have an arena, and it makes everything much more efficient and provides essential services for our residents.”

Having two schools adjacent to the Scott Seaman Sports Rink makes the arena one of the most cost efficient ones in the province, he said.

“The schools are located so close they utilize the ice during the day, which is when most arenas are empty,” said Spilak.

The stage was set in 2016 for the future development of an emergency services training facility on Highway 2A, on 16 acres of land donated to the MD of Foothills by TransCanada. The MD intends to collaborate with the Town of High River to plan and operate the facility.

Spilak said the MD is also looking forward to partnering with the Town of Okotoks to run Champion Park, a piece of land near the Saskatoon Farm on Highway 2 that contains a historic train station and a collection of vintage Canadian Pacific train cars and outbuildings. The park was donated to the municipalities by Gerald Knowlton and his family in September.

“This is going to be fabulous,” said Spilak. “This park will take you right back into the ‘30s when you actually attend it and go through it.”

He said the park will be managed by a society run jointly by the MD and Okotoks, and will be open to the public and school field trips.

With many projects under its belt and some exciting ones on the horizon, Spilak said this was a good year for the MD.

“This is the first time I can say that our goals were actually achieved for water we wanted for 2016,” he said. “We have things in place for 2017 for sure.”

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