Foothills residents have spoken, and survey results say the majority support a change from MD to County. After a 6-1 vote in February to apply to the Province to change its name from “Municipal District of Foothills No. 31” to “Foothills County,” the MD received notification from the minister of municipal affairs that it would need to provide evidence of public consultation over the decision. Results of an MD online survey showed about 60 per cent in favour of becoming a county. The MD also polled residents who attended open houses on other topics. “We’ve given everybody who wished an opportunity to participate and the results at the open houses were 82 per cent in favour, so they really show the support behind it,” said Spilak. Council voted on July 4 to send its consultation results to the Province and request approval of the name change to Foothills County. Once the decision comes back, the MD can move forward with projects that have been put on hold, such as replacing signs at the borders of the municipality. “One of the things we’re looking at moving forward is the condition of many of the MD signs,” said Spilak. “They’re quite weathered, and we need new signs regardless, so now we can proceed with the new ones.” New signs will be ordered whether the name is changed or not, he said. The sole vote against changing the name to Foothills County, both Feb. 7 and July 4, was Coun. R.D. McHugh, who said he doesn’t believe the MD will ever truly be a county. “It is a municipal district,” said McHugh. “People already are referring to it as a county, they’re not referring to it as its proper name whatsoever and it causes massive confusion.”
