Possible merge with organizations

By Garrett Simmons

For The Vauxhall Advance

Could the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties be on the verge of merging?

Members of Vauxhall town council learned that option is on the table, as the AUMA board is set to present a resolution at its fall convention to propose that potential action.

The July 13 edition of the Digest of AUMA/AMSC Announcements, AUMA president Lisa Holmes states the resolution “reflects the common goals of urban and rural municipalities in providing infrastructure and other community services that enable quality of life and support economic development, environmental stewardship and social wellbeing within and outside your individual municipal boundaries.”

The announcement also cited the need to greater collaboration between all municipalities, and the benefits one overarching association could have in terms of building consensus on policy and advocacy matters, in a more efficient and effective manner.

However, Mayor Margaret Plumtree told council there could be a potential downfall to a merger. She noted the value in the AUMA discussions she has with towns like Vauxhall.

“I’d really hate to lose that in a merger. My biggest concern is we would get lost.”

Plumtree added towns like Vauxhall also have issues which are very different than rural municipalities, as she noted jurisdictions like the M.D. of Taber put a large focus on infrastructure such as roads and bridges, while communities like Vauxhall have to worry about upkeep on arenas and recreational facilities, for example.

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