File photo of a sign outside the Lethbridge County office in Lethbridge (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Teaming Up

Lethbridge County signs ICF agreement with Town of Nobleford

Aug 21, 2020 | 9:22 AM

LETHBRIDGE COUNTY, AB – Two municipalities have teamed up on a new agreement.

Lethbridge County and the Town of Nobleford have signed their first-ever Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and Recreation Agreement.

The ICF provides both groups with a guide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of intermunicipal services. The Recreation Agreement is part of the five areas under the ICF.

In a release, it was noted that Lethbridge County has also committed to providing annual funding to Nobleford for recreation.

In a joint statement, Nobleford mayor Don McDowell and CAO Kirk Hofman said, “the Town of Nobleford has grown together with Lethbridge County since they were incorporated.”

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“This ICF is just a restatement of what we already do together. We appreciate the County funding of recreation capital projects under their Land Trust Fund Grant in the past and now look forward to the new recreation funding agreement that the County offered us.”

Lethbridge County Reeve Lorne Hickey stated that the agreements signify a “willingness to work together to achieve common goals for the benefits of our citizens”.

“We value our good relationship with the Town of Nobleford and look forward to further strengthening this relationship through future collaboration as a result of the ICF and Recreation Agreement,” he said.

ICF and Recreation Agreements are required of all Albertan municipalities that share a common border.

“One of our priorities has been regional collaboration,” said Lethbridge County CAO Ann Mitchell.

“When we work together, we can find efficiencies and ways to better serve our citizens and businesses. Providing stable and predictable funding benefits both municipalities in the long term and is a very positive step forward.”

Lethbridge County has also completed ICF agreements with the City of Lethbridge, Town of Coaldale, Village of Barons, MD of Willow Creek, Vulcan County, MD of Taber, County of Warner and Cardston County.