The release of a 43-page report is just the beginning of what could be a lengthy process if Black Diamond and Turner Valley’s future councils agree to pursue amalgamation.
Consultants with Urban Systems released an amalgamation feasibility study to the Towns Aug. 2.
“There is a lot of work to amalgamation,” said Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck, who is the Town’s lead for the subcommittee. “The process itself took longer than we anticipated, just trying to get people together.”
In early 2016, the councils agreed to explore the potential of merging and received a $150,000 grant from the Alberta Community Partnership to hire a consultant to conduct a study.
The Towns explored amalgamation twice previously. Both times the idea was defeated in plebiscites due to concerns about cost, lack of information, loss of town identities and Turner Valley’s ongoing struggles with its century-old gas history. In December, consultants with Urban Systems began collecting information to determine what it would look like if the towns amalgamate, remain status quo or expand the Friendship Agreement signed in 2012 to share resources, services, employees and align policies, procedures and bylaws.
A subcommittee was also created consisting of three councilors and the CAO from each community to work with the consultants.
The report shows initial costs of amalgamation are expected to be high. Funding is available to assist communities during the transition.
Additional expenses in the event of amalgamation, according to the report, are increasing administrative costs and paying for RCMP services, as required of communities with populations exceeding 5,000 people.
The formula for policing costs varies according to need and service levels. Based on a comparative communities analysis, the per capita costs range from $219 and $305. The additional costs, combined with funding available through the Municipal Police Assistant Grant, will likely result in about $850,000 to $900,000 in additional costs, the report states.
If the Towns amalgamate, each must conduct a financial audit and all staff would initially work for the new community. A staff review would then be conducted to evaluate the staffing needs relative to the service standards established within the new municipality, the report states.
Similarly, all existing bylaws would remain until the amalgamated municipality repeals or replaces them.
Once amalgamated, municipal services would have to be evaluated and an in-depth review of policies, plans, strategies, bylaws and administrative procedures would be conducted.
The report also explored the social outcomes of amalgamation, including a perceived loss of representation of their existing communities and historic ties to the individual communities weaken.
Tuck said members of the committee looked at the potential for amalgamation from the perspective of 5,000 people rather than individually.
“It’s 14 individuals thinking what’s going to be the best for all of us,” she said. “Everyone was very mindful that it’s about a whole, not individuals.”
The next step is determining the cost of continued shared services compared to amalgamation, as well as developing a business case to look at each scenario, Tuck said.
Black Diamond Coun. Ruth Goodwin, the Black Diamond lead for the subcommittee, said the subcommittee will write its recommendations regarding amalgamation versus continued shared services to present to both councils before the October municipal election, and will accept suggestions from the councils and Municipal Affairs.
What happens next will be up to the new councils, she said.
Copies of the amalgamation feasibility study are available to view at town.blackdiamond.ab.ca and turnervalley.ca
