Sturgeon County candidates have a range of views on how the county is dealing with its neighbours, but most believe there is some room for improvement.
Since the 2007 election, the county has been pushed into the Capital Region Board (CRB), rescinded the intermunicipal development plan (IDP) with St. Albert and continued the dispute with Morinville over a contested water line.
It has also purchased equipment with area municipalities, contributed to recreation complexes and done several joint projects with the towns.
Al Homeniuk, a candidate for the seat in Division 4, said he would like to have seen the county do more to work with its neighbours.
He cites the water line and the IDP as issues that could have been better resolved.
“We have to promote co-operation within the region and I don’t think the current council is doing that.”
His challenger in the division, Dave Kluthe, said he believes the county has worked well with its neighbours, but he is concerned about the CRB. While so far the board hasn’t done anything specific to the county, he doesn’t like the structure and power it gives to bigger municipalities.
“I think everyone should have a say on that one without the big boys crowding the table.”
Homeniuk said he is also concerned about the board’s power, but still wants to see the county work better with its immediate neighbours.
“I would like to have a little more autonomy to decide, but I think we have to do it in concert with our neighbours so we are benefiting everybody.”
In Division 5, challenger and former county director of transportation Wayne Bullock said there are ways the county could work with other municipalities to create efficiencies.
“There are three different people who have salt and sand piles in Morinville,” he said as one example where the county could work with others.
Incumbent Joe Milligan said he believes the county is co-operating well, noting the work the county has done on joint economic development for the region.
He said the county has worked to make sure the CRB system was fair to all.
“It is progressing and I think Sturgeon has had an influence on it.”
Coun. Ken McGillis believes the county is doing a good job, noting several recent economic development initiatives where the county is working with the region.
That said, he believes there could be more done to resolve some of the outstanding issues.
“There is always room for improvement.”
The county has received several requests for more funding from the towns within the county for the services county residents use, such as the Morinville Public Library and Servus Credit Union Place.
McGillis said the county is contributing its fair share.
Milligan said he believes that will be a constant part of the politics in the area and is part of negotiations that will continue every year.
Kluthe said county residents do support the towns in other ways on top of the grants the county provides.
“We spend it in the shops and businesses in the town.”
Homeniuk said he wants to take a close look at the numbers, but if there is more the county should be doing, he is open to that.
The Gazette was unable to contact division-three candidate Catlin Letendre.
