May 29, 2006 - Mediation process initiated to resolve industrial annexation issues

May 29, 2006

(Red Deer, Alberta) – After meeting with Alberta Municipal Affairs last week, The City of Red Deer and Red Deer County have initiated a mediation process in relation to The City’s industrial annexation proposal.

In a joint statement from Red Deer County Reeve, Earl Kinsella and The City of Red Deer Mayor, Morris Flewwelling, the two affirmed that cooperation between The City and The County remains a key part of the process.

Flewwelling and Kinsella said, “We have been meeting regularly since January 2006 to negotiate The City’s proposal to annex County lands for industrial use. It is understandable we may have differing opinions on some of the issues, which is contemplated in the annexation process. In an effort to move forward more efficiently, we have agreed to initiate the mediation process.”

Through the Intermunicipal Dispute Resolution Initiative offered by Alberta Municipal Affairs, a trained private sector mediator has been engaged to guide the process. The mediator will assist The City and The County in identifying issues to be agreed upon, developing an understanding of each other’s perspective and collaborating to generate options to resolve the issues.

Flewwelling and Kinsella stated they are hopeful this process will allow them to come to an agreement quickly.

The City is proposing to annex eight quarter sections of land immediately west of Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) and immediately south of Highway 11A from the County.

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For more information, please contact:

Norbert Van Wyk                                                  Rob Coon
City Manager                                                        County Manager
The City of Red Deer                                             Red Deer County
403-342-8154                                                        403-350-2150