The County of Grande Prairie was partially swallowed up by the city’s annexation in 2016, but Reeve Leanne Beaupre says not much changed. She says they are proud of how the county and staff managed the changes.
“We actually, for the first four months, mirrored the city of Grande Prairie to make sure there were no services that our rate payers went with out. Just in case there was something that was forgotten.”
Beaupre admits she feels they spent four months of resources that they didn’t have to but they made sure everyone was taken care of. She adds that the biggest challenge from annexation was feeling like the city didn’t understand how the process would affect municipalities.
Looking forward to 2017, Beaupre says the Growth and Economic Development strategy will start to take shape. Beaupre says they have already had consultants looking into other MD’s and Counties and that work will continue in 2017.
“Looking forward to what kind of report they come back with. We see ourselves as very forward thinking. The region has always been very entrepreneurial and open to opportunities. This just captures where we want to see some of that growth continue.”
The plan is meant to shape the way work, play and living is done for the next 50 years. The final draft of the plan should be complete by December 2017.
The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum is currently in the second year of operation and Beaupre says they will continue to back up the facility in different ways. Most recently, they covered the museum’s operational deficit of around $300,000. Beaupre says they plan to back the dino museum by lobbying other governments to provide funds as well.
Municipalities in the region will be working closely together following the election in 2017. The Municipal Government Act has been updated and will have different governments working together.
Beaupre also confirmed that she will be running in the next election once again.