Mountain View County council has approved a strategic plan for 2018-2021. The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled meeting.
The plan was created with the assistance of Finley & Associates.
“As directed by council at a April 6 workshop, the senior management team met to identify action plans, and start/completion dates for each strategic priority in the 2018-2019 organizational priorities plan,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
Six principle goals make up the plan, focusing on agriculture, community/quality of life, economy/financial health, environment, infrastructure and governance.
The agricultural goal is to “support traditional, innovative and value-added agriculture industry.”
The community/quality of life goals include promotion of safe communities, providing and supporting cultural and recreational opportunities, fostering an environment for people to age in their communities, and promoting a vibrant, rural culture in the county.”
The economy/financial health goals include: “enabling business diversification and retention; ensuring adequate resources to meet council approved service levels; and having program and services delivered efficiently and fairly within a financial responsible framework.”
The environmental goal is “protecting and preserving the natural environment through programs, education and collaboration.”
The governance goals are “adhering to a culture of open communication and responsive effective governance, and engaging in respectful, positive and productive relationships while maintaining our local autonomy.”
The infrastructure goals is to “provide and maintain sustainable infrastructure efficiently, effectively and in an environmentally responsible way in our communities.”
The plan includes three strategic priorities that will be pursued over the next twenty-four months (quoted from the plan).
- Statutory and policy framework - County policy will drive council deliberations and the actions of the senior management team. Council, supported by the senior management team, will continue to review and update policies as required and ensure that the statutory and policy framework remains relevant and supportive to the County. Immediate areas for focus are land use, collaboration, and current interconnected issues.
- Asset management - In order to make informed long-term decisions for the county, council is prioritizing having full knowledge of current significant assets and ensuring long-term asset management plans are in place to ensure the resources and capital necessary to meet expected service levels will be in place long- term.
- Economic development strategy - In order to identify high-level objectives and themes for economic development in the county, an expanded understanding of businesses within the county and a clear strategy for future development is required. This strategy has been underdevelopment with the senior management team for several years and is anticipated to complete within the next 24 months.
