Merger between Manning and the County of Northern Lights???

The Town of Manning is looking into a proposal to merge with the County of Northern Lights.  Town Council has voted to conduct a viability study at its most recent council meeting.  Mayor Sunni-Jean Walker says the study will be done by Municipal Affairs, saying she did inform Reeve Cheryl Anderson that they were conducting the study.  However, Walker emphasizes that the County is not currently involved with the Town about any possible mergers happening in the future.  A viability study will examine the town’s finances, services and governance with potential impacts to both the Town and the County.  The viability team would include representatives from Municipal Affairs, as well as Manning’s elected officials and their Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).  The team will then develop a Viability Review Plan, plus recommendations if the examination is trending towards non-viability.  The final report which would go to the minister would include any issue agreed to and not agreed to, the public consultation and results, letters from each council on what was agreed and disagreed to, along with the reasons, as well as a statement from the Town noting the information in the report is accurate from negotiations.

– Posted by BET