Members of the Foothills County council got to meet with the municipal affairs minister at the recent Rural Municipalities Association convention.

Reeve Delilah Miller says Ric McIvor isn't willing to give them a decision yet on whether the county will be forced into the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board, something they've opposed in the past...

"We've been strong opponents to that plan and continue to be that way, so we hope they've given us some of the concessions that we've asked for and some of the changes that would make it a bit more palatable if we are in fact forced to remain in the plan," said Miller.

She says among their concerns is the idea of regional planning, explaining the County knows best how to do its own planning and doesn't need areas like Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore, Cochrane, or Wheatland county having a say.

She says they already do a good job of planning and have built up good relationships with neighbouring municipalities like High River, Okotoks, Black Diamond, and Turner Valley.

But there are other reasons they want to remain out.

"For us, it's a third layer of government that we really didn't want, especially when the UCP government is touting a red tape reduction, We've asked to have the voting structure changed and made more fair, I would personally like to have an equal vote to Calgary, not to have them have the over-arching veto vote. We are already outnumbered there with seven municipalities and three rural, so it's hard to have the rural voice heard at the table."

She says rural municipalities are obstructed from what they can do and have to apply to the CMRB for any plans like the Highwood Crossing east of High River.

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