The County will be entering into annexation negotiations with the Municipal District of Bighorn.
Bighorn is proposing to annex 70.10 acres of land located south of the Trans-Canada Highway and west of Highway 68 on the border between the two municipalities.
“It looks like kind of a housekeeping issue,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown. “The road doesn’t align with the border between the municipalities and by changing it a little bit, it gives more sensible access.”
From 1981 to 1982, the Province acquired about eight acres to build Highway 68. This acquisition physically separated several parcels of land from the rest of Rocky View.
The M.D. is seeking jurisdiction of these lands to facilitate the construction of Township Road 252, which would provide access to Bighorn residents.
According to a County staff report, if the area wasn’t annexed, the County would be responsible to maintain the 300-metre stretch of road that would provide no benefit to Rocky View residents.
If the annexation is accepted, Bighorn would assume responsibility for the direction, control and maintenance of the constructed road.
Because of the situation with the road, Ashdown said he expects no objection to the annexation from the County.
“We expect the negotiations to go without a hitch,” said Ashdown. “It is just continuing with the spirit of cooperation that we have with the many municipalities that we border.”
If both councils approve the annexation, the proposal will be submitted to the Province’s Municipal Government Board for consideration.
Bighorn and Rocky View will be hosting a joint open house to provide information and receive feedback on the annexation proposal, May 26 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Jumpingpound Hall on Township Road 250.
