After years of effort, approximately 665 acres of land to be annex by the Town of Millet to the County of Wetaskiwin received approval. Effective Jan. 1, 2018 county councillors accepted the annexation of 12 parcels of land during their Feb. 6 meeting.
“It’s mostly industrial land, but included in there is some residential and urban fringe land,” said assistant CAO Rod Hawken.
Division 4 Coun. Josh Bishop says during the 2017 municipal election land included in the annexation was still a part of his division. He explained to his fellow councillors people had come forward to him displeased about the annexation.
Reeve Kathy Rooyakkers says the annexation was met with mixed results. She added other property owners were happy with the annexation because they would then be able to receive town water and sewer services.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Rooyakkers. “This is exciting.”
The county’s intermunicipal development plan (IDP) with the town gives direction that land should be a part of the municipality best able to service them. “We can’t provide water to railside in Millet,” said Rooyakkers.
Hawken says with the town and county both members of the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) agreement the annexation of the land will not change its impact for the county; revenue generated will remain status quo as it would have without the annexation due to the JEDI cost-sharing model.
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