Lethbridge County’s Asset Management Plan Approved to Ensure Safe and Reliable Infrastructure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2021
Lethbridge County’s Asset Management Plan Approved to Ensure Safe and Reliable Infrastructure
LETHBRIDGE- Lethbridge County Council has approved the County’s first-ever Asset Management Plan for infrastructure and physical assets. The completion of this plan is significant step forward in facilitating a proactive and sustainable approach to managing infrastructure needs. Through this program, the County will strive to provide the most efficient services to citizens while ensuring long-range planning is sustainable and in alignment with the County’s Strategic Plan.
By definition, asset management is the ongoing process of identifying asset needs such as rehabilitation, maintenance, repair, or replacement. Assets include infrastructure such as roads and bridges, as well as County-owned buildings and equipment. As the County is responsible for nearly 2,000 kilometres of roads and over 150 bridges, and a considerable amount of the annual budget is allocated for their maintenance, having a comprehensive plan in place is essential.
Since 2018, Lethbridge County has been diligently working towards the development of a formal Asset Management Program. Asset management is a practice the County has been engaged in for decades, but through a formal Asset Management Plan Council and administration can make better-informed decisions that support the needs of the entire community.
“Council recognizes the importance of asset management planning in making thoughtful, sustainable decisions on our critical infrastructure systems going forward,” says Reeve Lorne Hickey. “The Asset Management Plan approved today will allow us to ensure this infrastructure remains safe and reliable for years to come, while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.”
“A strong Asset Management Plan will assist the County in achieving the ever-sought-after goal of sustainability,” says CAO Ann Mitchell. “As we are consistently experiencing a reduction in grant funding, in addition to continual cost downloading from the Province, our reliance on local tax support is more important than ever. To have a long-range plan that addresses our aging infrastructure with continual funding reduction is key.”
The Business Tax, which was introduced in 2016, has been a critical component in maintaining the County’s essential infrastructure. Funds from the tax are used to repair and upgrade heavy-use roads and bridges that are essential for producers to export their products to market.
“Implementing the Business Tax was not a popular decision, but a necessary one,” notes Reeve Hickey. “Without it, we would have an approximately 20 percent funding shortfall and our infrastructure systems would suffer. We would simply not have the funds to maintain and improve our Haul Route Networks which are so vital to the local economy.”