Rocky View County (RVC) still isn't sold on the need for a regional planning management board but will be grabbing a seat at the table in the preliminary stages to make sure their voice is heard.

The Alberta government is mandating a growth management board for the Calgary region and that is forcing the hand of the county to ante up. At its July 11 meeting, RVC council supported the application to the Alberta Community Partnership grant program by the region's municipalties to receive funding to prepare an interm growth plan and evaluation framework to guide growth until the final plan is completed in about three years tiime.

"We have committed to being a productive member of the regional planning board and fully back the request for financial assistance," says RVC Reeve Greg Boehlke.

But at the same time, he says the county does question its value and sees it as something bureaucratic planners are pushing on the region and is a way for Calgary to control development outside of their jurisdiction.

The county particularly takes issue with the veto structure they say is weighted in Calgary's favour.

"As they say, a veto is a good thing to have unless you have to use it," says Boehlke. "If you have to use it's because you've lost your negotiating skills."

Boehlke, though, gives kudos to Municipal Affairs minister Shaye Anderson for listening to RVC's concerns during a private session. He said the county also committed themselves to working on an interim plan with some tweaks for rural counties during a May 26 meeting of the 10 mayors and reeves involved.

The grant request is being made on behalf of the region by the City of Airdrie and $290,000. They have received an indication from Municipal Affairs that the application would be looked at favourably.

Cochrane town council gave similar approval to the application at their June 26 meeting and traditionally have supported the Calgary Metorpolitan Plan.