Black Diamond, Turner Valley consider becoming single municipality

"Welcome to Black Valley", or perhaps, "Welcome to Turner Diamond?"

Though thename may still need a bit of work, the smallsouthern Alberta towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley are once again considering amalgamation.

The two communities have applied for a$150,000 Alberta Community Partnership grant for a feasibilitystudy on whether the towns could merge.

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"I think we need tofigure out what we need to do that makes sense for both of our communities to move forward and to position ourselves for thefuture," said Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown.

In 2007, the communities held a vote on whether to amalgamate, but the vote failed. Since then, however, Brown says the partnerships between Black Diamond and Turner Valley have strengthened. The two share a water treatment plant and a sewage system, and in 2012 signed a "friendship agreement" thatformalizescommitment to collaboration.

"Major infrastructureis already shared. We have a new way of communicating with each other," said Brown.

She acknowledged that some resentment remains between the townsas services like the library and high school have moved between Turner Valley and Black Diamond in the past.

"When you start losing those pieces of major infrastructure and support pieces that support community members,yourheart's attached to that, and that I totally get," she said.

"I would say there was quite a bit of resentment."

Brown says tourism is the only industry in Turner Valley and Black Diamond.

"We haven't had any industry in the Diamond valley realistically since the closure of the gas plant in the 1980s."

Brown said the towns may be able to attract more economic development together.

"We realize, going into the future, the amount of resources that we're going to be able to access is going to be less. Even though everybody says there's going to be a lot of money coming in for infrastructure, we don't know what that looks like."

"So is bigger better? We're going to have that conversation," Brown added.