After many months of planning High River Town Council has adopted a new strategic plan that will help them set goals and priorities for the next four years.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says everything council touches and acts on will now tie into this plan.

He didn't quite believe in the process when it started, but he's a believer now.

"I know how important these plans are to have in place," said Snodgrass. "When you have seven members of a council, all with differing views, deferring opinions, and different ideas on how we should do this, it is really important for us to have these meetings where we get together and see where everybody sits on different issues.

To build the plan council used a new method - using motivational speaker and organizational consultant Simon Sinek's 'Start with Why' model.

Council asked the question, 'Why do we do what we do?'

The answer is, to make a positive difference for now and for generations to come.

"The roles that we have shape this town today and for future generations, not just this term. The decisions we make today will affect my kids and my grandkids, if they are still living here," said Snodgrass.

He adds the plan also helps keep council focused and helps the community to understand why council makes decisions they make.

"The first term that I was on was seven individuals focused on flood cleanup. Everybody was elected on that premise. That was the strategic plan, was to rebuild the town and get us safe and secure and make sure we weren't broke at the end of the day doing it."

Snodgrass said this time around council does not want to be just an average municipal government to residents.

"We want to be a municipal government that can be counted on, that drives and inspires a positive difference in our community."

In the coming weeks Town administration will be finalizing the Strategic Plan and will share it on the Town's website and in paper copies at Town facilities around the community.