Lacombe city council took another step last night towards realizing the potential of its Joint Economic Area, approving an agreement with the county and the regional water service commission.

The deal ensures county water consumption is counted against its own commission-set allowance and not the city's -- a critical detail as the county will be accessing the service through city infrastructure.

The Joint Economic Area includes county lands near the Highways 2 and 12 interchange.  

Lacombe Mayor Steve Christie is eager to see the progress.

"We've seen up and down the Highway 2 corridor ... when you get services there, development happens. That is a joint revenue-sharing area so we're happy to be a part of it," Christie said.

"With services in place, we will get a higher percentage (of tax revenues). It's a win-win-win for everybody in Lacombe, everybody in the county and the entire region."

City council also voted to enter an agreement with Stantec for design work related to extending water and wastewater services to the area.