Clearwater County council has released a document answering frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the amalgamation study for the Village of Caroline and Clearwater County.
Officials note, no final decision has been made about amalgamation by ether Village council or Clearwater County council yet, so these questions are for information only.
Q. Has the decision to amalgamate already been made?
A. No. The decision must be made by both the County and the Village, and then a request will be sent to the Province of Alberta. It will be the Province who makes that final decision. In terms of when the two councils will decide whether to proceed or not, the plan is for that to happen early in 2023.
Q. Why is the amalgamation process being considered?
A. There are several reasons the process is being considered. Some of the reasons are historic; like the work and travel patterns between the County and the Village are so intertwined that they are close to being one municipality even now. Other considerations include the age of the pipes, roads, and other infrastructure in the Village that will be more expensive to maintain or replace than the Village can afford. In that case, the Village may no longer be sustainable, and the province would step in and make the decision for us.
Q. What happens to Clearwater County and the Village of Caroline
A. In the case of an amalgamation, both current municipalities would cease to exist and a new one would be formed. For most people, all they will see would be the name change.
Q. Why is Rocky Mountain House not part of the amalgamation process?
A. In the original study done in 2020, Rocky Mountain House was included as part of a three-way amalgamation option, along with the option of just the Village and County amalgamating. The study recommended the amalgamation of the County and Village only. Rocky Mountain House town council accepted the recommendation and will continue to pursue regional collaboration with the newly formed municipality if the County and Village decide to amalgamate.
Q. Who will I pay my utility bills to?
A. Details such as this have not yet been determined.
In other cases, where a new municipality has been formed, things like utility bills or permits have changed to reflect the new municipal name.
Q. When will the amalgamation happen?
A. There are various stages to amalgamations and the full process can take over a year from when the decision is made. Should the decision be not to proceed, nothing will change. Should the decision be to proceed, various details will need to be worked out, an amalgamation date set – often at the end of a calendar year or as of the date of an election. Once the new municipality comes to life, a new council will need to be elected for the new municipality.
Q. Do I get to vote on the decision to amalgamate?
A. The final decision on the amalgamation remains with the Province of Alberta, and a vote to change municipal status is not required. Through the years, lots of engagement has been done by both the Village and the County, so both municipal councils have a very good understanding of what will serve citizens in the region best.
To view the full document click here.
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