Clearwater County is looking to update a 26-page resident guide to better reflect the realities of rural life.
At council’s direction June 9, administration updated the current 2010 guide, and a draft was presented to council June 23.
The updated Welcome to Rural Clearwater County guide gives new residents a heads-up about what they can expect when moving to the area.
While it outlines the many outdoor recreation opportunities in the county, the guide also informs residents that rural municipalities often do not offer the same level of services found in urban areas.
As for emergency services, the guide says emergency response times cannot be guaranteed and are largely dependent on travel distance and resource availability. While a number of fire stations are maintained by the county, the guide cautions that they are not staffed, requiring paid-on-call firefighters to first travel to the station before responding.
The guide highlights that much agricultural activity — and its accompanying noise and smells — takes place in the county. Residents are told to expect the sound of cattle bawling, as well as round-the-clock noise from machinery during seeding and harvest season.
The guide also speaks to Alberta’s Right-to-Farm legislation, designed to protect farmers and ranchers from nuisance and liability lawsuits.
However, Reeve Jordon Northcott felt the update didn’t go far enough.
“Rather than roses and rainbows, it should be something that reflects the real life of living in Clearwater County,” he said. “This was originated in 2010 — times have changed.”
Using Caroline as an example, Northcott said the large area is served by just one ambulance. He said many residents and visitors are unaware, and facts such as that could better equip people to understand the area.
Coun. Tyler McCauley agreed, saying that while the document works well as a promotional tool for the county, it could better reflect realities such as access to medical care.
Coun. Hazen Letwin also said it could reflect the realities of traversing vast gravel road networks. He said that, thanks to recent rainfall, his rural road is virtually impassable without four-wheel drive.
Letwin also suggested more information about area schools could be included.
Northcott said council could take the easy route and approve the document, but said it was important that those realities be properly reflected.
Council passed a motion directing administration to further revise the document and bring it back to council at a future strategic planning committee meeting.
The current draft includes updated information reflecting the 2025 amalgamation with the Village of Caroline, more complete and current details about county services and programs, as well as a more welcoming tone requested by council.
2010 document drew media attention
The original guide, titled Clearwater County Code, was adopted by council in 2010.
That summer, the document was the subject of a CBC News article titled County ‘code of the west’ includes manure warning. The article highlighted sections warning about dust, manure odours and farm noise.
County administration indicated that some media coverage portrayed the guide as blunt or unfriendly to potential newcomers.
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CAO Rick Emmons said the original document was never intended to be unwelcoming or adversarial, but simply to introduce people to the rural lifestyle.
“Your neighbour might be roping a cow or branding — he may be spreading manure or combining.”
Taking it a step further, Emmons suggested there was a lot of positive in the 2010 document.
“We’re rural — something to be proud of.”
You can find a link to the draft guide here.
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