Despite earlier questions, the potential amalgamation of the Village of Caroline into Clearwater County on Jan. 1, 2025, is still on track following the resignation of Councillor Sydney Graham.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires all councillors to be named and numbered for the amalgamation process to proceed, explained CAO Rick Emmons.
The item was discussed during Clearwater County’s regular council meeting on Nov. 26.
A response from Municipal Affairs to Clearwater County Legislative Coordinator Tracy Haight reads:
“A byelection would effectively require Municipal Affairs to pull the amalgamation order from cabinet consideration prior to the byelection being completed. This means the amalgamation would not take effect on January 1, 2025, and the amalgamation order could be rescheduled for cabinet’s consideration once the new councillor is known.”
However, now that the county has chosen to forgo a byelection, the amalgamation can proceed as planned, says Reeve Michelle Swanson.
Per the MGA, a municipality is only required to hold a byelection for a vacant councillor seat if there are more than 18 months remaining before the next election. In this case, there are about 11 months to go.
“Municipal Affairs was able to remove Councillor Graham’s name—it was a quick, easy edit,” says Swanson. “It just needed a council motion that we wouldn’t be filling the Division 2 seat.”
If the county had opted to hold a byelection, the amalgamation process could have potentially been delayed for many weeks, she adds.
A lively discussion took place about the pros and cons of holding a winter byelection, but it was determined that the cost to ratepayers would be too steep.
“It seems like a lot of money for someone who would be in that seat for six months,” said Councillor Bryan Cermak. “I can’t see where a byelection would make any sense.”
Emmons estimated that a byelection could cost as much as $60,000.
Swanson says the amalgamation process was also a consideration in the decision not to hold a byelection.
“Councils have operated with a vacancy before,” says Swanson. “It’s not like we go through an amalgamation all the time; we realize this is an anomaly.”
Council eventually determined that the Division 2 seat will remain vacant until the next municipal election in October 2025.
In the absence of its Division 2 representative, county officials say residents are encouraged to contact any of the six councillors who are ready and committed to addressing their concerns.
During the same meeting, Division 1 councillor, Genny Mehlhaff, was elected as the new deputy reeve in a secret ballot. Mehlhaff had previously served as deputy reeve from October 2023 to October 2024.
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READ MORE:
- Clearwater County, Village of Caroline council approve amalgamation report
- Mehlhaff elected as new deputy reeve, councillors take on Division 2 representation
- Clearwater County Deputy Reeve Sydney Graham resigns
- Swanson acclaimed as reeve, Graham elected deputy reeve
- Clearwater County elects new reeve and deputy reeve
- Caroline organization proposed 3.25 km of paved trail surrounding village
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