By Adam Ophus

Moving Forward

Plans for future amalgamation between Village and County “not about survival”

Jul 15, 2020 | 1:00 PM

Clearwater County and the Village of Caroline continue to wait on the final word from the provincial government in regards to the Amalgamation Study and Action Assessment.

Once the go ahead is given the plans are to form a committee made up of representatives from Municipal Affairs, Alberta Urban Municipality Association (AUMA), and political representatives from the Village and the County.

Both parties had gone back and forth for roughly six months discussing what they wanted to do to get it right, according to Caroline Mayor John Rimmer.

Craig Curtis, Caroline’s interim CAO, noted that the desire for amalgamation is not about survival of the community, but more about giving the best services to residents at the best price.

He said that it is also about efficiency and effectiveness that can be improved by working together.

Last seen Nov. 28

Missing: Jimmy Eagle, 27, of Maskwacis

19h ago

the situation is dire

Two deaths, possibly from cold exposure, raise alarm amid Red Deer shelter situation and plight of homeless community

Dec 12, 2025

Lace-'Em Up!

Red Deer's outdoor rinks returning for another season

Dec 12, 2025

“We feel we need to do more to promote ourselves as one entity instead of two separate units.”

One of the reasons Curtis mentioned that would benefit both parties is that they will no longer have to discuss one of the many joint agreements and cost splitting those projects involve any longer with one another.

Rimmer reiterated that it is not that the Village is financially unviable, it’s just that they are on a strict budget.

“It’s just like anything else, if you don’t have enough cash flow you’re not able to do things like fix your vehicle or your house, the Village is no different,” Rimmer had said before referencing the recent upgrade to Highway 54 through Main Street he noted hadn’t been done since it was installed in the late 50’s.

Caroline is a service point for the southern part of the County which the Mayor says a lot of people from the County utilize and that he feels there are things that they can provide to the citizens of the County if things get going in the right direction.

When asked what local resident’s thoughts were on the matter, he said they usually ask one thing – “Will my taxes go up?”

Rimmer reassured that there is no way anything of this magnitude will go through without the residents of both Clearwater County and the Village of Caroline getting their say.