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survey starts next week

Residents soon to have say in possible amalgamation

Feb 9, 2021 | 1:40 PM

The Regional Governance Study to determine the future path of three municipalities – the Town of Rocky, Village of Caroline, and Clearwater County – is underway.

The study will be exploring all possibilities of a new governance structure, with three general options being presented.

The first is to remain as is, being three separate municipalities and continue to follow the Stronger Together Agreement.

The second is to amalgamate all three municipalities into a single municipal government.

The third option being explored is to amalgamate just Clearwater County and the Village of Caroline. The county had put in for the same study for this specific option last year, but was denied, and the $200,000 grant was given to the town to explore further options.

Town of Rocky Mountain House Communications Coordinator Laura Button noted that although they put in for the grant, all three municipalities are involved and discussed the topic in 2018.

The study will be completed by the independent consulting team Nichols Applied Management and ISL Engineering and Land Services, as well as a steering committee made up of mayors Tammy Burke (Rocky) and John Rimmer (Caroline), Clearwater County Reeve Cammie Laird, councilors and the three municipalities’ CAOs.

The final decision will be made by the respective municipal councils with information provided by the consulting team and the Steering Committee, but most importantly, public input.

The first official online survey to gather residents’ opinions will begin Tuesday, February 16 and run until March 1.

The following Wednesday, February 17, a live online session will be held to review all background information as well as giving people the chance to share their initials comments and ideas.

To view the session, and to see all future updates to the study, a website has been created and can be viewed here.