IN THE NEWS

By Marianne Cole

BROADBAND 

Action on providing Clearwater County residents with improved access to high speed internet service is ramping up significantly following notification of qualifying for grants. At a meeting of the Broadband Committee on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 information was provided on up-coming plans and costs. To help ensure success with the county’s goals of providing “Fibre to the Home” (FTTH), the county has been divided into 5 service areas: Rocky to Nordegg/Bighorn; Ferrier; south of Rocky/Caroline; east/northeast to the Lacombe county border; and north/northeast to the Wetaskiwin/Ponoka county borders. The total capital cost of installing fibre optic cable and towers in these areas is projected to be $88.5M with $62.7M coming from grants and $25.8M funded by Clearwater County. Interesting note: Earlier on January 7, 2025, Council had approved a capital budget of $43, 675,676 for Broadband with $28,697,830 coming from capital revenues and $14,977,846 from restricted surplus transfers. At that January meeting Council had also approved a Broadband operating budget of $1,730, 585 with anticipated revenue of $503,000 to be recuperated from broadband operations sale of service.

At Wednesday’s meeting it was noted that there is significant interest from various internet service providers (ISP’s) to become involved in the county’s “Open Access Network” (OAN) to provide internet service to homes. Three companies were noted in the agenda package has having already signed on and included:

· Bearspaw Networks. Based out of the Calgary area, Bearspaw was formed in 2023 when it bought out Clearwave Broadband out of Edmonton. Currently Bearspaw is focussing on providing service out to the Bighorn Reserve and Nordegg.

· Stoney Nakoda Telecom. Established in 2025, Stoney Nakoda is focussing on the area northwest of Rocky.

· Missing Link Internet. Based out of Rimbey, Missing Link has been servicing the Rocky, Eckville, Lacombe, and Ponoka areas for a number of years.

Another ISP was also mentioned during the meeting. This was MAGE, a large company based out of Calgary. Founded in 2017 it operates 5 networks in Canada and provides service throughout North America.

While there are various opinions on the county’s involvement in providing internet service, modern technology is an important aspect of today’s life and its provision in the most beneficial manner is a valid item of consideration. Information on the county’s involvement can be found on the County’s website and public engagement meetings are being planned for this spring.

LAND USE BYLAW REVIEW

A joint meeting of PAC (Public Advisory Committee) and County Council was held on Friday, January 24, 2025 to review the initial draft of the new Land Use Bylaw. This is a 204 page document that controls land use and development in Clearwater County. Unfortunately copies of the document were only sent out on Thursday so it was very difficult for people to prepare adequately for the meeting. At the meeting the noted items of discussion included:

· Definitions. There are 36 pages of definitions providing information on the various types of operations, buildings, physical features, and developments that could be found in Clearwater County.

· Land Use Districts. These include Agricultural, Country Residential Agricultural (CRA), Country Residential (CR), Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, Hamlet Residential (HR), Recreational/Leisure Residence, Manufactured Home Park, and Rural Development Node. For each of these districts there are stipulated guidelines for development.

· Incorporation of information from Caroline’s LUB

· The use of seacans

Discussion took place what should and shouldn’t be allowed in these various districts and how development should be fostered in a beneficial way.

Interesting note: The use of Seacans has been of significant concern in the past as there has been nothing guiding their use in the previous LUB. In reviewing this new draft it is noted in Part Nine: Specific Development Regulations, 9.1.6 states, “Sea-Cans may only be located in industrial, public, country residential and agricultural districts...”. Then there are various restrictions about their location and maintenance.

Printed copies of the LUB draft are available at the county office and we strongly urge you get a copy and review the document. It is crucial that your concerns/opinions be heard. Another joint meeting of PAC and Council is being planned along with several public engagement meetings in the spring before the final document is approved.

Up-coming Meetings: 

Wednesday, February 12 and Wednesday, March 12, both at 7:30PM at the Leslieville Elks Hall

Love doesn’t make the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Franklin P. Jones

To Love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides. David Viscott

The giving of love is an education in itself. Eleanor Roosevelt