By Marianne Cole
Two recent meetings of Council were held and the items of particular note to county residents are summarized below.
- Strategic Planning Meeting, May 25, 2026 Excellent discussion and serious consideration was given to various topics with the following noted highlights:
- Review of Animal Control Bylaw. This was brought forward for consideration primarily as a result of the amalgamation with Caroline and the differences in bylaws that existed related to this matter. Significant discussion took place not only on whether licenses for dogs and cats were required in the county but also the numbers of each that should be allowed. It was repeatedly mentioned that there is a distinct difference between what could/should be done in the rural areas vs. urban hamlets.
In the end a motion was made to bring a delegation from Red Deer Animal Services (the company hired to deal with dog complaints in Clearwater County), to a future council meeting before a decision on this bylaw could be made. It is hoped that this delegation could provide information on the number/type of complaints received from Clearwater County as this would help make decisions on animal control bylaws.
- Business Licensing in Clearwater County. Again, this matter was brought forward as a result of the Caroline amalgamation. Currently the county does not issue business licenses by deals only with development permit applications. Caroline, however, required business licenses. So what’s the difference between the two?
A development permit is a land-use approval that allows the proposed use according to the county’s Land Use Bylaw. Used mostly in rural municipalities it provides staff with information on the proposed business while allowing MPC, and potentially Council as well, to consider/review the project.
A business license, used mostly in urban areas, allows a business to operate subject to its compliance with applicable bylaws and regulations. It does not regulate land use but does instead provide an oversight of the actual business activities.
In the end a motion was passed for administration to gather more information on the impacts of maintaining the status quo for the rural and urban sectors of our county.
- Regular Council Meeting, May 26, 2026 Special highlights of this meeting included:
- Presentation of a 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. Overall, the goal of this document is to guide county growth in a way that respects the rural character, protects agriculture, and aligns with the long-term capacity of the area. Specifically, the goals are to:
- Build long term fiscal sustainability through disciplined planning and effective operation.
- Protect and strengthen the authentic rural character that defines Clearwater County,
- Strengthen relationships through transparency, clarity and meaningful engagement.
- Community Policing Plans During consideration of Community Policing Plans, 3 options were presented:
- Option 1 to continue with the current priorities to focus on crime reduction, traffic safety, and drug trafficking along with its related enforcement.
- Option 2 suggested doing a community survey to gather public opinion on policing.
- Option 3 would be for Council to make special recommendations for policing.
In the end a motion was made to proceed with Option 1 with the addition of human trafficking to the list of current priorities.
Once again, special kudos to our dedicated councillors for their distinct efforts to really consider all aspects of issues before making final decisions. This often includes post-poning decisions until more information is gathered as well as recognizing/valuing public opinion.
UP-COMING MEETINGS: Wednesday, June 10 and Wednesday, September 9 both at 7:30PM at the Leslieville Elks Hall. Special note: We do take a break for July and August and hope you might also be able to enjoy some summer fun.
- Summer holidays are a time for sunshine, adventure, and creating unforgettable memories. Unknown.
- Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Jenny Han
- Summer’s lease hath all too short a date. William Shakespeare
