By Adam Ophus

"It's a big process"

Town and County amalgamation discussion likely to take place during mediation

Dec 17, 2019 | 12:04 PM

The Town of Rocky Mountain House will soon begin amalgamation discussions with Clearwater County and the Village of Caroline.

Town council held a special meeting last Thursday to discuss the idea, which Mayor Tammy Burke has been floated for several years now.

“There’s a lot we need to understand about it, it’s a big process and it’s not going to happen overnight,” she says.

Burke noted that there are incentives for the municipalities beginning talks as soon as possible.

“There is a time sensitive grant, and if we do this together we could get $200,000 to explore that, but if we do it by ourselves it would only be $20,000, and we’re also looking at the time sensitivity for the grant because we only have until January 20th.”

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The amalgamation process would have to follow everything laid out in the Municipal Government Act, Burke explains.

“As you know we’re in mediation, and we want to follow through with those mediation talks as well, so it will probably come forward then,” she said in reference to upcoming talks regarding the future regional fire services.

Burke wanted to emphasize that this discussion was for the betterment of the community and that “the town is not in any financial dire straits.”

Anyone with questions or concerns about amalgamation is asked to call 403-845-2866.