Council news: Agricultural advisory committee approved
Clearview Township council has approved the creation of its first Agricultural Advisory Committee, which will convene at the beginning of the next term of council.
The terms of reference, approved at the March 23 meeting, states the committee will provide advice and recommendations to council on matters affecting agriculture and rural communities within the township.
It will be comprised of four community representatives and one council rep.
Councillor Robert McArthur said he has already had three inquiries about participation.
“I don’t think we’re going to have any trouble filling this committee. As we all know, with the radar, this is a timely topic,” he said, referring to the Department of National Defence’s development of the Arctic Over- the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) on agricultural land in Clearview, which took farmers by surprise.
Deputy Mayor Paul Van Staveren said he likes how the committee has been structured to represent all agriculture in Clearview. He said he has heard interest in adding representation of the various commodities.
“We can always help it grow later if everything continues on,” he said.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee will be asked to provide input on: the implementation of provincial and federal legislation, policies and guidelines related to the agricultural industry; agricultural and rural policy directions, providing advice on official plan amendments, zoning bylaw updates, and other policy matters related to agricultural lands and rural issues; the implementation of programs to encourage public awareness and education of agricultural related issues; and identify emerging issues affecting agriculture and rural communities, including matters related to land use, infrastructure, and agricultural sustainability and provide input to council where appropriate.
With a municipal election scheduled for October, it will be up to new members of council to review applications and appoint the members in December or January.
Ice jam causes erosion at Carruthers Park
Don Little, NVCA’s manager of stewardship and restoration services, said a report received last week from a river morphologist outlined the erosion at Carruthers Memorial Park in Avening caused by the spring thaw.
He said 10 metres of the 80-metre bank stabilization project washed away as a result of an ice jam that occurred 1.5 kilometres upriver of the park
“That ice jam diverted the stream flow through an agricultural field, right through the middle of Carruthers Park and it caused head-gutting right at the top end of that bank stabilization project,” said Little.
“The remaining 70 metres fared pretty well,” said Little. “When we design these habitat features we design them to resist the water in its natural state of the stream. It’s hard to predict these types of events where you never know where the water is going to behind that habitat feature and eroded in behind it and undermine those rocks and eventually washed that 10 metre section away.”
He said they are looking into next steps to repair the eroded section.
New vegetation hadn’t had much time to establish so he was encouraged to see that most of it fared well. He expects it will be adequately strengthened once it is more established.
Council assured water quality is top notch
The Township of Clearview has received a perfect mark for drinking water inspections and annual management of the system.
Compliance coordinator Warren Raymond reported 100 per cent compliance rating on all Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks inspections for the 2025 inspection period.
“It’s a testament to the township’s high standards, dedication, knowledge and competency of operational staff and the commitment from both management and top management who support those efforts to provide safe drinking water,” he said.
The report included four incidents of adverse drinking water tests (three incidents of low pressure and one case of coliform detection in raw water samples.)
“I think it’s important that people are aware, we are not infallible,” said Deputy Mayor Paul Van Staveren. “We have situations that happen but our staff was able to handle them so thank you very much.”
