News that Alberta Municipal Affairs has received a petition from residents of the Village of Clyde, and will now begin the process of appointing an administrator to conduct a dissolution study, is good news for the whole area.
It is important to note that while a study ultimately may or may not show it’s beneficial for the village to dissolve and become a hamlet within Westlock County, the decision ultimately rests with the minister and with the provincial cabinet as a whole.
Should the recommendation be made, and then accepted by cabinet, there could be some significant benefits to both the village and county.
For the village, it will mean less of the ratepayer money going to pay councillors and administrators, which could ultimately mean more money spent on improving the area’s streets and parks.
And for any village resident who has attended a council meeting, it should be clear that despite their obviously good intentions, councillors don’t always behave in the most professional ways or run their meetings as efficiently as one might hope.
Furthermore the position of chief administrator in the village is still vacant and it will likely be very difficult to fill that position with someone who is well qualified to do the job.
For the county, it will mean another 500 residents and the tax dollars they bring in.
The money saved on councillors’ salaries and administrators’ pay could help improve the services in the village and still result in an overall cost reduction.
It would also mean that the many multi-municipal committees and organizations could have fewer people sitting on them, with only two municipalities in the region to represent.
Of course we must also be conscious of the fact there could be some negative repercussions for both municipalities.
Clyde residents opposed to dissolution would undoubtedly be the first to point out that roads might not get plowed as quickly in the winter, or public lawns get mowed as quickly in the summer, if the process is organized on a county-wide basis instead of right within the village.
The pros and cons will undoubtedly be outlined if and when the petition is accepted and a study is commissioned, but it seems clear the arguments in favour of dissolution far outweigh the possible drawbacks.
