There has been little visible progress on the dissolution study for the Village of Clyde nearly six months after a petition was forwarded to Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Jerry Ward, a spokesperson for municipal affairs, said Minister Doug Griffiths is still in the process of determining how the study will take place.
“The minister is deciding on the format and the processes and the timelines involved with this study,” he said.
The process itself began last spring, when Clyde resident Ann Wegernoski circulated a petition calling on municipal affairs to determine whether the village should dissolve and become a hamlet within Westlock County.
Ward said there is no way to determine exactly how long this process will take, noting there are currently dissolution studies pending for two other Alberta municipalities — Tilley and Minburn.
“We basically get about three or four requests per year to do these studies,” he said.
Since 2001, the ministry has conducted 30 dissolution studies with just nine of those ultimately resulting in the municipality actually dissolving.
The dissolution study process could look different for Clyde, however, as a new municipal sustainability strategy has been adopted in conjunction with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties.
“We’re trying to get away from dissolution studies because it seems to pit residents against residents,” he said. “We’re working with the municipal associations to develop a more streamlined process, basically to get them involved in it as well — the municipal associations — as well as the two municipalities.”
There are typically several criteria involved in determining if a municipality will dissolve.
“We want to take a good look at the municipality’s strengths and weaknesses as well, and give them advice on how to prop up the weaknesses and tell them what they’re doing well, as well,” Ward said.
That process involves public consultation through public meetings, as well as discussions with the municipal councils in question. All of that information is given to the minister, who then makes a decision.
Clyde mayor Wayne Wilcox said the village council is taking the attitude that no news is good news, and is continuing on with business as usual.
“At least we’re not being told we’re going to dissolve and it’s going to be done shortly,” he said. “We have a hope that we’re going to carry on and that’s how council is looking at it.”
He said he still feels that dissolution would not be in the best interest of the village, which has been incorporated since 1914 and currently has a population of about 500 people.
“If we become a hamlet, no disrespect to the county but I think we’d lost an awful lot,” he said.
Westlock County reeve Charles Navratil said while his council has heard little from Alberta Municipal Affairs on the matter, but understands the decision will be made by the minister and the minister alone.
“We will have no choice. If they decide they will dissolve Clyde and put it into Westlock County, that happens. It’s not something we debate with them,” he said.
