By Jessica Jones
For the Independent
Residents of the Village of Gadsby will once again head to the polls on Nov. 13th and 14th, this time to vote on whether or not their village is dissolved.
Alberta Municipal Affairs decided to expedite a viability study of the village, following the resignations of its CAO and three-member council in early May.
Since that time, the County of Settler’s CAO, Yvette Cassidy, was appointed from Municipal Affairs to conduct monthly council meetings in the village, located 20 minutes east of Stettler.
She says if the residents choose to become a part of the County of Stettler, they would instead become the Hamlet of Gadsby.
“Nothing changes,” Cassidy said Oct. 21st.
“Residents would still have their same mailing addresses, their identity, but they would just be underneath the County of Stettler,” she said.
Cassidy further noted that they would work with the village similarly to as they have with the other six hamlets in the County.
“We have been trying to run the village as efficiently as possible but how residents decide to vote is totally up to them,” Cassidy said.
A letter from Alberta Municipal Affairs, sent to Village of Gadsby residents on Oct. 18th, details information on the Village of Gadsby Viability Review Report.
The report provides an analysis on the state of the village, details of an infrastructure audit, as well as a description of what could be expected if the village dissolves.
Cassidy says if residents decide to dissolve the village she would make recommendations to County of Stettler council that residents be taxed at the same rate as the rest of the County’s ratepayers.
“But we respect their decision, whatever it is,” Cassidy said.
A public meeting, hosted by Municipal Affairs, will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29th at the Gadsby Community Hall for residents to gain more information on Village of Gadsby Viability Review Report.
A vote of electors on the question of dissolution of the village, conducted by Municipal Affairs, will take place Nov. 13th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m, and on Nov. 14th from 10 a.m to 4 p.m at the County of Stettler – Gadsby Truck Fill Station NW 1/4 27-38-17-W4th.