Donalda residents appear to strongly oppose the possibility of dissolving their municipal Village of Donalda into the County of Stettler.
Before casting ballots in a non-binding vote March 30, village residents voiced their views and questions during an information meeting March 23 hosted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs as officials presented the dissolution study and answered questions.
Many residents strongly opposed the dissolution and urged their village neighbours to write to Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau to forcefully express their passion to preserve their municipality with 224 residents.
“Donalda has a lot going for it,” said Tammy Van Haga, a resident for 25 years, speaking at the meeting that drew about 130 people at Donalda Community Hall.
“We all need to write the minister a letter.”
Although the vote has taken place, residents may still write to the minister by April 6.
“We should all pull together to remain the (municipal) Village of Donalda,” added Jackie Sutton, residing in Donalda since 1985.
“We have a great town and I, too, want everyone to write to the minister.”
From the number of stickynotes on the wall where residents were requested to post their views on the issue, 62 opposed dissolution, nine were undecided and none supported the dissolution.
Many of the notes reflected that people want to remain as a municipality to retain local services, autonomy and decision-making.
Following the meeting, local municipal officials were optimistic the village would remain a municipality.
“I feel very confident for the village that people will vote for the best interest of everybody and that being to remain as a (municipal) village,” Mayor Terry Nordahl said when asked by the Independent following the meeting.
The dissolution study report, feedback from the village and county councils and residents, and the result of the votes will assist Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau in deciding whether to recommend to the cabinet the dissolution of the village.
After the vote, the minister would take about three months to decide on dissolution.
When asked at the meeting, a Municipal Affairs official said the minister has never dissolved a municipality where residents strongly oppose it.