Residents of Halkirk, a village in east-central Alberta located between Stettler and Castor, will be voting on their future in the coming days.
Following a meeting in town where members of Alberta's Municipal Affairs reviewed a viability report, the village will head to the polls on Oct. 8 and 9 to decide whether to remain as a village or dissolve and become a hamlet within Paintearth County.
The vote will be the second one on the subject, with the village initially going to the polls in the spring of 2022; during that vote, the residents voted in favour of remaining an independent municipality.
Turbulent times
In the time since that vote, things have been turbulent in the village with conflict between village administration, residents and council.
A by-election was triggered in the fall of 2022 when former mayor Thomas Schmidt resigned from council, and another was triggered when all three councillors resigned in the fall of 2023.
Once the new council was sworn in, in the fall of 2023, changes were made in the village's administration and processes were underway to begin getting the village on the right course.
First vote
In the lead-up to the first vote, a viability report was compiled, including an infrastructure study.
The study shows that the condition of the infrastructure in the village is in such poor shape that around $8 million (estimated) worth of work needs to be done.
After the initial vote to remain as a village was concluded, the minister of Municipal Affairs, Ric McIver, issued directives to the community to resolve the infrastructure deficit.
Directives included developing a 10-year plan to deal with the deficit, conducting an inventory of municipal properties, and assessing staffing levels to ascertain that the proper level of services is being offered to the community.
None of these directives were addressed.
Lead up to second vote
Based on the infrastructure deficit and the village's small tax base, around 90 residents, council determined that there was little realistic way to overcome matters.
An audience was sought with the minister and a request was made for a second vote, which was granted in June 2024.
Residents had the opportunity to weigh in through the process this time; a survey was conducted online by Municipal Affairs, and an in-person public engagement session was held at the beginning of summer.
After the public engagement session, a team from Municipal Affairs went to work updating the viability study.
Second public engagement session
On Sept. 24, around 25 people gathered at the Halkirk community hall, with representatives from Municipal Affairs.
The updated report shows that per the 2023 audited financial statements for the village, around $112,000 and another approximately $373,500 was raised through user fees, government grants and other sources, for a total revenue of just under $486,000.
In order to just handle the items on the infrastructure study, the village would need to have revenues of over $868,000 to factor in the actual operations of the village.
Forward steps
The two delegates from Municipal Affairs noted that regardless of what the residents decide during the vote, things will change in the community.
If village residents vote to remain as a village, the minister will again issue directives that must be followed, with yearly reporting and check-ins.
Taxes would likely have to rise significantly to pay for the needed work and staffing directed by the viability report and the Municipal Government Act.
If residents choose to vote to dissolve into Paintearth County, the minister will have no choice but to recommend the dissolution to cabinet and after a transition period, the county would take over likely around Jan. 1, 2025.
Should the village dissolve, the council will also dissolve at the takeover of the county, and the village, then hamlet, residents would be represented at the county council by the division four councillor, which is currently Terry Vockeroth.
The vote
The vote will take place from 4-8 p.m. on Oct. 8. and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Oct. 9.
Municipal Affairs is handling all aspects of the vote, and it is being held under the guidelines of the Local Authorities Elections Act.
Voters must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens, and residents of Halkirk on the day of the vote.
The vote results will be posted on the door of the village office on Oct. 9 an hour or two after the vote is concluded.
