Levels of taxation, municipal services and sustainability were just some of the issues raised by residents and councillors at the Village of Clyde’s viability meeting last week.
On Monday, April 11 a public meeting was held at Clyde Community Hall representing the conclusion of the three-year-long viability review process.
The decision to hold a plebiscite to dissolve the village, or remain incorporated is now in the hands of village councillors. Council’s next meeting is slatted for today, April 19, although it’s unknown if a decision will be made.
“I need feedback. I have not made a decision, I am at odds with this,” mayor Doug Nyal said candidly.
“I see benefits as the village reverting to a hamlet … I do see some benefits for our area going to the county. I do foresee where we may not have as much say within our own community.”
During the two-hour long meeting, Viability Review Team chair Bill Diepeveen presented the team’s findings as outlined in the March 2016 Village of Clyde Viability Plan and Next Steps Report. It then opened up into a question-and-answer period.
“As long as we stay a village, the government is going to be watching us. They’re going to say ‘look you guys, this has got to get done,’” said resident Alyce Olson, referring to government directives council would get from Municipal Affairs should it remain incorporated.
“If we dissolve, we become the county’s problem and the county doesn’t quite have that watchdog that we do now because of this review.”
Dennis Hampshire said the village’s viability hinges on community support for such things as the Clyde Agricultural Society’s annual Ag 500 event each spring.
“It’s great that people come out and support their opinions at this [meeting] … and there’s not too many faces that I see here that come and support our biggest ag society fundraiser … it all goes back to the community,” Hampshire said.
“Whatever happens, happens. If we decide on dissolution and we become part of the county, maybe that’s in the cards.
“Myself, I do not want to see that.”
Nyal echoed Hampshire’s thoughts about the ag society, adding that it contributes to the municipality’s sustainability.
“The Clyde Ag Society virtually relieves the village of a whole lot of recreation, relieves the village council for funding, which in turn is your tax dollars,” said the mayor.
“The ag society manages all these properties, the curling rink, this building, the ball diamonds, the rodeo grounds, gymkhana grounds … if we didn’t have the ag society and we wanted all those things, you’d all be picking up those costs.”
However, not everyone was as optimistic the village could remain.
“The viability review has really shown us something; staying a village is not the option, we’re heading for a hamlet, or we should be trying to achieve [town status,]” said one resident.
Some indicated their desire to stay incorporated, but questioned its practicality.
“I would believe we should stay a village, but I don’t have an argument myself why we should,” said resident Omar Sieben, who’s also a former village councillor. “If we have to follow the recommendations of this viability review, there’s no way there isn’t going to be tax increases for all of us. Someone, tell me why we should stay a village? I think we should, but I’m struggling with why we should.”
Ann Wegernoski, the resident who started the petition for a municipal review, complained that taxes are too high.
“When I moved here, my taxes on an empty lot were $32, it went up to $200 to $300 to $400 to $600, now it’s $800,” Wegernoski said.
“I just don’t see any justification in that, how much more can you put our taxes up to keep our village afloat?”
From Nyal’s view, the biggest challenge to remaining incorporated is having residents step up and run for council.
“The biggest obstacle I see for the Village of Clyde standing in front of us is not financial,” Nyal said. “The biggest issue we have is having people sit in these five seats. Competent people … people that are willing to do the work to operate our council.”
While presenting the viability review team’s findings, Diepeveen identified Clyde’s infrastructure deficit a factor towards non-viability, but acknowledged a lack of debt as a positive contributor.
As part of the viability process, in December 2015 village council received an infrastructure assessment report that says repairs will cost the village over $9.1 million over the next decade, while listing $3.6 million worth of outstanding work as an “immediate” priority.
“We recognize that the infrastructure audit came up with a pretty significant bill, we also recognize that poses challenges to a municipality,” he said.
Following the meeting, the municipality’s fate was put in council’s hand. Should it decide to remain, Municipal Affairs will provide mandated directives that council must follow.
“The minister has the opportunity to order that certain, if not all, the recommendations of the viability plan are implemented,” said Diepeveen.
“The minister would then monitor the actual compliance with that and the directives to see how things are going.”
If council chooses to dissolve, a plebiscite would be held to either ratify or reject the decision in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act.
Municipal Affairs has not set a firm timeline for a decision, however Diepeveen said it should be sooner rather than later.
“The minister will be waiting and if it begins to drag out, I suspect the minister will want to have an answer and might come knocking on the door.”
The viability review was prompted by Wegernoski’s 2013 petition requesting a municipal review. The viability team was assembled in May 2013 and in October 2014 presented the Initial Findings Report, which found the village was trending towards non-viability.
