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Clyde will remain as a village

The Village of Clyde will remain an incorporated municipality after councillors voted against possible dissolution last week, concluding a marathon viability review process.
The Village of Clyde will remain as an incorporated municipality following council’s May 16 decision.
The Village of Clyde will remain as an incorporated municipality following council’s May 16 decision.

The Village of Clyde will remain an incorporated municipality after councillors voted against possible dissolution last week, concluding a marathon viability review process.

At their May 16 meeting, councillors cited strong support from residents to remain a village before making their decision official.

“I think at this point in time, I’d rather stay as a village, and that’s the feedback I get, that people would like to stay as a village … for now,” said Coun. Neil Olson, who was council’s representative on the Village of Clyde Viability Review Team.

Council unanimously supported the motion, with the exception of Coun. Don Domingue, who was absent. The decision means that residents will not vote in a plebiscite.

“I had asked council and that wasn’t their desire to do that, they didn’t think [a plebiscite] was necessary so we voted to go this way,” said mayor Doug Nyal.

A plebiscite would have first required council to recommend dissolution. A decision electors would ratify or reject in a vote.

Alberta Municipal Affairs will now mandate council to follow directives towards becoming more viable. Many were already outlined in the March 2016 Village of Clyde Viability Plan and Next Steps Report.

“The minister is going to review [it] and then she’ll decide which ones are directives that must be done and which ones are recommendations,” said Municipal Affairs spokesperson Jerry Ward.

Recommendations include conducting a comprehensive strategic plan, training employees, enhance regional partnerships and the approval of a 10-year capital plan.

“I think we’re moving towards most of the recommendations anyway. Council has been very diligent on looking at those recommendations and moving towards them,” Olson said.

How council will report back to Municipal Affairs, Ward said would also be outlined in a letter from the department. Ward said he expects the letter to be drafted in the coming weeks.

“I figured that’s what they’d do and I’m afraid our taxes are going to shoot up again,” said Ann Wegernoski the resident who initiated the viability process.

Wegernoski added she was disappointed not to see any tangible numbers for taxation during the viability process — up or down if Clyde joined the county.

“I was hoping if they’re doing a study, why wouldn’t they come up with some facts?” she asked.

“I can’t do any more myself, so I guess it is what it its.”

The process began in January 2013 after Wegernoski’s successful petition garnered the required signatures from residents.

The viability review team was assembled in May 2013 and in October 2014 presented the Initial Findings Report, which found the village was trending towards non-viability.

“I’ve had a couple people that I don’t normally talk to, or we don’t usually converse and they’ve made a point of contacting me, recommending we stay as a village,” said Nyal.

Added Coun. Nat Dvernichuk: “A lot of people that I’ve spoken to said the same thing. They’re proud to be where they are.”

Nyal said he was pleased to finally put the lingering process to rest.

“I’m glad the decision has been made. The process was long and arduous. Good information came out of the process, good information we can use to move forward with,” he said.

“The whole process took too long. I think we made the right decision at this point in time,” Olson said.

“I think it’s what’s right for the village and the ratepayers, that we control our own destiny.”

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