Residents of the Village of Gadsby will once again head to the polls, this time to vote on whether or not their village is dissolved.
Municipal Affairs decided to expedite a viability study of the village, following the resignations of its CAO and three-member council in early May. The vote is scheduled for Nov. 13 and 14.
Since that time, the County of Settler’s CAO Yvette Cassidy was appointed to conduct monthly council meetings in the village, located about 30 km east of Stettler.
Cassidy stated if the residents choose to become a part of the County of Stettler, they would instead become the Hamlet of Gadsby.
“Nothing changes,” she said.
“Residents would still have their same mailing addresses, their identity, but they would just be underneath the County of Stettler.”
Cassidy further noted that the county would work with the village, similar to what they do 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.
In a letter from Municipal Affairs that was sent to Village of Gadsby residents on Oct. 18, it provided detailed information on the Village of Gadsby Viability Review Report.
That report included an analysis on the state of the village and details of an infrastructure audit as well as a description of what could be expected if the village dissolves.
Cassidy explained that if residents decide to dissolve the village, she would make recommendations to the 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 added.
A public meeting was hosted by Municipal Affairs on Oct. 29 for residents to gain more information on Viability Review Report.
Eligible voters will be able to cast their yes or no ballot at the County of Stettler’s Gadsby truck filling station from 4 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 13 and then 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 14.