Galahad Viability Review update – stakeholder input released
Last May’s open house regarding Galahad’s viability review produced a What We Have Heard and Viability Determination Report.
The document contains input from stakeholders, responses to stakeholder’s questions, a viability determination, and the next steps in the process.
Attendees at the open house were asked to fill out a questionnaire, and answers could be handed in that day or faxed or emailed in later.
The reponses to the questionnaire have been published in the report.
The findings show that those who own property in Galahad are mostly concerned with shrinking population, stagnant growth, and lack of maintenance in the village.
Other questions brought forward by stakeholders were also addressed.
Until the viability review process is completed, municipal facilities and services in Galahad will continue in a normal manner.
If the village is deemed to not be viable and is dissolved, the County will take possession of Public Works equipment, as well as all liabilities and assets.
The operation of community facilities may be up for consideration, however, and the County may choose to have community groups run them, or may find other options.
Other issues, such as bylaw enforcement, if dissolution is approved, will be sorted out in the upcoming Viability Plan.
The electors of Galahad will only be able to cast a vote on the future of the village if dissolution is voted in by the Village Council.
The input from these questionnaires has resulted in the determination that Galahad is trending toward non-viability.
Several factors have contributed to this determination.
Many provincial grants previously distributed to the village have been cut, which has caused deficits in finances that will result in future tax hikes or will eventually cause the village to use up their reserves.
This financial deficit will also cause necessary repairs and upgrades to infrastructure to go incompleted.
Not only has the overall population of Galahad decreased in recent history, the average age of residents continues to rise.
Development and growth have been severely lacking in the Village, and attraction and retention of qualified staff for the village’s existing infrastructure has been problematic.
Along with Flagstaff County and the Village of Galahad, the Viability Review Team has been building their Viability Plan for the future of the Village.
This Plan will lay out the options to make Galahad a viable municipality once again, and a suggestion as to whether or not the village should dissolve into a hamlet.
The report is available in full on the Municipal Affairs section of the Government of Alberta website.
The next meeting for Galahad’s Viability Review will take place on Feb. 23.
Megan Lockhart
Staff Reporter
