Town of Falher residents requested to vote on June 23

Emily Plihal
Smoky River Express

Next Tuesday, a vote will be held to determine Falher’s future status.

Yesterday a meeting was held to explain the dissolution process to residents of Falher, who will be requested to vote on June 23.

Information packages were sent by the Alberta government to each taxpayer two weeks ago, informing them of how current services would change upon dissolution.

The dissolution process officially began late last fall, when Town of Falher council examined the possibilities of amalgamating as part of the Municipal District of Smoky River.

“For our community to remain viable and sustainable in the future, we had to look at doing our business differently,” says Town of Falher Mayor Margaret Tardif.

The decision, which was reached at a special meeting held on Oct. 8, 2008, was sought by the Town of Falher to take the lead in search of a more streamlined level of municipal operation that addresses both effectiveness and efficiency.

The municipality attributes the recent decision to a number of factors, including increasing operational costs and a declining population. The present population in Falher is at 941 and the total population of the Smoky River region is just under 5,000.

The study, which was delivered two weeks ago, includes information of how the potential amalgamation of the Municipal District of Smoky River and the town of Falher would impact the residents of both the M.D. and the town.

“We look at such things as how the services provided by the town would be impacted by the town becoming part of the M.D.,” said Alberta Municipal Affairs Sustainability Advisor Lynne Nieman Nieman when she visited Falher last fall. “The Minister needs to know how the M.D. would provide services if the town were to dissolve.”

Voting day has been scheduled for June 23. Residents will be able vote as to whether or not they’d like the town to dissolve into a hamlet of the M.D.

The non-binding vote will include the question “Are you in favour of dissolving the Town of Falher to become part of the Municipal District of Smoky River number 130”.

In accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act, you must be at least 18 years of age, a Canadian Citizen, a resident of Alberta for the six consecutive months preceding the vote and a resident of the Town of Falher on the day of the vote.

“Just because a study is being undertaken, does not mean a dissolution will occur,” explained Nieman. “The final decision of whether or not dissolution should occur is left to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. He will then (if he decides Falher should dissolve) bring his decision to Cabinet to seek a dissolution.”

The dissolution study report, feedback from residents and the councils of the town and M.D., and the result of the vote will taken into consideration by the Minister of Municipal Affairs in deciding whether to recommend dissolution.

The municipal affairs office collected information about Falher to conduct the dissolution study. The process was strongly aided by Town of Falher chief administrative officer Gerard Nicolet.

The study was also sent to the M.D. Office for councillors to evaluate the information.

Municipal affairs acquire information on all the services provided by the town, which enabled the M.D. to answer how they’d provide the same services.

Following the town’s vote, a final decision will be made by the minister.

If the minister approves dissolution, another letter will be sent to residents. The decision must also be approved by Alberta’s Cabinet.

“If there is anything residents don’t understand in the study, they should make it a point to come to the meeting on Tuesday,” says Tardif. “Please come and ask questions to inform yourself.”

Currently, Falher is an incorporated municipality that gives the power to council to pass bylaws, provide services to residents, and to collect property taxes and other revenues to support the services.

If Falher is to dissolve, it would become the M.D. Of Smoky River’s responsibility to govern, serve, and tax residents of Falher.

Falher was incorporated as a village on Sept. 5, 1923, and changed its status to a town on Jan. 1, 1955.

The community currently only has a population base of 941 people.

Services that would remain the same if the community were to dissolve would include; 911 service, ambulance service, community organizations, electrical power and natural gas and franchise agreements, local improvement tax, grass cutting, property tax payment plan, RCMP service, regional services (such as FCSS, Economic Development, etc.), Safety Codes Inspection Services, streetlights, utility billing and rates, and utility water and sewer infrastructure.

Some things will change if Falher dissolves. The M.D. Would provide services to the residents of the community. Currently the hamlets of Guy and Jean Cote are under the direction of the M.D.

The cemetery, which is currently non-denominational and leased from the Catholic Church, will revert back to the Church. Upon dissolution the perpetual care fund would be given to the parish Ste. Anne for the care of the cemetery.

The Town of Falher has a multi-year capital infrastructure plan. If dissolution were to occur, the M.D. infrastructure plan will be amended to include Falher. The M.D. council would use Falher’s transferred funds to undertake projects in Falher.

Currently the Town of Falher council includes seven members, elected by town residents. The M.D. council consists of six members elected in six electoral wards. If dissolution occurs, one elector from the hamlet of Falher would be added to the M.D. council, until the next municipal election scheduled for Nov. 2010.

Before the next election, the electoral boundaries would be adjusted to ensure equal representation between the M.D.’s electoral wards.

Falher residents will be eligible to vote at the next municipal election. Smoky River councillors chosen would be appointed to boards and committees in the community.

Existing bylaws and bylaw enforcement will undergo minor alterations upon dissolution.

Current town bylaws will remain in place until the M.D. chooses to change, repeal, or replace them with M.D. bylaws.

The municipal administrator in Falher is the town bylaw officer, who works with public works staff to deal with unsightly premises, animal control and noise and traffic bylaws with the RCMP.

Upon dissolution, the M.D. council will appoint a bylaw enforcement officer for the hamlet of Falher.

After-hours emergencies and general inquiries would be directed to the M.D. Office. Public works department would address emergencies, which the study explains could take approximately one hour to respond to, depending on the location of the M.D. employee and the severity of the emergency.

Falher would no longer be eligible to apply directly for grants. The M.D.’s grant allocation may increase based on the increase of population or assessment. All projects and programs in Falher will be considered along the needs of the rest of the M.D.

Ownership of the town facilities and agreements with the town would transfer to the M.D. The town owns the municipal office building, which assists non-profit groups and services to the public. If dissolution occurs, Falher residents would access municipal services and make utility and tax payments at the M.D. office located in Falher.

Any changes to programs and services will be communicated to Falher residents.

Municipal property taxes will be transferred to the M.D. The town has established municipal tax rates that may be altered upon dissolution. The M.D. would include a special tax levy, as part of the property taxes levied in the hamlet of Falher, for the annual payment on Falher’s existing unsupported debt until it is paid in 2025.

The M.D.’s 2008 combined tax rate for residential properties (including special tax levy for debt) is about 31 per cent less than the town’s tax rate and about 4.5 per cent less for non-residential properties.

Taxes are due to the M.D. on July 31 of each year. On Aug. 1, a penalty of 10 per cent would be levied on unpaid current taxes. This contrasts to Falher’s annual tax assessment and tax notice sent out to property owners on May 31, and due 30 days after mailing date.

Recreation facilities including the outdoor swimming pool, wading pool, Mencke-Nicolet log cabin, ball diamonds, and campgrounds are currently owned by the town. Agreements are held with the Falher Recreation Development Society for the rec complex, and the Falher Curling Society operates the curling rink, upon dissolution these agreements would continue with the M.D.

Funding may be reviewed, and the facilities would be reviewed based on their need in the community. Some cuts may be made to current funding of the rec complex.

The M.D. will assume care, control and management of Falher’s roadways. It will be responsible for the review of the necessity of road construction and maintenance.

The M.D. will also review the snow clearing practices, incorporating Falher into their current winter road maintenance policies.

Remember to vote next Tuesday, to help determine the future of the Town of Falher.

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