Village of Major council asks for more information on amalgamation
By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice
MAJOR – The Village of Major council wants more information about amalgamation with a neighbouring municipality. The decision was approved by a 2-1 vote at the Sept. 15 regular council meeting.
Village of Major resident and property owner Fiarra Nixon, in a phone call with Your West Central Voice newspaper Sept. 17, confirmed she had delivered to the mayor and councillors at their most recent meeting the results of a poll she conducted asking fellow residents essentially whether they wanted to explore possible amalgamation with the R.M. of Prairiedale.
Nixon noted that the results of the poll, which was not a legally binding petition, stated that 21 respondents wished to move forward and discuss amalgamation, five respondents voiced against going forward and four respondents were undecided. The 2021 Stats Canada census lists Major's official population as 35 people.
Nixon stated in the interview that she felt Major's tax base is insufficient to support the village's infrastructure demands, and therefore felt amalgamation with Prairiedale should be discussed.
Your West Central Voice contacted Mayor Dan Wenzel by phone Sept. 17 and he stated that the poll results were not an official petition and no process to amalgamate with another municipality was underway. The mayor also stated he saw no way to confirm whether every resident of Major participated in the poll.
When contacted by phone Sept. 17, R.M. of Prairiedale Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Charlotte Helfrich, who also acts as CAO for the Village of Major, noted that after the results of the poll were given to councillors at the Sept. 15 meeting, a resolution was passed to table the issue and that staff bring back more information about the amalgamation process to a future council meeting.
Wenzel voted against researching more information on amalgamation while councillors Ian Jamieson and Jerry Ostrowski voted in favour.