The Village of Hussar has always been resilient, and while 2016, was a tough year, it endured.
Mayor Tim Frank took some time to fill in The Drumheller Mail on 2016, and to look forward the new year.
“As I look back at 2016 in the Village of Hussar - I am struck by the determination and resiliency of its people. A year of challenge for sure, as our school closed its doors for good in June, and with it the closing of our municipal library and budget challenges,” said Frank.
Despite this, the village did have some great accomplishments.
“Chiefly among these being the twinning of our force main from the sewage lift station to the lagoon. And with this the confidence our lift station challenges are behind us,” he said.
The Village is in the midst of a viability study.
“The study we are undertaking has made us more proactive in every way from governance to full cost recovery. These being the criteria by which all municipalities are judged,” he said. “Indeed the Village is fortunate to have such a strong group of provincial and municipal people on our Viability Team, who are here to help us.”
He said currently Council is evaluating the infrastructure component of the Viability Study, which includes the state of the roads, water and sewer mains, and all of those buildings belonging to the Village. They are also looking at the school building to give villagers the information they need to make a final decision on its fate.
“All of these reports will give us the single biggest determining factor for our continuing viability. Out of the school closure has come the beginnings of a brand new central school - Wheatland Crossing. We have all hoped this new school would come and now it has. The closure of our library has allowed us to reinvent ourselves - introducing a new state of the art Library Book Locker System. And interesting enough other municipal libraries across the province are keenly following our progress,” he said.
He said they are looking forward to its Canada 150 Celebrations.
“We await an amazing Canada 150 Celebration in the Village this year - as we just experienced an even bigger and more beautiful Light Up The Night Christmas display in the park this year. Truly there is an excitement in the Village that is contagious!”
He says one of the most important steps the village has taken is engagement and involvement within the regional partnerships.
“The three village partnership between Standard, Rockyford and Hussar and our greater regional partnership with the County of Wheatland and Strathmore. We are an active partner in the Regional Water Corporation, which will soon be supplying Gleichen, Standard and Rockyford with clean potable water. Our partnerships have paid off in every way for us!”
“2017 may be a decision-making year for the Village of Hussar, but rest assured until that decision is made - the Village will move forward every day in every way.”
