Botha decides

Residents of the tiny village of Botha, population 204, have decided to dissolve.
In the village-wide vote, 52 out of the 57 voters chose option two, to dissolve the Village of Botha and become a hamlet in the County of Stettler.
The vote took place Monday, May 15, after over two years of study into the viability of the village.
Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1911, the Village of Botha has struggled with low revenues and failing infrastructure and needed to take steps to ensure the community’s future.
The process began with Botha council requesting a viability review in response to residents’ request and completing a self-assessment of the village’s viability in October 2014.
The viability review was formally initiated in October 2015.
After polls closed on Monday, the Declaration of Vote Results was posted on the Botha Community Centre door.
One of the residents who had walked over to see the results for himself, remarked that he was relieved.  “Glad it’s done.  Now we can move on.”
With 91 per cent of the voters choosing dissolution, the Minister of Municipal Affairs must recommend to the provincial Cabinet that the Village of Botha be dissolved to become a hamlet in the County of Stettler.

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