The former village dissolved to become a hamlet within the County of Grande Prairie back on July 1 (Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff)

By Shaun Penner

Alberta Community Partnership

County seeking provincial funds to help with Hythe infrastructure repairs

Aug 25, 2021 | 11:54 AM

The County of Grande Prairie is applying for over $1 million in provincial funding to aid in the transition of the former Village of Hythe into the County.

The application for the Alberta Community Partnership program, approved by council on Monday, will seek up to $250,000 in transitional funding, while another $950,000 will be sought in infrastructure funding to help kickstart needed repairs in the new hamlet, which officially dissolved into the county back on July 1.

“There was an infrastructure study that was done prior to the dissolution of the village of Hythe (which) identified quite a bit of work that needs to be done over the next 10 years,” said Reeve Leanne Beaupre.

“This transition funding will be instrumental in starting those repairs.”

That funding would cover a part of the overall $14.2 million in infrastructure deficiencies in the former village which need to be addressed over the next decade, which were uncovered by the viability review undertaken in 2020.

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That overall tax bill was ultimately considered too much for the village to bear, which led to an overwhelming vote of support to dissolve into the County.

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While Beaupre welcomes Hythe residents into the County, she does want to ensure those future projects in the former village are paid for in the most equitable way.

“The receiving municipality virtually has no say in whether or not they will become the recipient of another municipality,” noted Beaupre. “We want to make sure it doesn’t become a burden on the rest of the taxpayers in the County of Grande Prairie.”

She adds there are several options this and future councils will consider as to how to address the costs of those future needed repairs, such as a special improvement tax for those within properties within the boundaries of Hythe.

“Or there could be, depending on where the County of Grande Prairie’s financial position is, ratepayers could see no increase to their taxes, or they could see a special tax that would help to bear the costs of some of those improvements,” said Beaupre. “And it wouldn’t necessarily fall on the balance of the County of Grande Prairie.”

Beaupre says she and the rest of council will also continue to lobby the province for additional funding to address those needed repairs in Hythe.