Wayne Wilcox has resigned as the mayor of Clyde, indicating he is suffering from ongoing health problems.And after serving the village for nearly two years, his resignation arrived on interim chief administrative officer Annette Schwab’s desk several months before the term is scheduled to end.
Not only has Wilcox resigned as mayor, he’s stepped down from council too.
“I’m really going to miss the people and the council,” he said. “That’s my biggest regret.”
But Wilcox said it was time to step down from mayoral duties and put his health first.
“I’ve got a heart problem,” Wilcox explained, adding his doctor has encouraged him to reduce stress from his life.
“We’ve got four excellent councillors who know what they’re doing and can handle it.”
And while Clyde is in the midst of a dissolution study, it remains unclear whether the village will continue operating as its own municipality or become a hamlet within the county of Westlock.
However, there is no timeline set for when the study is to be completed, nor a deadline for when the Municipal Affairs minister will rule based on the study’s findings.
So it’s possible the mayor’s resignation should not hinder the dissolution process.
“From what I understand the dissolution is not going to happen until next year,” Coun. Neil Olson said.
“So I don’t think it will make any difference because it would’ve been after the next election anyhow.”
According to Wilcox, the letter of resignation is effective immediately and the Village of Clyde plans to meet and discuss what the next steps to establish should be.
Council will need to develop a course of action to elect a mayor, deputy mayor and design a business continuity plan starting during the next regular council meeting on March 19.
However, Olson and Wilcox said it’s unlikely the village will host a byelection before October’s municipal election.
“I’m just one person in here,” Wilcox concluded. “The dissolution wasn’t just from one councillor or person, it’s got to do with everybody in town.”
