Ma-Me-O Beach could face dissolution in wake of $5M debt from sewage project

The Summer Village of Ma-Me-O Beach, Alta., is undergoing a viability review after a failed wastewater system that cost the municipality more than $5 million.

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver initiated the viability review in December.

The process will look at whether the community — 100 kilometres southwest of Edmonton on the southeast shore of Pigeon Lake — is able to survive on its own or should be dissolved, becoming a hamlet in the County of Wetaskiwin.

Residents will vote on the issue in February 2025, according to information from the province.

Mayor Christine Holmes, who was elected in 2021, said dissolution could benefit the summer village and the county but it wouldn't be easy.

"It's hard to imagine us losing our identity and kind of our unique culture," Holmes told CBC's Edmonton AM on Wednesday. 

But she said dissolution might not be avoidable as the village is "financially paralyzed."

"It's hard to do any projects, it's hard to do any improvements, infrastructure improvements, even to just naturally grow as a community."

LISTEN | Ma-Me-O Beach undergoing a provincial viability review

Holmes said the wastewater project, completed by PME Inc. in late 2017 at a cost of nearly $3 million, was a contentious issue among residents from the start.

Problems began within a year as sewage leaks, including leaks of toilet waste, were discovered multiple times. 

Issues were discovered with the electrical heat trace system, which was supposed to prevent the pipes from freezing in winter.

The contractor was forced to make repairs but the system continued to fail. 

In February 2020 the village went into arbitration with the contractor after PME refused to do more work and asked to be paid for repair work previously done.