Mayor Miroslav Goldir. (source: TASR)
The town of Príkra, near the Polish border in eastern Slovakia, is the smallest one in the country. In total, 12 residents live there, comprising four families.
"That is just about enough in my opinion. Of those, eight are always here. After the Velvet Revolution, only five people lived here," mayor Miroslav Goldir told the Korzár website.
No children live in the village. It's been 15 years since a child was born there. The oldest resident is 74 years old.
For Goldir, being the mayor is just a quarter-hour job. As his pay is €100, he would not be able to afford almost anything. That is why he is also a full-time operator of a butcher shop in the nearby town of Svidník. Goldir leaves the town at 5 o'clock in the morning to get to work.
Everybody likes the way it is
In addition to residents, there are people who have huts in the town. Sometimes in summer the number of people rises to 30.
"Actually, everybody is happy that not so many people live here. I like it that way too, it's quiet," says the mayor.
Beautiful stars can be seen at night, there is no light here, he adds.
This is because the town has just enough money to pay for electricity in the town hall. The street lights are only turned on when necessary, for example when there are more people, celebrations, New Year's Eve. Also, everyone provides a helping hand when necessary.
Even though many would want to buy a house in the town, no one wants to sell their property.
"We hold it dear. We are in a valley, a quiet place, surrounded by beautiful nature, so many mushrooms," explains the mayor.
Sometimes hens and roosters can be heard. Nobody in the town has goats and cows.
The village of Príkra. (source: obecprikra.sk)
Only electricity and the Internet
In his opinion, no one in Príkra misses modern life.
Moreover, there is no post office, grocery store or tavern. A bus service operates solely during the summer holiday. If people need to do some shopping, several people get together, take a taxi and do the shopping.
Sometimes, the mayor himself buys meat for the residents.
"We live modestly," he says.
The residents have had Internet connection for the last two years. There is neither water nor waste nor natural gas infrastructure. If they need heat, they burn wood.
"Some cottagers turned on their electric heater in the winter, but then their eyes rolled when they received an arrears of over €1,000," says the mayor.
Winter is sometimes difficult. Snowploughs sometimes have trouble reaching the town, but the mayor says they still manage.
