Frustration is mounting on the part of the Town of Drumheller in regards to the unkept rail right of way through the town.
Last week Mayor Terry Yemen fired off letters to MP Kevin Sorenson and MLA Rick Strankman to bring awareness to the problem.
“The Town of Drumheller is frustrated with the lack of upkeep on CN land through the valley,” said Yemen in a letter to Sorenson. “Once again, the CN right of way has become an unsightly problem within the town limits of Drumheller, particularly as it parallels Railway Avenue. The weeds along this right of way are 2 - 3 feet high and I have received a number of citizen complaints.”
He asks Strankman to communicate the Town’s concerns.
“Please assist by speaking with CN and Transportation officials to be good neighbours and to keep their right of ways tidy. As you know, Drumheller relies heavily on tourism and the unkempt right of ways reflects poorly on our community,” the letter states. “As well, due to the heavy volumes of tourists during the months of July and August, the Town would appreciate that Transportation undertake one extra street cleaning during these months.”
He also penned a letter to the honourable Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs, suggesting the government make an effort to hear the voices of the area.
“I think it is important that your government plans to have MLAs roam the province through the summer asking Albertans about local needs for primary care. Our concern is that Drumheller does not have an MLA in the governing party and that we may be overlooked and our needs not identified," he says in correspondence.
Yemen tells The Mail the unsightly railway through town is nothing new.
”We’ve been taking this for several years now, I imagine we’ll continue to take it, but not without a fight. We need to throw a few punches,” said Yemen.
He said letters to government officials and to CN are almost annual events for the Town asking for the tracks to be cleaned up. The Town often mows along the tracks in east Drumheller to keep them from overgrowing.
Yemen said the town has been in contact with the company but has not seen any efforts to clean up the area.
“It’s not like we are asking for anything more than what we would ask of any citizen of Drumheller and every business owner in Drumheller,” said Yemen.
