O.R. Sheddy
Mail Editor
Drumheller Town Council faced a long list of possible budget items at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
The list, prepared by Director of Corporate Services Byron Nagazina, contained provisions for hiring new staff at Town Hall, as well as some re-allocated funding, and the expected requisition from the Drumheller and District Foundation.
One such possible new hire is the addition of a Safety Codes Officer/Protective Services, at an additional cost of $97,000-$123,000. This position will include Safety Codes, Bylaw Enforcement, liaison between The town and the RCMP, among other duties. This will free up time from duties of Community Services Director Paul Salvatore to allow him to devote time to other duties.
Another possible hire is a Communications Officer, whose role would be to create a communications strategy to improve the way the Town communicates with citizens. Cost for this position ranges between $46,000-$53,000, and the individual would also be in charge of website updates, and searching out new grant opportunities with provincial departments. Councillor Hansen-Zacharuk commented that if the Town hired a Protective Services Officer, this would lighten the load for Community Services, and thus they would be able to absorb the duties of the Communications Officer.
Also put forward by Mr. Nagazina, was the fact that two of the senior civilian staff at the RCMP office will be retiring within two years. Mr. Nagazina asked Council to consider adding staff to these positions in order to provide a smooth transition of duties during a training period. One of the staff is paid by the federal government, and the other is a town employee.
Council also received information regarding the cost to various municipalities to fund a Destination Marketing Organization office in Drumheller. Council had previously been asked to provide funding of $100,000 for the organization, and some councillors, as well as Mayor Yemen balked at this request.
Councillor Garbutt objected to discussing the matter further without more information at his disposal. More clarification on the request will come to Council in the next few months.
Another possible position put forth for Council discussion, is the possible hiring of a horticulturist to improve the town’s parks and recreation areas. This position would allow the town to “wean” itself away from existing partnerships such as with the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Drumheller Penitentiary. Councillor Zariski advocated to Council that he felt there be a plan created to better manage town beautification on a longer term basis.
CAO Ray Romanetz commented to Council that due to cutbacks at the federal level, assistance to the town from penitentiary staff is no longer available. However, Mr. Romanetz added that in discussions he has had with penitentiary officials, they are committed to continue with the tree farm co-operative currently at the Institution.
Mr. Nagazina also informed Council that town resources will be used to assist in the construction of the new tennis courts to be built at DVSS, improvements to the town’s entrances, grading at the East Coulee School, and help in the re-construction of the Kinsmen Park in Greentree.
Notice of a 15 per cent increase in the requisition for the Drumheller and District Foundation has been received at Town Hall for the 2014 tax year. The foundation administers Hillview and Sunshine Senior’s Lodges, and the town pays just over half of the equalized assessment costs of the local contributions of the partnership. Starland County, the other major contributor to the foundation, contributes just under half the costs, with Delia, Munson and Morrin contributing minor amounts. This increase amounts to $54,000 and will total $454,000 in 2014. (Editor’s note. This requisition appears on all 2014 tax notices and is collected by the town on behalf of the Foundation. This amount, however, does not cover the entire cost of maintaining the senior’s lodges, the balance coming from the province).
Further in the report, there is an expected 10 per cent increase in costs to the town from Palliser Regional Planning in Hanna for municipal planning services.
Mr. Nagazina’s office will examine the town’s snow removal budget, and how it impacts the Town’s labour and machinery costs. Because the town cannot predict the annual snowfall, it is difficult to determine the costs associated with much accuracy, but it can prove valuable in future planning. Many times during the snow removal season, private contractors are hired to aid the Town, but if there is extreme cold temperatures, such as this past December, there is reluctance on the part of contractors to start their heavy machinery, leaving the town to do it themselves.
Council will also examine the benefits of acquiring up to four ATM kiosks in town-owned locations, specifically, the Aquaplex, Badlands Community Facility (BCF), Town Hall and the Memorial Arena. Costs of the terminals is approximately $5,000 each, but there is potential for some cost recovery from fees charged.
Council will look at continuing the contracted position for assistance to the BCF fundraising committee in their efforts. This will increase the budget impact from a $20,000 position to a $30,000 position annually, due to the fact that the existing position was only in place for part of 2013.
There was also a brief discussion about how the town-appointed Task Force on Council Remuneration will meet, and the information needed for them to reach a conclusion on their mandate.
