Council Notes
From the Committee of the Whole November 7, 2016
At the Monday, October 7 Drumheller Town Council’s Committee of the Whole Meeting, Mayor Terry Yemen started the meeting out with a proclamation that this week is officially Remembrance week to honour those who served for our country and made our way of life possible.
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Mayor Yemen also said a congratulations to the Drumheller Titans senior football team that have made it into this year’s playoffs.
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Tom Zariski presented Council with a report on Citizens on Patrol (COP). He explained that COP is made up of carefully selected volunteers and works in conjunction with the RCMP. Drumheller Citizens on Patrol provide an extra set of eyes for the Drumheller RCMP. COP has a direct line to the on duty officers and call in any suspicious activity, break and enter, drunk driving, vehicle rummaging, and suspicious persons they encounter. Drumheller COP work hand in hand with Rural Crime Watch and Victim Services.
Councillor Zariski said the hopes COP has for the near future are to be able to raise $2,500 a year so that they don’t have to rely on the town’s support. They hope to be self sufficient before 2018.
COP also hopes to increase the amount of active members they have and to be able to expand to help out during disasters such as during the flood. They hope to increase their public presence, awareness, and communication.
Drumheller’s Citizens on Patrol has intentions of joining Alberta Citizens on Patrol and participate in provincial events, conferences, and activities.
Councillor Zariski said that Drumheller’s COP hopes to find new office space, improve coordination and have better communication. They also have goals of having a webpage, facebook page, and email address to have a web presence. COP is hoping to receive funding to have signs entering Drumheller.
With all of these goals set in place, COP plans to make volunteer recruitment a priority.
According to Gunnar Mortensen, President of the Drumheller Citizens on Patrol Association, COP has 17 members currently. Mr. Mortensen said that he feels Drumheller needs 30 active members to sufficiently patrol all of Drumheller and the surrounding areas such as Nacmine and East Coulee.
Councillor Zariski said the Drumheller Citizens on Patrol Association is requesting approximately $2,000 for the next year to continue to support COP and rent an office space that is secure 24 hours, be able to put signs at the town entrances, as well as funding for the members to attend the annual Alberta COP conference. This is an approximate amount needed still after a fuel card was paid for and reflective vests have been donated.
Councillor Zariski explained that COP recently registered as a society which enables them to take donations and solicit funds from other non profit groups. They also plan to become registered to do fundraising to help become more self sufficient.
Councillor Zariski said, “The more volunteers there are, the more patrols there will be and more patrols makes for a more safe community.”
