Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, January 21, 2019
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Council held discussion over the 2019 utility budget. Director of Corporate Services Barb Miller said the council budget reflects the 5 per cent increase to water and wastewater utility budget. She said the budget does not cover the rate for the debenture payment, but covers amortization and operation costs. The water utility budget results in a deficit of $900 for 2019 including full amortization costs, and the sewer utility budget has a deficit of $262,600 including full amortization costs. The town is moving toward a cost-recovery model in future budgets to cover the debenture payment. The water administration budget is drafted to increase to $1,732,840 from $1,550,840 over 2018. The low lift pump station draft budgeted amount will increase from $16,245 in 2018 to $25,915. The raw water reservoir amount will decrease from $29,025 to $18,870 in 2019. The water purification and treatment amount is drafted to decrease slightly from $1,042,835 in 2018 to $1,030,235. The transmission and distribution totals are drafted to increase from $547,045 to $587,685. The sewage administration for Drumheller will increase from $803,440 to $827,900, and for East Coulee increase slightly frin $58,500 to $60,000. Sewage collection draft budgeting for Drumheller will decrease from $537,160 to $446,510. For East Coulee it will increase from $15,390 to $31,520. Sewage treatment budgets for Drumheller are drafted to increase from $556415 to $591,645, and for East Coulee, it will decrease from $96,760 to $80,825. Council unanimously moved to accept the budget as presented.
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Council deferred discussion over the capital budget for council at their next council meeting on February 4.
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Council included the quarterly report from Economic Development Officer Julia Fielding for information, as the original discussed was not livestreamed last week due to technical reasons.
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An item submitted by public works director Kevin Blanchette regarding reducing costs associated with the fountain near the World’s Largest Dinosaur for information, but council wished to postpone decisions until a public consultation process is completed.
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Councillor Jay Garbutt presented the Drumheller Housing Administration 2019 budget for approval which was approved unanimously.
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