Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, May 3, 2021
Tony Lacher was sworn in as Deputy Mayor for May and June.
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Mayor Heather Colberg declared May 2 to 8 as Emergency Preparedness Week. She also noted the 2021 Statistics Canada Census began on May 3. The next Regular Council meeting will be on Monday, May 10.
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Council adopted the minutes from the April 19, 2021 Regular Council Meeting.
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Mitch Berry was appointed to the Drumheller Library Board. Berry grew up in the valley and has experience assisting small and medium-sized companies and non-profits as a lawyer.
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Council defeated second reading of the Fireworks Bylaw 09.21. Council then passed first reading of a second Fireworks Bylaw. Some changes between the two bylaws include defining the responsibility of the vendor and the fireworks inspector for the sale, handling, and storage of fireworks, the consumer responsibilities to safely discharge fireworks. The new bylaw also better defines expectations between consumer and display fireworks. The fee structure for permits and penalties has also been adjusted. A public hearing has been set for Monday, May 17.
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Chief Resiliency and Flood Mitigation officer Darwin Durnie provided an update. The office continues to engage with residents about the project, regarding the alignments and impacts on properties and residents are making efforts to find the information the office is providing. The office is marking Emergency Preparedness Week, the focus is on protecting your home. The office continues to lobby against the Province’s changes to the Disaster Recovery Program. They are meeting with the Minister of Municipal Affairs to oppose these changes and asked exemptions in place be honoured until there is a reasonable insurance product available to residents. They are also continuing to lobby the government to recognize the regulated flow of the river for mitigation.
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Director of Protective Services, Greg Peters, provided an update on COVID-19. Currently, Alberta has the highest rate of infections in North America. The positivity rate is 13.2 per cent and more than 2000 new cases on Monday. Premier Jason Kenney announced more vaccines for teachers and people working in schools and childcare.
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Council held a Public Hearing for Proposed Bylaw 08.21. This is an amendment to the previous St. Anthony’s School Site East Drumheller Area Structure Plan. The developer has asked for an amendment to subdivide the existing three residential lots on the property into four vacant residential lots to develop duplexes. Devin Diano, CEO of Palliser Regional Municipal Services presented the report and recommended council consider second and third reading of the bylaw. There was one written submission from David Keirle opposing the bylaw. His concern is the development has already changed the density of the neighbourhood, and further development will change that more. Developer Joe Castonguay spoke in favour of the amendment. The Public Hearing was closed.
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Mr. Peters presented his quarterly report for Protective Services. He will present on the Derelict and Vacant Properties report this month. A comprehensive review of all bylaws is underway to make sure they are current and relevant. They are reviewing Fire Safety Code Inspections, and the available options and may seek a further review by an external party to decide which is the most efficient and feasible path moving forward. The first draft of a traffic bylaw is expected to be presented in September.
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CAO Darryl Drohomerski presented his Quarterly Report. They have hired a Director of Corporate Services and an Economic Development manager. They have been working on the upcoming General Municipal Election, and continue work on the Service/ Staff Capacity review. Development permits are three times higher in value this quarter than last year.
