Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town
Regular Council Meeting
Monday, May 11, 2020

Council renewed its declaration of the Local State of Emergency for 12 p.m. May 5, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is to coincide with the province’s planned reach of the economy..
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Mayor Heather Colberg declared May 17-23, 2020 National Public Works Week in Drumheller.
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Council adopted the minutes of Special Council meetings on April 20 and May 4 and approved the minutes of the April 27 Regular Council meeting.
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The Dragons presented at Council Monday night. The Dragons were established in 2002 with the objectives of helping student-athletes to achieve their academic endeavours through sport while building the foundations for a strong community. Drumheller is the third smallest community supporting a team in Alberta. In the last three years, 23 players have received post-secondary scholarships with a value exceeding $3 million. The Dragons are active volunteers and contribute to the community and raise funds for local groups. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team is at risk of losing major fundraising and sponsorship revenues. This coupled with public health restrictions possibly influencing attendance numbers. Blair Christianson notes the future is sustainable and they are looking at different ways to create a year-round hockey destination and sports destination by becoming a spring camp and tournament destinations, summer hockey camps, and the Drumheller Dragons Academy. He said the team was making progress in becoming a profitable team, however, the Coronavirus has set them back. The team has to submit an intent to play for the 2020-2021 season and asked for a one-year abatement of ice rental. This would help the Dragons remain an economic driver for the town.
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Council renewed its State of Local Emergency to remain in effect until May 19. Director of Emergency Management Darwin Durnie gave a brief update on where they are heading. The effort has gone from a defensive approach to a risk management strategy. Director of Protective Services Greg Peters will be installed as incident commander going forward. He recommended council continue with the State of Local Emergency during the relaunch. Zariski expressed he feels the relaunch by the province is premature. Councillor Jay Garbutt expressed the decision to reopen is an economic and political decision and not a scientific one and recognized the effort the Town of Drumheller took made a difference in slowing the spread in the community.
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Council passed all three readings of the 2020 Mill Rate Bylaw. 10.20. The town’s assessment dropped by about 2 per cent to $915,698,700. Council initially anticipated a mill rate of 1.9 per cent, however with a drop of assessment this amount would fall short about $180,000. Council approved the mill rate increase of 1.9 per cent, committing to make up the shortfall through prudent budgeting, drawing from reserves, or funding it through defunding amortization rather than increasing the mill rate.
The residential mill rate for Drumheller property tax was set at 8.3196 mills. And the non-residential mill rate was set at 13.52149. Including the Alberta School Foundation and the Drumheller and District Foundations requisitions, the total mill rate for residential property is 11.56901 and the total non-residential mill rate is 17.81293.
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Council adopted the 2020 capital budget. The capital expense in 2020 totals about $43 million, and I made up of about $2.5 million carried forward from 2019, about $7 million in new projects in 2002, with about half coming from grant dependent requests, over $19 million in 2020 for expenses related to the Resiliency and Flood Mitigation programs, and more than $14 million as possible economic stimulus projects should funding become available from higher levels of government. Council was able to whittle away about $900,000 in expense by delaying projects for a year and agreed to put the funds in a new reserve for COVID 19 response.

Complete minutes from council meetings can be found at
www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.

Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council
Special Meeting and Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, May 4, 2020

Special Council Meeting
Council renewed its declaration of the Local State of Emergency for 12 p.m. May 5, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is to coincide with the province’s planned reach of the economy.
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Committee of the Whole
Mayor Heather Colberg declared May 3-9, 2020 as National Emergency Preparedness Week in Drumheller.
Mayor Colberg proclaimed May Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Drumheller.
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Council reviewed the 2020 draft Capital Budget.
Projects under consideration for Administration include Town Hall HVAC upgrades and server upgrades. Some projects carried over include software upgrades, and telephone systems upgrade. Additional considerations include council AV upgrades.
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Protective Services requests include a new truck for Bylaw Enforcement. Additional considerations are upgrades to the RCMP Cells.
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Under Common Services, council is considering the purchase of two new trucks and a grader. Carried over projects from the previous year include a flusher truck and a plow truck, which have both been purchased. Additional considerations include snow plow and hydraulics for a 1 ton truck and a Hydrovac unit. CAO Darryl Drohomerski notes this may be a piece of equipment they could purchase as a used unit. Council is also considering an LED light upgrade for Public Works. Stimulus funding possibilities include a shop expansion for flood response storage.
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Considerations under Roads and Streets include the Street Rehabilitation Program, improvement to the suspension bridge access, and Bridge #9 deck replacement on Highway 10X. Additional considerations include beautification to medians and boulevards, developing an East Coulee snow dump, and Bridge # 11 renovation or replacement. Stimulus Funding possibilities include the Raymond Hill Slide, The Wayne Hill icing, and turning lane development at the landfill. Airport runway lighting is grant dependent.
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Cemetery Projects under consideration include Phase 3 fence and landscaping. Additional considerations include beautification and improvements to the scatter garden.
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Under economic development, tourism, and community facility projects they are looking at putting downtown plaza improvements off for a year due to COVID, but continue on some of its branding work. Additional considerations include decorative light installation, Nacmine entrance beautifications, and a block party trailer with a wrap. Stimulus considerations include parking improvements at the Hoodoos, Swinging Bridge, and Little Church.
Recreation, Parks and Culture projects considered include the addition of a lady’s dressing and an ice plant assessment at the arena, replacement of the Little Tykes Playground, trail development and spray park upgrades. Equipment replacement includes wide angel mower and fitness equipment. Carried over projects include Aquaplex air handling unit and change room upgrades. Additional considerations include ball diamond improvements, splash park inspection and repair. They are also considering BCF field house netting replacements, electrical upgrades, security cameras, and patio furniture.
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Under Water and Wastewater, they are considering high lift pump station replacement and HVAC work at the water treatment plant, penitentiary booster station, Newcastle water tower and vault upgrades, and system controls. Other considerations include a water treatment plant building management system. Stimulus grant possibilities include water main river crossings and force main crossings and the Nacmine force main replacement and odor mitigation and improvements at the wastewater treatment plant river outfall. Carried over wastewater projects include East Coulee lift station work, an abs blower, and a wastewater treatment plant air quality assessment.
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Council will continue the Capital Budget Discussion at a later meeting looking at funding models.
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Complete minutes from council meetings can be found at
www.drumheller.ca once they have been adopted.