Councillor Fred Makowecki was sworn in as Deputy Mayor for the months of March and April.
Mayor Heather Colberg proclaimed March as Fraud Prevention Month. She also proclaimed Sunday, March 8 as International Women’s Day.
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Drumheller CAO Darryl Drohomerski updated council with an overview of the town’s strategic priorities. Council has applied priority-setting criteria to establish short term and long term directions as well as advocacy/partner items requiring cooperation or action with another agency. Each department reported on its operational strategies. These priorities will be updated quarterly and annually.
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Corporate Service Director Barb Miller provided an overview of the grants for which the town has grant applications and their status.
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Council approved a motion to write off their bad utility debt in the amount of $1,202.90 against the allowance for bad debt. The amount of bad debt from utilities has dramatically decreased since bylaw 02-17 was passed. Its fundamental change was the utility account must remain in the property title’s holder name and this allows the town to collect outstanding utility debts to be transferred to the tax roll.
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Council moved the Town of Drumheller award the three-year crushed gravel supply contract to Reg Gallagher Trucking LTD for the submitted price of $276,000 excluding GST.
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Protective Services Director Greg Peters presented his Quarterly report.
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Council held a Public Hearing to consider bylaw 02.20 Land Use Bylaw Amendment to update Cannabis terminology and definitions. Later in the Meeting Council passed the second and third reading of the bylaw.
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Peters presented a report on the Criminal Record Check fee policy. This was to review the charging for criminal records checks and vulnerable sector checks. Recently the Town of Drumheller began charging $37 for all checks including volunteers. By and large, council agrees on giving volunteers a break on these costs. The policy will return in the near future for approval.
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Darren Goldthorpe, manager of Recreation Art and Culture presented his quarterly report.
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Manager of Economic Development Sean Wallace provided his quarterly report. As of December 2019, $76 million in potential leads have been logged with $30 million in potential development forecasted.
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Council passed third reading of Bylaw 01.20. To redesignate a portion of NW-12-29-20-W4 (known as RV Sands) from Agricultural District to Residential Cottage Housing.
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Council passed the first reading of the. Bylaw 07-20, the Town of Drumheller- Starland County Intermunicipal Development Plan and set a Public Hearing date for March 16, 2020, at its Regular Council Meeting.

Deputy Mayor Tom Zariski declared February 23-29 as Freedom to Read Week in Drumheller. This recognizes, reaffirms and defends the rights of Drumheller residents to decide what they will and will not read.
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Ryan Semchuk of Travel Drumheller provided council a review of its activities in 2019. Their mission is to promote Drumheller as a year-round destination. 2019 saw an overall increase in visitorship over previous years. The AGM is coming up at the end of March and some of the highlights of 2019 include contests working with CTV Calgary. They collaborated with Canadian Badlands on the Canadian Badlands Summer Passport and participated in the Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show. Last year they launched the Travel Drumheller Ambassador program, in a funding partnership with the Town of Drumheller and the province. Some of its key initiatives for 2020 include a new membership model, developing a co op marketing program, enhancing its website and expanding the tourism ambassador program.
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Rose Poulson appeared at Council on behalf of the Big Country Primary Care Network. It has been approved to continue its Community Dementia Day Program. They have asked for financial support from Council for transportation. Councillor Jay Garbutt noted that the Rotary Club could be a supporter.
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CAO Darryl Drohomerski presented his quarterly report. Some highlights include continued work on flood mitigation, the completion of the toboggan hill and work on getting the Inter-municipal Collaboration Frameworks in place with local neighbours. The Civic Solar project is moving ahead and is looking at a summertime occupancy.
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Director of Corporate Service Barb Miller presented her quarterly report. Highlights include the completion of the 2020 operating budget and the 2021-2023 operating plans. Right now they are working preparing for the year-end audit, as well as working on employee recruitment. She said global expenses are on or below targets. She presented the Q4 operating results and the Q4 utility supported results.
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Infrastructure Service Director David Brett presented his quarterly report. Highlights include the hiring a utility manager as well as an equipment 3 operator. Policy and procedure updates include persons with disability parking, town app and patios on public land. Work continues on the Aquaplex. Knibb Developments of Rosebud has begun work on the East Coulee Lift Station, and the department has begun work on the worklist for the 2020 Street Improvement Program.
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FCSS Coordinator April Harrison presented her quarterly report. Work has been done on affordable counselling and the poverty reduction strategy. Events last quarter included Festival of Lights and the Masquerade Ball, which raised $8,300 for the youth project. Two block parties were hosted in Drumheller. Work with seniors included the annual Christmas Dinner and the Seniors Christmas light tour. FCSS has learned that over 300 Children’s Services contracts have been cancelled and a new Family Resource Network will be launching April 1. FCSS met with other contract holders/ stakeholders to discuss the implications of the changes.