Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Monday, June 17, 2019

Mayor Heather Colberg announced the Community Futures AGM on June 27 at 4 p.m. They are looking for members at large.
There will be an RCMP presentation at the Badlands Community Facility on June 20 from 7-8:30 p.m.
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Communications Officer Julia Fielding presented a draft communications plan. It is based on four goals; Keeping residents informed about programs and services, increase the capacity of the Town to communicate with citizens in meaningful ways, boost participation in local government and develop relationships that bridge differences and foster dialogue. Councillor Fred Makowecki notes the plan ought to be cognizant of people who are not connected electronically.
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Ms. Fielding also presented a Request for Direction in regards to developing a town app. She presented proposals from three companies. Her question to council is what would council like to see in an app. Councillor Tony Lacher expressed his preference towards using a more local company that is integrated with other technologies and is easy to use. Councillor Lisa Hansen Zacharuk noted ease of use and reliability as important components. Councillor Jay Garbutt expressed questions about the usage of personal data by the companies hosting the app.
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Director of Corporate Services Barb Miller presented a draft of a policy regarding relief of municipal property tax on destructed improvements. This discussion came up in light of a number of local residential properties that were destroyed by fire in recent months. The purpose of this policy to provide guidance for council when exercising its discretionary power in response to a request for the cancellation of property as a result of destruction of improvements and to make sure this is applied in a fair and consistent manner. Red Deer and Edmonton have policies that apply to this situation.
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During Round Table, Councillor Garbutt spoke on his attendance at the AUMA Summer Caucus on June 12 in Ponoka. One program that interested him was funding available through the AUMA Municipal Climate Change Action Centre for solar installations on municipal buildings. He has concerns over Bill 7, which allows municipalities to discount property taxes to incentivize businesses. This was discussed by Minister of Municipal Affairs at the caucus. Another topic of discussion was Intermunicipal Frameworks. He noted the deadline is approaching to have these agreements with neighbouring municipalities to best deliver services, in place.
Councillor Zacharuk noted the improvements to the medians as well as businesses along the tourism corridor.
Infrastructure Service Director Dave Brett updated council on the fountain at the Rotary Park. The fountain was in operation last weekend, however, more leaks have been discovered. The plan is to operate the fountain beginning on Thursday for the weekend, and then shut down for remaining days of the week to mitigate water loss. The Plaza in downtown Drumheller is scheduled to open July 1.
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Council Notes
Drumheller Town Council
Regular Meeting
Monday, June 10, 2019

Council heard from a delegation from led by John Hein, of Medical First Response Program from Alberta Health Services(AHS). Medical First Response is a voluntary program, that often employs members of fire departments. The minimum standard is basic First Aid, but departments can decide what level of service they can provide. Volunteers can also decide what kind of calls they wish to respond to. Medical First Response provides oversight, designs protocols, monitor patient care documentation, provide and oversee skills training, dispatch and event list, and provides an online platform for Medical First Response. They note the program is not to supplement ambulance service. Fire Chief Bruce Wade says about 25-30 per cent of the department have basic First Aid and two that are trained paramedics. Often the department already responds to medical calls. Councillor Jay Garbutt noted that currently many feel ambulance service is unsatisfactory and wants to know how this would not be an offloading of service. Chief Wade is agreeable with formalizing the relationship for the good of the community and notes the advantage of training and support.
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Louise Henrickson and Pat Bagwell of the Drumheller Farmer’s Market presented to Council. They are applying to the Community Assistance Program to sustain the market. With Co-op is no longer available, they have moved to an outdoor market which has added the expense of tents as well as the expense of using the Badlands Community Facility and the arena for markets. They hold 13 outdoor markets over the summer as well as special indoor markets.
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John Shoff and Bob Sheddy of the Drumheller Canada Day Parade presented to Council. The committee has been working on new guidelines to make the Canada Day Parade continue in a safe manner after the Chamber of Commerce announced it would no longer host the event. This year’s theme is Celebrating the Centennial of Drumheller Fire Department. This year they are adding “deputies” along the parade route who are able to stop the parade in unsafe conditions. There are new protocols for insurance, safe operation of floats, sound and distributing candy and promotional material. They have set up a website www.drumhellerparade.org where residents can learn more or register their float or to volunteer.
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CAO Darryl Drohomerski presented Request for Decision for a request from the Drumheller Farmer’s Market for $7,200 from the Community Assistance Program. Administration’s recommendation is to not approve the request as it would create a further deficit in the 2019 budget of which only $5,000 was approved in the policy and those funds have already been allocated. Councilor Zariski asked to table the motion as he did not have the financial information of the organization at hand to make the decision.
Director of Corporate Services Barb Miller presented a Request for Decision to formally appoint RSM Canada as Auditors for The Town of Drumheller, the Drumheller Public Library and Drumheller and District Solid Waste Association for the year 2018. The library requested the motions as the auditor Collin Barrow merged with RSM Canada. The motion is to reflect this change. Council approved the motion.
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Council awarded the Street Improvement Program to TJ Paving in the amount of $885,104.27. There were four qualifying bids. Major road projects this year include a portion of 2nd Avenue West near McConkey Park, completion of Hunts Crescent, sidewalk repair and replacement. The motion was carried by Council.
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Council awarded a tender for the replacement of the Brine Heating and Cooling System at the Drumheller Memorial Arena. They received one bid form Berg Chilling Systems for $93, 350.00. This was $20,350 higher than the budgeted amount. Council approved extending the budget to award the contract.
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Council discussed curbside recycling. Administration suggested delaying the implementation of curbside recycling until 2020 as there the markets for recyclables is unstable with markets diminishing. In a previous survey, 72 per cent of 960 respondents indicated support for a curbside recycling program. Council gave administration direction to delay the roll out of curbside recycling.
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Director of Protective Services Greg Peters presented the Drumheller Fire Department call outs and police statistics for the first quarter of 2019. Council noted a decrease of false alarms and an increase in reports of suspicious persons, vehicle, property. Drug enforcement numbers appear down compared to the previous year. Councillor Garbutt expressed concerned over the Royal Rally that was in Drumheller last weekend. He noted witnessing a number of serious traffic violations by participants in exotic cars.
Economic Development manager Sean Wallace reported on the creation of a community profile. He has engaged with Townfolio to created the profile and hopes that it will be completed by the first week of July. Council moved to go in-camera to discuss a land matter. They returned to open council and moved to direct administration to seek legal advice on fair market pricing for a parcel of land in East Coulee (Plan 4128EQ Block 6 Lot 1).