Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council Regular Council Meeting
Monday, July 4, 2022

Mayor Heather Colberg opened the regular council meeting and thanked the volunteers and everyone involved in helping with Canada Day 2022.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski presented three road closure bylaws for first reading. He explained these closures are to transfer ownership of road right-of-ways in Newcastle and Midland from the province to the Town for flood mitigation berm construction.
The first closure is for a surplus of land along Riverside Avenue West in West Newcastle. Although there are two homes within the area, the closure will not affect parking or access for residents or garbage services.
The second will close a right-of-way along 10 Street West and 2 Avenue West in East Newcastle. This closure includes a large parcel with utility lines in a large natural area along with an alley right-of-way, though there will be no changes to utility services or access.
The third closure in Midland is for the right-of-way along the former railway line along North River Drive and 25 Street NW to complete the construction of the berm in Midland. This closure will not impact access along either North River Drive or 25 Street NW.
First reading of all three road closure bylaws was passed and a public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, August 2.
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Community Development and Social Planning (CDSP) manager April Harrison presented council with a request to partially fund a temporary three-year Ending Working Poverty Project Coordinator position. Ms. Harrison applied to participate in the Ending Working Poverty project and was approved by Tamarack, which will secure $20,000 in funding per year for three years; it is being recommended for the Town to allocate $97,000 over a three-year term to fund the position, which includes related costs such as cell phone provision, training, to an amount of approximately $5,000.
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Quarterly reports from the Town departments were presented to council.
Director of Corporate and Community Services Mauricio Reyes noted there has been an increase in use at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) and Aquaplex over 2021; the Drumheller Memorial Arena was not included in the report. A total of 9,462 people have used the Aquaplex in 2022 compared to 1,463 people in 2021, and 13,149 people have used the BCF compared to 734 people in the previous year.
Director of Protective and Emergency Services Greg Peters shared the Town is currently looking to hire a full-time Fire Chief, and a job description has been posted.
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Mark Steffler gave an update on the Flood Mitigation program. A total of 10 properties identified for buyouts in Rosedale and Nacmine have been purchased and relocations and, or demolition is underway. There were four properties in Lehigh purchased in 2022; two properties were purchased in previous years, and 11 remain. Removal or demolition is expected to begin in July.
Berm designs for Midland, Newcastle, North Drumheller Grove Place, and Willow Estates have been optimized, reducing the top width and freeboard due to cost escalations. Tenders were posted in late-June and will close July 12.

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

Council Overview
Information from Drumheller Town Council
Special Council Meeting
Monday, June 13, 2022

Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg opened the meeting. She congratulated the Rotary Club, Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce, and Travel Drumheller on the Celebration of Excellence on Thursday, June 9; she also acknowledged the DORVA Triple Crown competition held over the weekend and thanked the volunteers who helped with these events.
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Director of Emergency Services Greg Peters gave an update on the ongoing weather system. He noted the area could see 100 to 150 millimeters of rain over the next few days and the Emergency Services team have been in touch with the provincial operations centre and operators at the Dickson Dam.
While flooding is not expected at the moment, he encouraged listeners to have a 72-hour emergency kit prepared and to watch for updates on the Town of Drumheller and Drumheller Resiliency and Flood Mitigation Office (DRFMO) Flood Readiness website.
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Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski presented council with a request to appoint a member at large representative to the Drumheller and Area Health Foundation following the resignation of its previous member at large. The Town can appoint two representatives, and Councillor Tom Zariski currently sits on the board as council representative.
It was recommended Tom Diprose be appointed as the Town’s second foundation representative due to his experience.
Council unanimously approved Mr. Diprose’s appointment.
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Director of Infrastructure Services Dave Brett presented council with a request for decision for a partial award of the 2022 Street Improvement Program (SIP) to Brooks Asphalt for the amount of $1,225,189.25 excluding GST.
The SIP portion of the budget is $850,000, with $350,000 for concrete replacement. There is also $25,000 allocated for the Rails to Trails budget. This $25,000 is for the Town to convert former CN Rail right-of-ways throughout the community into walking trails after the Town recently entered into a lease agreement with CN Rail.
The scope of work was reduced prior to the tender being posted due to ongoing cost escalations, including postponing some concrete repair work and rebuilding Premier Close in the industrial area. Four bids were received, each coming in over the approved budget of $1,225,000 and Mr. Brett explained this is the reason for only a partial award at this time.
There are four project areas, including beginning the Rails to Trails along Highway 10 between 11 Street East to 19 Street East.
Mr. Brett noted the Rails to Trails budget of $25,000 will need to be increased in the coming years to complete additional projects, including extending the trail along Highway 10 to 5 Street East.
Council unanimously approved the partial award to Brooks Asphalt.

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