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Town Council considers automated cart collection

At the October 6 Committee of the Whole meeting The Town of Drumheller Mayor and Council heard a presentation from Al Kendrick, director of Infrastructure for the Town of Drumheller and Tammi Nygaard, operations manager of the Drumheller and District Solid Waste Association regarding automated cart collection.
    The presentation included recommendation from the Town of Drumheller administration regarding the waste collection system. It is the recommendation of administration that the Town of Drumheller change their waste collection system from a manual hand pick up to an automated cart collection system. The benefits of implementing an automated cart collection system include:
•    Safer for workers
•    Increased diversion rate. This will provide a longer landfill life if utilizing the organics/recycling containers as well as the waste containers
•    Simplifies collection
•    Automated collection increases collection efficiency; Waste collection can be done much quicker. Some communities have increased pick ups from 350 per day to 700-800 per day with the automated system.
•    Cleanliness-no waste is scattered by animals or elements •    Reduces our environmental footprint.
    If Town Council agrees to implement this system Drumheller residents will receive a 95 gallon (360 L) cart with a capacity for up to 5 bags of waste. Residential waste would be picked up by a specially equipped vehicle.
    This initiative will pave the way to provide other green services such as phasing in additional carts for organics and recycling. The administration has suggested a phasing in period of 2 to 3 years for organic carts and 5 to 10 years for recycling carts.
    There was also discussion regarding the exclusive franchise agreement for commercial waste collection. The exclusive agreement was introduced 15 years ago to ensure that the commercial sector and the Town received a competitive rate for collection services. The exclusive franchise agreement provided extensive savings for both the Town and the commercial sector. Today there are several waste management companies within the community and administration has heard from numerous commercial businesses that would prefer a free market when deciding who to retain for their waste collection services. Administration recommended that the exclusive franchise agreement be terminated and that the commercial sector should be able to choose their own waste services company.
    If council accepts the recommendations set forth, the existing waste bylaw would have to be modified.
Administration has proposed the following timelines •    Residential waste collection Tender prepared and distributed by November 15, 2009.
•    Residential waste tender awarded by December 15th 2009
•    Implementation of the first phase for the Cart Collection System by April 1, 2010 •    Complete research, review and communicate with the public on the payment service options by December 31, 2010
•    Implementation of the second phase of the cart collection system by April 1, 2014.
    Administration also recommends that the waste collection costs remain funded through property tax revenue for 2010 with a suggestion to complete a full review of the tax base versus utility funding option.
    A request for decision will be made to the Town of Drumheller Council within the next 4 weeks.

Darwin Durnie honoured by Alberta Public Works Association

    Drumheller’s Darwin Durnie has been presented with a Leadership Award from the Alberta Public Works Association (AWPA) for his distinguished service and excellence in public works.
    Durnie received the award at the APWA Conference at the Wednesday night gala in Red Deer on October 7.
    “I was very pleased and surprised to be honoured by the receipt of this award at the banquet on Wednesday night at the GALA. One does not get into this game seeking awards and it is great to be recognized by my peers for efforts made on their behalf,” Durnie said.
    According to the nomination, Darwin’s passion for public works stems from his desire to create strong, healthy communities. Darwin has been in the public works industry for over 25 years and his resume is marked with a number of successful projects and initiatives that have all had a drastic impact on a number of Alberta’s communities. Darwin’s more notable accomplishments include his work with the Town of Drumheller, his committee work - serving in a number of high profile positions with the American and Canadian Public Works Associations, and his work with the Alberta Public Works Association. Darwin’s innovative leadership style has been the driving force for a number of North American initiatives that have enhanced the profile and efficacy of the public works industry across North America.
    Currently he is serving as past president on the APWA Executive and is working as a Registered Engineering Technologist for Stantec in Red Deer.
    “I firmly believe that you get out of an organization what you put into it and the myriad contacts I have made over the years are testament to that. Thanks again all - as I would not have received this without the collective of all of you. The mentors and coaches I have had over the last 25 years in the business have taught me a lot and paved the way forward for me to always remember to help the new members be their best in our industry,” he said.

Clozza retires from bench

    A man who spent 30 years making decisions, has made his final one at the Drumheller courthouse.
    Judge Gordon Clozza had his final day in court on the bench last Friday, October 9. Clozza, has presided over the Drumheller courthouse for more than three decades. His parting words were a tribute to the many he has worked with over the years.
    "I enjoyed the work, but more than the law, mostly I will miss the people I work with; the clerks, the counsel, the bar, the Sheriffs the RCMP,” said Clozza. “I think we ran a good, organized court.”
    He added the efficiency of the court had a lot to do with the cooperation of the crown and counsel.
    Defense counsel Bill Herman, in his last appearance in front of Judge Clozza, thanked him for his service and said Clozza, “should be commended for the administration of justice for more than 30 years.”
    Clozza, originally from Drumheller, was called to the bar in June of 1967. He began practice with Bob Ross, and spent 10 years working as a prosecutor and then two years as defense. He applied for the judge's vacancy, and on May 1, 1979, he took the bench. He was just 35 at the time.
    He says he feels it was helpful that he was from Drumheller. He had insight into some of the people and where they came from, and it helped him appreciate the problems. He says he rarely disqualified himself due to conflicts.
    He originally retired in 2002, but has been working as a supernumerary judge, and continued to preside over the Drumheller courthouse, the Hanna courthouse and help with Calgary circuit court dates when he was needed. This amounted to working half time.
    He quipped when entering a reception in his honour put on by court staff and colleagues, “don’t you remember we did this seven years ago?”
    While the hours were only half time, he says the keeping up to date with decisions and procedure are important and cannot be dealt with lightly.
    After almost 45 years he is outright retiring from law and is not planning to practice privately. Law will still be a part of his life as his wife is a lawyer, and invariably dinner conversation will often include the topic.
    “I’ve enjoyed my time here, and now I’ll have more free time to do more, and hopefully let someone else take this on," he said.
    Drumheller is a part of the Calgary Regional Court Operations. Without an appointed judge in the community, the court will be serviced as one of the circuit court locations and have a judge come from Calgary to preside.

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