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Last updateMon, 30 Sep 2024 4pm

Work progresses on Delia Viability Review

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The Village of Delia is undergoing a Viability Review to map out its future and will be meeting with residents in the near future.
The Village of Delia Council made a motion at its October 2022 Council Meeting to apply to Municipal Affairs to have them conduct a Viability Review.
This came after a public meeting on September 8 of last year when the future of the Village was discussed. It was a fruitful discussion identifying many issues including the difficulty in hiring a CAO.
It was also discussed what it would look like if Delia were to dissolve and become part of Starland County. It was noted there are three ways for a Viability Review to be initiated. One through a petition, through the minister’s discretion, and it can be requested by the council, which is what happened in the case of Delia.
“The community asked the council to proceed with a viability study and they wanted us to do the instigation,” said mayor Dave Sisley.
Since making the motion, Municipal Affairs has begun its preliminary work on a Viability Review. It begins with a Ministry screening. If the minister decides a review is necessary they will then go into information collection. This will review the information supplied by the municipality being reviewed as well as the receiving municipality. They will also review the municipality’s finances and infrastructure. Stakeholder involvement can include written submissions, surveys, open houses and public meetings.
When this is complete they will present the report. It will show two options. One is a recommendation for the village to reach viability, and two, a description of the changes and impacts if the municipality were to be dissolved.
Residents will then have the public vote to determine the future. Depending on the results of the vote, the minister will either issue a ministerial directive or recommend municipal dissolution to the cabinets, which will make the final decision.


Traffic disruptions due to water main break on Newcastle Trail

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A water main break on Newcastle Trail between 9 and 10 Street is causing traffic disruptions in the area.
The break was reported on Wednesday, March 8 and work to repair the break is scheduled to begin immediately.
As a result of the repair work, the affected block will be closed to traffic until further notice; drivers are asked to seek alternate routes to avoid delays and congestion.
Further updates will be provided as the situation progresses.

Province announces $27.3 million for Drumheller flood mitigation project in 2023 budget

Drumheller Council CAO

The Alberta government will be helping to support additional construction of berms in the Town of Drumheller, as it announced on Tuesday, February 28 it would provide an additional $27.3 million to the Town; this is on top of the original commitment of $20 million from the province for land buyouts and acquisitions.
This funding announcement was part of the 2023 provincial budget of some $24.5 billion announced by Alberta Minister of Finance Travis Toews, and includes increased funding for education and health. The budget also anticipates a $10 billion surplus.
“Mayor (Heather) Colberg is a great advocate for the Town,” Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation and Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner tells the Mail. “It’s great news (the funding announcement), and I’m pleased (Mayor Colberg’s) advocacy paid off.”
In May 2022, Mayor Colberg and Drumheller Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski lobbied the provincial government for additional funding due to escalating costs on several projects, including the Drumheller Municipal Airport lighting project and flood mitigation.
Mayor Colberg says, with the addition of the $27.3 million, this will bring the total project budget to some $81.5 million.
“Honestly, I was emotional when I heard the announcement,” she tells the Mail.
Although the province has announced the additional funding, Mayor Colberg notes the Town is still waiting to receive this funding and find out if there are any requirements, similar to how the original $20 million was only to be allocated for land buyouts and acquisitions. She anticipates this additional funding could help cover additional costs due to the province increasing the design flow rate from 1,640 cubic metres per second (cm/s) to 1,850 cm/s and may allow construction of some previously unfunded berms in the community.
“I want to commend past councils, previous to the two I’ve been on-the work that was laid down by them, the work that’s been done by administrations,” Mayor Colberg says. “It’s been talked about for years, and I’m just glad we’ve been able to make it all happen. At the end of the day, the goal is just to make the community safe, and the safer we can make it the less worry we have every spring.”
Along with the $27.3 million flood mitigation provision, the Alberta government has also increased funding to support a Healthcare Action Plan, a new Affordability for Albertans program to help offset increased costs affecting Albertans, and increased funding for both kindergarten to Grade 12 education and post-secondary education.


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