Mayor Terry Yemen called a special meeting of Drumheller Town Council on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.
    The only agenda item was to review the 2012 financial audit for the Town, as presented by the Town auditors BDO Canada from Lacombe/Red Deer.
    Highlights of the audit show the Town currently has over $9 million in reserves which are fully funded.
    Also, the total debt for the Town at the end of 2012 stands at $11,590,777, compared to $12,052,809 at the end of 2011.

A special meeting of Town Council on Thursday, June 27 reviewed the 2012 financial audit for the Town. The audit reveals that the Town is well within acceptable debt servicing parameters and that Drumheller is financially healthy. Pictured above are BDO auditors Daniel Luymes, left, and Alan Litster. The complete financial audit can be found on the Town’s website.

    This is well below the debt limit that is allowable under regulations for municipal debt for the Town (any municipality which exceeds the debt limit must obtain approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs).
    The Town’s revenue for 2012 totalled $16,566,274, exceeding budgeted revenues of $15,732,432. Revenues in 2011 totalled $15,537,469. Expenses in 2012 totalled $17,354,299, which is less than the 2012 budgeted amount of $18,205,002.
    Commenting on the report, Councillor Jay Garbutt said it was a good report and that “we are well within our debt servicing parameters.”
    Alan Litster, a partner with auditors BDO Canada from Red Deer, told The Mail the report is a “clean audit opinion” and is a “financially sound report.”
    Mayor Terry Yemen, also pleased with the auditors’ report, said “the auditors’ overall  general comments were that the Town is in good financial health, so that’s encouraging.” He added that “we are healthy, too, and... less than 50 per cent of our debt ceiling. There was no real significant change (from 2011) and there were no red flags, so we are happy with that.”
    The complete financial audit is available on the Town’s website.
    The report was unanimously accepted by Council.
    Two Town projects currently underway that cross the fiscal year for 2012 and 2013 are the new Town Hall and the East Coulee Water Transmission line that are not completed.

    Albertans need to take steps to ensure their safety and health as they return home from flood evacuations.
    Floodwaters can carry disease bacteria from raw sewage, which can lead to serious health problems if surfaces and furniture is not thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, and food disposed of.
    There are several steps you need to consider as you return home in order to reduce your chance of floodwater-related health issues.
    – Most foods will need to be disposed of if they have been in contact with the floodwater.
    – Throw out refrigerated or frozen foods that have thawed, or have spent an unknown amount of time in refrigerators without power. Use this logic: “If in doubt, throw it out.”
    – You need to prevent the growth of dangerous microbes and mould by quickly clearing away standing water and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces and coverings.

    Detailed information about how to properly clean and disinfect areas that have been flooded is available at www.albertahealthservices.ca/8644.asp under the Public Health resources section. Advice includes:
    – When cleaning or disinfecting flood-affected areas, it is important to use a household chlorine bleach to remove dangerous bacteria and reduce the chance of bacteria build-up.
    – Remove wet floor coverings and furniture as soon as possible.
    – Break out walls that have been soaked or that have absorbed water, then thoroughly clean interior cavities. Replace these wall surfaces later. Do not just clean up the affected wall surfaces.
    – Disinfect all dry areas of the house to prevent the spread of dangerous microbes.

    The website also contains detailed post-flood recovery information for social care facilities and food facilities, advice on how to deal with mould, and instructions for disinfecting and cleaning your cistern or private water supplies.
    Drinking water in Drumheller is safe for use and no boil water order is in effect at this time.