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Last updateThu, 14 Nov 2024 9pm

Village of Delia boasts successes in 2021

Delia 2021

There have been some big changes in the Village of Delia over the last year, with several accomplishments residents can take pride in.
In February, Delia council discussed using funds from the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) grant to update equipment to conduct virtual council meetings due to restrictions limiting attendees at in-person meetings; council meetings continue to be held in person.
Delia Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Tracy Breese resigned from her position in June. She was hired in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Former Town of Drumheller manager of Finance and Information Systems Bill Wulff was appointed as interim CAO while the village sought a new CAO, and office hours were reduced.
During the municipal elections, Delia’s council also faced some changes. The three-person council was acclaimed at the closing of nominations by incumbent candidates David Sisley and Jordan Elliott, and newcomer Melody Christofferson. Mr. Sisley was appointed Mayor with Ms. Christofferson taking the role of Deputy Mayor during the organizational meeting.
One of the biggest accomplishments for Delia was the completion of the new K-12 Delia School. Construction began in September 2020 and wrapped up 13 months later, some five months ahead of schedule. Students had Monday, October 18 off to allow staff to move into the new school building, located directly beside the original, and classes resumed the following day. Shortly after the facility opening, the Delia Bulldogs senior girls’ volleyball team won their first tournament in the new school.
A public open house was held Wednesday, December 22.


Wheatland County pass 2022 interim operating, capital budgets

Wheatland 2021

Wheatland County council passed the 2022 interim operating and capital budgets during the regular Tuesday, December 21 council meeting.
Prior to passing the interim budget, council had gone over various budget scenarios with administration during Committee of the Whole meetings in November and December, and some adjustments and deferrals were made to the draft budget from these discussions.
Along with the $47.6 million operating and $18.6 million capital budgets, council also approved a proposed zero per cent increase on municipal tax rates; municipal and farmland tax rates also saw a zero per cent increase in 2021.
Some $6.54 million is included in the budget for general construction and road maintenance, and an additional $1.63 million for road paving.
Division 6 Councillor Glenn Koester questioned whether one of the paving projects listed in the capital projects, estimated at some $300,000 to repair a portion of Township Road 224, could be deferred to allow a traffic study to be carried out. Councillor Koester noted this project has been “on for a long time” and a traffic study would give the county data which could be presented to the neighbouring Town of Strathmore to discuss possible cost-sharing opportunities for the project.
Reeve Amber Link agreed traffic counts would allow for future collaborative conversations with Strathmore, especially with an ongoing town development project in the area, but suggested this could be done “when it’s most relevant.”
Chief Administrative Officer Brian Henderson noted a traffic study would be facilitated by the Public Works department and could be brought back to council for consideration.
Water infrastructure was budgeted at some $1.42 million, which includes $528,000 for work in the Rosebud area to install new fire hydrants, place an additional water main, and decommission wells in the area. Rosebud was connected to the Wheatland Regional Corporation (WRC) regional waterline in December 2020 and upgrades to the hamlet’s wastewater and lift system were completed in November 2021; these upgrades came in under the $2.8 million budget, costing nearly $2.4 million.
The 2022-2024 interim operating budget and 2022-2026 interim capital budget were approved unanimously, and Reeve Link thanked CAO Henderson and administration for their work on the budget process and department breakdown.
Detailed reports for the 2022 interim operating and capital budgets can be viewed at https://wheatlandcounty.ca/wheatland-county-council-approves-2022-interim-budget/.

Shoppers Drug Mart shows support for Pregnancy Care Centre

IMG 3512

Shopper Drug Mart showed its support for the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre by making a cash donation as well as providing pregnancy tests for the centre. At the presentation are (l-r) pharmacists Prashant Rababia, and Dhrumil Patel, Lexi Ellis, Juli Pellerine, and Ed Obima of Shoppers Drug Mart and Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre satellite director Jenessa McAuley


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