1000 multi-facility passes have been bought for $2 each after an anonymous donor wanted to give back to the community.
    On Monday, January 15, an individual who wishes to remain anonymous, presented to council they would like to contribute back to the community in the form of a community donation. They were able to purchase 1000 Multi-Facility Drop-in Passes at a reduced rate to distribute to members of the community, including elementary and high schools in the area, as discussed in a previous presentation to council.
    “They had experience doing some of the things at other communities and they felt that it was a good way to give back to the community so we worked with that donor to come up with some sort of structure to the program,” said Paul Salvatore, Director of Community Services for the Town of Drumheller.
    Administration has begun establishing a system to track the passes as they are redeemed and report back to both the donor and council on the uptake and increase of pass usage.
    The town believes this is a good way to gain exposure and hopefully net some new clientele for the Aquaplex and Badlands Community Facility (BCF).
    “From the town’s point of view, we think it’s a good thing to get more people in to our facility,” began Salvatore. “It won’t necessarily generate additional revenue for us but it will get more people in to our facilities because it is important to keep our facilities busy and making sure people are as active as possible. Depending on what situation people might be in, this will help them get on a positive level as far as health and fitness are concerned,” said Salvatore.
    A timeline for the program’s start date is still being discussed but it is expected to be sooner rather than later.
    “We’ll try to make it happen as soon as we can,” said Salvatore.
    Both parties are delighted to give the community a cheap option for fitness, especially for youth.
    “We’re very proud of the facilities that we operate in the Town of Drumheller and we’re very happy to provide an expanded level of access through an anonymous donor in addition to some of the other programs that we offer through our fee assistance program. We want to make sure we’re giving people an opportunity to get out and get active,” said Salvatore.

    While it has been out of the news for a while, the Badlands Motorsports Resort, a track and race facility planned for the Rosebud area, has revved up its online presence.
    In late January, the proponent of the development began advertising that the resort is becoming a reality, and published new drawings of the planned track. It now proposes a 4.8-kilometre North Track road course. There is also a large paddock area, a 12-acre skid pad, and a 1.6-kilometre Kart Track planned. There is also a planned Valley Track; a 3-kilometre road course that winds through the lower portion of the property.
    While it appears the developers have been quiet, Director and CFO of Badlands Motorsports Resort, James Zelazo, says they have been busy working on the approvals for the project.
    “We’ve always been on track. Of course, there is a lot of processes involved. The work behind the scenes is phenomenal with the designing and approvals,” said Zelazo.
    He says at this point all of the major municipal approvals have been done for a while.
    “One of the key and final permits you need in construction is the environmental permits,” said Zelazo. “Part of the reason our project is taking so long, is there are so many considerations with the environment we have to comply with.”
    He said one of the most time-consuming elements of the project is the design and approval for an upgrade paved access road.
    “It is a municipal road and we have to pay for the upgrade to a paved status, and it is in a very difficult area going through the coulees,” he said. “It is the county road and they are in control so we have to do all the detailed design with respect to that to make sure it can be done.”
    He says they have been focused on working towards their environmental approvals. He believes there will be a notice out shortly advertising the project. This allows those directly affected to file a Statement of Concern with Alberta Environment and Parks.

    One group sure to make their voices heard during this process is Save the Rosebud. The group has been opposing the proposed development on the grounds of protecting the environment and livability of the area.
    Wendy Clark is part of the group and has been involved since at least 2013.

  “The proposed racetrack and resort development would destroy the rich biodiversity of the Rosebud River Valley by forever changing the ecosystem, introducing excessive noise and traffic into a habitat so many species depend on for survival. River valleys form a connected system. You cannot destroy a portion without affecting the whole system,” said Clark.
    She says the group has been preparing their concerns.
    “Two years ago, we had legal help preparing a draft Statement of Concern and we have over 100 people signed up for that statement, many are bordering on the Rosebud River,” said Clark. “The problem is we actually can’t complete that Statement of Concern until we actually see all the documents that are in the applications, and those are some pretty huge documents.”
      She says over 400 letters have gone to the province to voice their concerns.
    The group has received correspondence from the Minister of Environment, stating that when the department receives the application, it will be thoroughly vetted and will include protection of wetlands and species at risk.
    “I don’t know where that leaves us, who knows until the approval process is actually moving along,” said Clark.
    "We are pretty well to the point where we have done all we can do. We have to wait until the Alberta Government has a completed application.”