Mayor Terry Yemen and CAO Ray Romanetz met with Senator Grant Mitchell and gained his support in regard to Drumheller’s flood mitigation.
    Previously, the Province of Alberta approved Drumheller for 90% of the funds needed to move flood mitigation forward through the Alberta Community Resilience Program (ACRP) for a $3 million project. This left the additional 10% for the town to cover.
    When meeting with Senator Mitchell in November he was able to help navigate the path to appropriate Federal departments for other potential grants to offset costs for flood mitigation not covered by the already approved grant through ACRP.  
    Mayor Yemen said, “Senator Mitchell has been a very valuable asset to us. We’ve met with him and he’s had doors open up for us. We’ve received calls made by Ottawa to Drumheller saying, ‘We understand you need some help. How can we help?’ That’s all because of Senator Mitchell.”
    Mayor Yemen and CAO Romanetz have been advised through discussion with the Honorable Amarjeet Sohi, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and his Executive Assistant, Mike Burton, there may be grant money available for all the flood mitigation projects under the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. This would help offset 50% of the project by Federal contribution, leaving only 50% instead of the initial 90% to the provincial government.  According to Minister Sohi the funding cannot be approved without endorsement from Alberta Infrastructure.
    “There is limited funding in Ottawa and so timing is crucial.” Mayor Yemen said, “All the province has to do is bless the project then we can move it forward. There’s still a process in Ottawa where they have to look at the project and agree it fits the criteria. We need the province’s approval before we can apply.”
    Mayor Yemen has already been in contact with MLA Rick Strankman to help push the province forward on the Provincial level.
    Mayor Yemen said, “Yes he is willing to put a letter of support to the province but I said we need more than just a letter. We need someone to go and knock on the Minister’s door and have a face to face. He needs to explain the value of this program so we can move it forward in a timely manner.”
    According to Mayor Yemen there is another conference call scheduled for the end of the week with Senator Mitchell regarding flood mitigation. With support in place on the Federal level, the project needs to be pushed through the Provincial government for approval.
    “This is a community thing. Yes, the Town is spearheading it but the more numbers and support we get the better it is. We understand there is this funding available and we just need the province to urgently review this and give the town approval so that we can move forward and make an application to the Federal government.” Mayor Yemen said, “There’s strength in numbers. I would like to see the community rally behind this and tell the province to get this done finally.” 

To make your voice heard, send emails to Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Honorable Brian Mason infrastructure.minister@gov.ab.ca; cc to MLA Strankman drumheller.stettler@assembly.ab.ca

    The East Coulee School Museum has achieved a milestone, being designated a Provincial Historical Resource.
    In 2014, The East Coulee School Museum name Drumheller Valley’s first Municipal Historic Resource in 2014. And in 2017, the Province of Alberta formally recognized the School Museum as a Provincial Historic Resource – the highest and most prestigious designation.
    The Alberta Provincial Historical Resource Act allows the Alberta government to designate and protect Provincial Historical Resources. The East Coulee School Museum is vital in telling the story of the Coal Mining Era.
    When a site is designated, the owners are obligated to be good stewards. There are strict guidelines to preserve the property. Written approval from the Minister is needed to make significant changes.
    With this designation, it also provides owners with resources to keep the sites in good standing, such as matching grants, technical expertise from Heritage Conservation Advisors, promotion of the site for tourists or education purposes.
    This designation allows the Society to apply for annually for grants of $100,000. The Society then works to match whatever grant funds they are awarded.
    The museum is already actively preserving the site. This process was started by the replacement of the coal-fired boiler in 2015 with a new high efficiency gas boiler using the same radiators and pipes. The next step is the overhaul of the roof. The old roof needs to be taken off and a new torch on roof put in its place with all the Heritage Details on the roof edge to be preserved and returned to its proper place on the roof.
    The East Coulee School Museum is owned and operated the Dinosaur Valley Historical Society.
    To date the museum has raised approximately $56,000. Of this, $36,250 was just received from the Alberta Heritage Resources Foundation. It needs to match this amount and raise more funds. The roof estimate has come in at $170,000 to do the entire roof.