Drumheller Town Council has set their budgets for 2015, which includes over three million dollars in new project & equipment spending in the capital budget.

    Drumheller Town Coucil approved the Town’s Operating and Capital Budgets for the 2015 budget year at its regular Monday meeting February 23.
    The Town’s spending at $17,128,383 would come in slightly under what it would bring in for revenue in 2015, leaving a surplus of  $1,347. The operating budget reflects an overall two percent increase in revenue from taxes, although Council hasn’t yet officially set the mill rate to reflect the requested increase.
    The utilities supported budget approval includes a five per cent increase to the Town’s water rates, and a two per cent increase to its sewer rates.
    The increase allows the Town to recover some expenses for operating the utilities, as well as sock away money for rainy day  requirements such as maintenance or repair, in the water and sewer reserve funds.
    Under the Town’s capital plan is where project spending is done, and the Town is wanting to fund the Aquaplex improvements, which would include a gradual or sloped entry into the pool, rather than just the current ladder access.
    Money for the project would come out of the almost $3.6 million that the Town has budgeted for new project spending in 2015. Chief Administrative Officer Ray Romanetz notes any applications under provincial MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) funding require Ministerial approval, but the Aquaplex enhancements may be considered part of the existing improvements application.
    More than $2.3 million in project spending is for projects carried forward from 2014, such as the cast iron water main replacement program.

Dr. Craig Scott is part of the team at the Tyrrell assembling a new exhibit called Fossils in Focus, that will highlight dynamic nature of the museum. One specimen sure to on display this year is the recent discovery of  a hadrosaur from the Castle River.

    One area that the Royal Tyrrell Museum sets itself apart from many others is the active and exciting research work that is done day in and day out.  
    A new exhibit coming this spring called Fossils in Focus, has a vision of capturing that excitement and intrigue that draws young and old to the science.
    The Tyrrell Museum has an incredible collection, but often much if it is behind closed doors, while others are in the news.
    Dr. Craig Scott, who is one of the team members organizing the new installation, explains the new exhibit is meant to shed light on some of the museum’s most exciting specimens and display the dynamic nature of the museum.  
    “The vast majority of specimens we have generally don’t see the light of day. The ones that do are the ones on exhibit. The other venue for seeing many of the specimens is through publications, which are not always easily accessed or approachable to the public,” he explains. “What we have tried to do with this gallery is to highlight many of the specimens that are currently in the news, or have been in the news recently. Other specimen are from our collection that are really nice, but have not been a focus of research in the recent past.”
    One specimen sure to be on display is the hadrosaur discovered last year in the Castle River. This fossil appears to have been uncovered in the flood of 2013 and discovered by fishermen.
    “That specimen is likely going be of great importance to us not only because the way it is preserved, but the other thing about it is it comes from a place that we haven’t routinely looked for dinosaurs” Scott said. “We don’t have a whole lot of information from that area, and now that we are aware there are potentially really good specimens coming from that area, it acted as a vehicle to direct some of our research to that part of the province.”
      He adds that Fossils in Focus will be more authentic to what the discoveries look like.
    “One of the interesting things about the way this piece is going to be exhibited is it is not going to be fully prepared out like we have done with other specimens in the past. The public is going to get an opportunity to see how this specimen looked as it was found in the river,” he said.
    He adds this highlight is the research component of the museum.
    “The research is what fuels the museum, and the majority of the specimens on exhibit have been researched in the past or will be researched in the near future. In that sense it brings into focus what we do here,” he said. “We have made it a mandate that this gallery will be changed on an annual basis. There will always be something new to see year after year.”
    The layout of the new exhibit also has a feel of discovery, explains Carrie-Ann Lunde, head of marketing and public relations for the Tyrrell.
    “When this space was envisioned, it was meant to be distinct from the rest of our galleries. The idea that it is contained in a separate room lends to the element of curiosity. You are drawn into this area with the ‘real cool’ stuff,” she said.