To support local businesses, Drumheller Town Council deferred business license fees as the community deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council made the motion at the Monday, March 30 Council meeting. The fees have been deferred for 90 days or until the Province ends the State of Emergency. Mayor Heather Colberg said this is one way to support local businesses, which are being hit hard by the current situation.
“Next to our residents, our local businesses are the heart and soul of this community. We have established an economic recovery task force to assist them in navigating the various deferral programs offered by the federal and provincial governments,” said Colberg. “Last night council agreed to defer business license fees.”
She said the town will continue to support businesses as well as the nonprofit sector deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We will also be helping charitable and non-profit organizations with grant funding applications recently announced. We are committed to helping them stay in town,” she said. “Our community has come together during these trying times and we cannot forget about our business community, charitable and non-profit sectors.”
The best way to weather the COVID-19 pandemic is to be prepared and follow the public health orders in place.
“COVID-19 is in communities surrounding us so we need to be ready for our first case. We need to maintain our cleaning efforts and understand unacceptable behaviour is no longer acceptable. If you see neighbours on the street who are not 2 metres apart, ask them to separate,” said Director of Emergency Management Darwin Durnie.
“In all the reports I’m reading from around the world, the key to flattening the curve for COVID-19 is to clean, clean, clean and stay home. We are doing our best to maintain these strict protocols.”