Mr. Bill Wulff presented an update to council on behalf of the Valley Bus Society which has undergone significant operational changes over the past few years. He explained Valley Bus is governed by a governing board, with one representative from the Town of Drumheller, and which meets monthly. Councillor Tony Lacher currently serves as the Town’s representative and President of the Board; Mr. Wulff sits as a volunteer manager while the new operations are being transitioned.
Over the course of COVID, the society struggled financially to maintain its operations, and Bubba T’s was contracted to carry out operation of the Valley Bus service. This contract is due to expire in April 2025. Ridership has increased since COVID, with some 7,700 people utilizing the service by September 2024; a total of 10,250 people are anticipated to have utilized the Valley Bus service by the end of this year.
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Town of Drumheller Capital Projects manager Jason Warrack presented an update on repairs on the Aquaplex hot tub. The hot tub at the Aquaplex has been out of service for months due to known leaks, and despite minor repair attempts the hot tub continues to lose water. Mr. Warrack explained there is a need to repair both the pipe work and tub basin. To fully renew all pipe work associated with the hot tub and install a new pre-manufactured tub basin is anticipated to cost $250,000.
Mr. Warrack also presented additional options, which would see only spot repairs on the pipe work and tub basin completed at an anticipated cost of $100,000; replace just the tub basin at an anticipated cost of $120,000; or to fully close the hot tub and repurpose the pool deck at a cost of $66,500.
It was noted $250,000 will be earmarked in the 2025 Capital budget and this item will be brought forward to a future council meeting for further discussion and decision.
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The Committee closed the meeting to the public and moved to a closed session to discuss third party business.
