Due to the absence of Mayor Terry Yemen, the meeting was chaired by Deputy Mayor Tom Zariski.
Councillors provided updates on the committees to which they were appointed previously, as this was the final meeting of the current council prior to the Municipal Election coming up on Monday, October 16.
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Deputy Mayor Zariski publicly thanked both former CAO Ray Romanetz, and Mayor Yemen for their work on behalf of the Town, and also thanked his fellow councillors for their hard work on behalf of the citizens of Drumheller.
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Councillor Kolafa reported on the improvements done to the Drumheller Airport, namely, crack filling on the runway, and installation of a cardlock fuel system at the airport to allow pilots to have 24 hour access to fuel to fill their aircraft.
Councillor Hansen-Zacharuk asked if it had ever been discussed on holding drag races on the airport when it is closed. Mr. Kolafa did say that it is possible to hold racing in various forms, but the commission has not been approached in that regard.
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Councillors Zariski and Shoff led a discussion on the Municipal Planning Commission and it’s role, plus the members of the current Commission and the expertise they offer to the decision-making of planning and the rules by which they are governed.
Councillor Hansen-Zacharuk suggested that each councillor sit on the MPC for at least one year during their term.
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Councillor Kolafa reported on the Solid Waste Management Association, saying revenues have fallen, mainly due to the absence of activity from the energy sector, but activity at the site had been enjoying a slight increase of late. Councillor Zariski made a comment about the recycling programs offered by the site, but suggested more information could be circulated to help residents understand that the only segment that makes money for the association, is the cardboard return program. It was also suggested by Councillor Shoff that some residents had contacted her about how recycling of glass works, and that currently glass from the landfill is returned to a plant in Calgary.
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Councillor Kolafa then gave an update on another board he sits on as a town representative, the Public Library Board. The library is doing well, there was a lot of outreach projects to the community over the summer months. He noted that Hussar lost their library after the school closed in June, and Chinook Credit Union is handling some requests and services to the public. The free memberships offered by the Library honouring Canada 150, proved to be a popular program, but probably would not continue in the future. He highlighted that Drumheller pays over $80,000 into the Marigold Library System, and receives some $144,000 in value from the regional system.
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Councillor Shoff made a report from Community Futures and said they had been busy with loan repayments of late and they have a meeting coming up this week. Community Futures works with prospective business developers to create business plans, and then possibly help with financing of new business locating in the area.
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Councillor Zariski informed council on how the Community Advisory Committee functions and their liaison with the local police detachment. He also spoke about the Policing Committee and how they work with the RCMP members. They have compiled a survey asking for input from citizens on how policing is done in Drumheller. Mr. Zariski remarked that the Citizens on Patrol, the volunteers who patrol at night to help keep the town safer by conducting patrols and contacting authorities if any questionable activity is witnessed by members.
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Councillor Hansen-Zacharuk provided a report on recent activities of Hope College, and the fact that they have moved to a smaller, downtown location. They have 11 students currently registered in a massage therapy program, with two on a wait list. They are also working on a college prep program to prepare students for entry into college programs.
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Councillor Zariski gave an update on the Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation, and how they want to take a step back and meet with the foundation’s other partners, to possibly redefine their role and how best to serve the needs of the senior community. He said that there is a variety of senior’s housing options available in the valley and asked if the options there are what is really needed by today’s seniors.
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He commented that the Heritage Steering committee had been assisting the East Coulee School museum in their goals of late and their funding projects are underway. Mr. Zariski named the Drumheller Armouries as possibly the next heritage building that the committee could assist for the future re-development.
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Town of Drumheller Council Notes for Monday, October 2

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Monday’s meeting was the first official Council Meeting for newly appointed CAO Darryl Drohomerski, who takes over from recently retired Ray Romanetz.
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Mayor Terry Yemen read a proclamation, naming Friday, October 6, as World Cerebral Palsy Day.
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Council passed a motion to cancel the Monday, October 16, 2017, regular council meeting, as this is Municipal Election Day in Alberta.
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Five members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee attended council to provide information on how they intend to sell the benefits of starting and maintaining a business in Drumheller. The Committee wanted to make sure they were dispensing the proper information to prospective businesses and was desirous to make sure that information was what council wanted the committee to develop and send out. Councillor Garbutt asked the question of the committee if there was enough money given to them to do their job. The committee is desirous of hiring a person to do cold calling and making contacts in the amount of $20,000, equalling one-half of the budgeted amount.
Both council and the committee members were in agreement that there is a lot of work to be done on economic development.
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Mike Hansen from the Stampede and Agricultural committee also attended council to explain the role of the committee and their activities specifically geared to bringing people to Drumheller. Mr. Hansen told council that roughly 15% of the attendees at the car racing events his committee stages are locals, and that 85% are visitors bringing both race cars and people to the valley. According to Mr. Hansen, the NDP government had threatened to cancel provincial grants to societies, but it became known that provincial grants had been given to Calgary and Edmonton exhibitions, and thus the grants (approximately $20,000 to $24,000) had been restored for this year. Mayor Yemen asked if it was possible to button up the building in the winter to save costs, and the reply was that it was decided not to do so, as the building could start to deteriorate. There are a few groups holding activities in the barn in the off season and the SAM RV club also plans to come to the grounds in 2018 to camp.
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Due to the recent retirement of CAO Ray Romanetz, council moved to ask CAO Darryl Drohomerski to sit as Drumheller’s representative on the board of Drumheller and District
Solid Waste Management Association.
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Council dealt with two land issues where the Town was desirous to clean up some longstanding property line matters on two lots in Rosedale, and the associated utility lines that are in place. By-law 11-17 was passed, with no objection to three readings at one council meeting by any councillors.
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Council will hold a public auction of 10 properties located in Drumheller, which are in arrears in their taxes with the town. This is a normal practice for such properties and for the most part, the arrears are usually paid prior to the actual sale of the property. An auction is slated for January 26, 2018..
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Council passed a motion which allowed Drumheller to hold the election for the Golden Hills Public School Division trustee on October 16, 2017, at the same time as the other municipal elections. This is usually done as a matter of convenience, but the move does require a duly passed by-law, (16-17).