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.

Legislative Services manager, Mitchell Visser, presented council with Policy LS-C-02 - Mayor’s Recognition Policy. This policy will replace an outdated policy from 1991, A-01-91; the program is to recognize Drumheller residents with milestone recognitions.
Mayor Heather Colberg explained she has received requests throughout the seven years she has served as Mayor, and this policy will allow more consistency in the certificates of recognition.
Council approved the change in policy.
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Chief Financial Officer and Director of Community Services, Victoria Chan presented the 2025 Utility Operating and Capital Budget to council.
The 2025 Utility Operating and Capital Budget has been balanced so that utility operations will not need to be subsidized by revenues accrued from property taxes, and any surpluses arising from this budget will be contributed to reserves to finance future Capital needs or to reduce financing requirements.
The 2025 Water Operating Budget shows $4.6 million in revenue projected in 2025 based on water sales to Drumheller residents, agreements with the communities of Cambria and Rosedale, as well as water sales to regional customers; this will help to offset expected expenses of $4.1 million, which includes $1,059,855 in salaries, $236,492 in payroll benefits, and a $500,100 contribution to reserves.
The 2025 Wastewater Operating Budget shows anticipated revenues of $2.9 million with balanced expenses of $2.9 million which includes $876,949 in salaries, $196,487 in payroll benefits, and $166,420 in repairs and maintenance.
Council accepted the 2025 Utility Operating Budget, 3-Year Operating Financial Plan, 2025 Utility Capital Budget and 10-Year Capital Plan.
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Ms. Chan proposed, based on the approved 2025 Water and Wastewater Operating and Capital Budget, to impose an increase of five per cent to the Water Utility Rate, and a six per cent increase to the Wastewater Utility Rate.
She explained, when comparing Drumheller to other municipalities with similar populations across the province, the average user consuming 20 cubic metres of water per month see an average cost of $70.46; Drumheller is below this rate at a rate of $64.27, and the proposed increase, which will see the average user bill increase by an estimated $3.30 per month on the water portion of their utility bill. This proposed increase will keep the Town’s average water rate below the average.
Likewise, with wastewater, the proposed budget proposes a six per cent increase to the rate. Currently the average user sees about $61.93 per month in charges, which is below the average of $67.84; the proposed increase would mean a change of approximately $4.45 per month on the wastewater portion of the utility bill, and would still keep the costs below the average.
On the solid waste and recycling portion of the utility bill, there will be an estimated change of approximately $0.25 per month due to the recent change of service provider. Drumheller is significantly below the average of $28.10 per month for these services at $11.33 per month.
Council gave first and second reading to the 2025 Utility Rate Bylaw.