City Notebook: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but here goes nothin’

By Collin Gallant on September 21, 2024.

It may be strange for a reporter to support lengthening city council meetings, but here goes.

In case you didn’t read the committee minutes – passed omnibus without much discussion in a new “consent agenda” format in what still turned into a more than a four-hour meeting – one item sticks out.

A review of committee structure proposed by city manager Ann Mitchell could eliminate a couple, but also examine how councillors report on their outside assignments.

Each sits on several boards of outside agencies, and should provide updates, says Mitchell.

It’s not a new concept. In fact its very old, but seems to have fallen out of practice in Medicine Hat.

Such councillor reports (a memo or verbal overview) are standard in smaller jurisdictions – some of which still include “correspondence” on public agendas.

This week, Coun. Cassi Hider noted in general councillor announcements about recent Palliser Economic Partnership meeting in Bow Island. It’s the first mention anyone can remember of the regional economic development group – funded largely by City Hall in the Hat – on the official record for at least five years, probably longer.

It’s not alone having been absorbed into the wallpaper.

The Cypress View Foundation, which provides housing and actually has a tax levy in the Hat, Redcliff and Cypress County, has been an after thought at city council meetings for a decade. It provides affordable housing to seniors.

Are we too busy debating the housing crisis to hear what it is up, too?

Similarly, several large meetings to develop a multi-agency response to tackle unrest downtown have been held, but because no one is talking about it, or discussing the problem publicly, the public can only assume there’s nothing being done, that government is handcuffed, or delinquent.

When there’s a funding relationship, the annual statements will arrive at council to accept – such is the situation with the public library – but not always.

City councillors sit on the boards of the Stampede, Medalta, Chamber of Commerce, Highway 3 lobbying, and other agencies.

Hatters have never been told anything about the mid-sized mayoral conferences, rarely of economic development groups, or other many activities.

That’s not to say nothing is happening out there beyond city hall’s glass walls, but damned if there’s anyone talking about it.

It might be one reason why Hatters think City Hall not only controls every facet of life in Medicine Hat, but is also not doing anything.

Sometimes, when such a group arrives at council with an ask – the regional drainage committee is a recent example – the designated council rep will squire the conversation, but otherwise, frankly, it seems like nothing is going on.

One large complaint among Hatters is that large issues are seemingly sprung on the general public, which then suspects diabolical motive or a local government that is either unaware, flat footed, reactive or unresponsive?

Perhaps providing the transparency that Hatters asked for in the 2021 election could be provided in part by letting people know what’s going on?

Quick ones

– Former Hat TV news reporter Miranda Anthistle has been promoted to national anchor of Global Television’s weekday morning show

– We missed it, but owe it to rural Alberta power consumers to note that the sale of Tomahawk Rural Electrification Association (centred in Drayton Valley) to Fortis was completed in August. The average payout per account was $16,000.

– Talks with major industrial players in the city regarding the city’s carbon capture and storage project will be held in November, officials said this week.

A look ahead

It’s officially fall on Sunday, but officially hockey season on Saturday night. Anyone else excited? It’s a blank week for city business, but the News will be picking up the pieces for some time on some very big stories from the past two weeks. Council is back Oct. 7.

100 years ago

Hat pupils placed well above provincial average on exams, though local trustees formally voiced their displeasure with the provincial exam system, calling it piecemeal, the News reported in September 1924.

Local high school Grade 12 students scored an average of 59 per cent on spring exams, above the Alberta average of 32 per cent for the grade, while local Grade 9-11 students posted wide margins above their provincial counterparts.

Elkwater Lake should be stocked with pickerel, federal fisheries officials told a meeting of the Elkwater cottagers association. Pike would likely thwart attempts to add trout, but pickerel would do well.

J. Percy Page, the coach of the World Champion Edmonton Commercial Grads, lobbied international delegates to include women’s basketball in the next Olympic Games.

Former boxing champion Kid McCoy was ordered to stand trial for murder in Los Angeles.