Invest MH office building ownership and salary changes explained

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 4, 2021.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Two points made in a recent letter to the editor require further clarification to provide readers with a more accurate picture of criticism levelled at the municipal Invest Medicine Hat office.

The letter, titled “Invest Medicine Hat needs to do more to attract investors,” appeared in the Nov. 26 edition.

In it, author Ian Parkinson states the office is leasing space in a building “owned” by managers of the department, and implies a $300,000 reduction in salaries for the 2022 budget year is the result of former managing director Jason Melhoff leaving the office.

The Invest Medicine Hat office is located at 556 Fourth St. SE in the former location of Servus Credit Union. The building is in fact owned by Community Futures Entre-Corp., a non-profit agency funded largely by the federal government which leases space to a number of economic and advisory groups, as well as the local Crown prosecutor’s office.

On the salaries issue, Melhoff, who stepped down as department head in late October citing health reasons, is not named, but the letter claims one fewer employee is the reason for a substantial drop in salaries next year.

The figure comes from a budget update and proposed amendment that was presented to city council on Nov. 15.

The budget was tabled on a motion by Coun. Shila Sharps, stating she had further questions about the reasons behind the changes.

Officials with Invest told the News on Friday that the major effect on salaries is the result of several positions being considered under different departments. That will be offset by changes elsewhere in the budget.

A full explanation will be provided at the Dec. 6 council meeting when the budget is taken up again, Invest officials said.