There is less than 10 months left in the city council term but that isn't going to curb the number of big-decision items coming down the line.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
@CollinGallant
A provincial audit of council procedures, decisions on several huge capital grants and projects, including a major solar project, as well as new utility rate review committee and the future look of the energy division – 2025 will be a busy year at Medicine Hat city hall.
And that’s not even mentioning a set election date next fall and a nomination process that opened this week.
Despite the shortening runway toward the October election, Mayor Linnsie Clark told the News in a year-end interview that council should be prepared to deal with large issues when they arrive in chambers.
That includes debating the creation of a municipally controlled corporation (MCC) to house city energy business units, and potentially green-lighting construction on the Saamis Solar project, but only once the community is fully engaged on the issues.
“I want to see the information (on the MCC) when it’s ready,” said Clark regarding staff and outside analysis of creating an arm’s length body from council to operate the city’s 120-year-old electricity production business.
“I think conversation with the community needs to happen … but it’s going to be council that makes the decision … It’s a very large issue and likely should be an election issue at this point.”
“There’s important work that needs to be done and that’s not stopping,” added Clark, who has suggest council adopt a deadline in the early fall for when major legislation would stop before the Oct. 20 election.
“Similarly with Saamis, there are a lot of processes before a decision point about whether we do solar or not. Some are wait-and-see items, but if it comes to council, we’ll have to make a decision.”
Energy committee chair, Coun. Darren Hirsch, has strongly supported advancing work stemming from a late-year report on the energy division from KPMG.
It also suggests an arm’s length rate-review committee be formed to advise council, an item most councillors appear keen to explore.
Council also unanimously supported hiring an outside contractor, likely a law firm, to act as an integrity commissioner.
That office, likely operating in early 2025, would deal with initial code of conduct complaints between council members, after much of 2024 was clouded by conflict.
The fallout from such a complaint against Clark dominated headlines and council operations over the last year, while a provincial audit is due potentially this summer into issues of decision making protocol at city hall.
Clark said the results would likely help her determine whether to seek a second term as mayor.
“Certainly not before summer,” said Clark regarding a potential decision timeframe. “It’s important for us to get the inspection report when it comes – that will be a priority, and there will be recommendations.
“I’m keeping an open mind, and certainly there is more to accomplish.”
Council has set new priorities for the final 12 months of the four-year term, including focused economic development and actively seeking a provincial pilot to reverse “social disorder” in the city.
Clark told the News she also expects cost containment work this spring could lower a planned 5.6 per cent tax increase by the time rates are set in May.
Other council members, especially Coun. Andy McGrogan, have said they are concerned about looming financial decisions.
Council is also considering a major capital grant request from the Medicine Hat Stampede board, which says a $20-million grant and loan from the city is crucial to a provincially supported plan to rebuild grandstands and add event space.
That wasn’t dealt with during late-year discussions of the 2025-26 city budget, along with a proposed $250,000 operating grant to HALO air ambulance. That is on hold until council can look at a wider policy to consider community groups that make requests for operating funds.
Another priority project not yet budgeted is to advance plans to build a south-side recreation facility, though major work wouldn’t begin until at least 2026 or later.
A final investment decision could come sooner on building a one-quarter portion of the 325-megawatt Saamis Solar array.
Two local groups comprising the Medicine Hat Utility Ratepayers Association and another group of nearby landowners are expected to oppose the $100-million first phase.
Councillors have refrained from discussing the project while it’s before the AUC, but top-level staff say they believe an initial 75-megawatt array would cut production costs and buffer the gas-fired units from increasing provincial carbon levels.
Power officials are also awaiting results of a provincial energy market review ordered by the Alberta government.
Updates to the city’s land-use bylaw are planned in the coming year, and the final stages of Intermunicipal Development Plan amendments with Cypress County and Redcliff.
