With the election of a new mayor and several major projects on the docket, Redcliff is moving forward. "I'd hate to be in the way of progress," says new mayor Chris Czember. Czember (left) and former mayor and Coun. Dwight Kilpatrick watch results come in during the October municipal election.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
zmason@medicinehatnews.com
It was a year of visible change in Redcliff, as residents chose a new council and multiple major renewal projects were given the green light.
The year saw Redcliff elect a new mayor for the first time since 2017. Local business owner and two-term councillor Chris Czember won the mayoral race in October, taking over from two-term mayor Dwight Kilpatrick.
The election also resulted in a substantial shakeup to a town council that had retained many of the same members for several terms. Newcomers Bernie Bakker and Bradie Burns took spots on council, and former councillor Eric Solberg returned to the chamber, while incumbent James Allen lost his seat.
Kilpatrick also resumed a place on council, continuing a record of service that has already spanned 36 years.
Czember says it has been a smooth transition.
“I knew what to expect,” he said in an interview with the News on Monday. “With my experience being on council, I could kind of look over the shoulder of the previous mayor and see what the role involved.
“Everybody’s been working really well together and we’re excited to move forward. So far, so good.”
The year included several noteworthy new developments for the township, including major investments using money obtained from the province.
Redcliff received a Facility Enhancement Program grant worth $740,000 from the province in March to replace the ice plant at the Rec-Tangle Arena. The town matched the funding, bringing the total to $1.4 million, and has upgrades scheduled for the end of the hockey season this spring.
The province’s School Construction Accelerator Program is also providing funding for a new school development in Redcliff.
Initially proposed as a modernization of the existing Parkside Jr. High School, the provincial government and Prairie Rose Public Schools agreed to redirect the capital project request to a new school facility in early 2025.
The new council’s first budget, passed earlier this month, includes $3.8 million for preparing the school site.
Czember says the site has been identified, and council’s first meeting of the new year will be focused on finalizing the details of the land allocation.
Czember says the school will be his council’s top priority in the new year.
“It’s such an important topic, so we’re putting as much effort forward with that as possible so that we can remove any possible hurdles,” he said.
In September, former mayor Dwight Kilpatrick asked Medicine Hat city council to consider a regional partnership on composting.
The City of Medicine Hat included the facility, and a corresponding city-wide program to collect and keep organic material, in its 2025-26 city business plan.
Estimates for the proposed facility have reached as high as $18 million to $20 million.
Kilpatrick said Redcliff was in discussions with Ambipar, the same company engaged by the City of Medicine Hat, about waste management needs, and suggested the city work with Redcliff and Cypress County to initiate a two- or three-year trial of a regional compost program.
Czember says he and Cypress County Mayor Dan Hamilton remain in favour of a regional partnership.
He says a proposal has been approved, but the town remains in negotiations with Ambipar about specifics.
