Medicine Hat Minute: Development Permits, Salvation Army, and a Judicial Review Begins

Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• The Administrative and Legislative Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 4:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• On Thursday, at 1:00 pm, the Development and Infrastructure Committee will meet. The Committee will discuss possible inclusion of a non-statutory hearing regarding the new off-site levy processes. Also on the agenda is a discussion about the Province’s Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation, which will shift the cost of recycling away from municipalities and onto the companies that produce single-use items.
  
  
• Mayor Linnsie Clark will be in court today and tomorrow for a judicial review of the sanctions imposed on her by Council. The case will be heard in Calgary's Court of King’s Bench. Mayor Clark is seeking to overturn the sanctions that halved her salary and restricted her authority.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• The Municipal Planning Commission approved two development permit requests, including rezoning a vacant property on Second Street SE from low to medium-density residential, which would allow for a larger housing building. The land, previously home to a semi-detached residence, has been empty since 2016. The committee also approved a land-use change for a greenhouse on Box Springs Road, repurposing it from cannabis cultivation to growing vegetable starters and cut flowers. Both proposals will now go to City Council for final approval.
  
  
• Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services said that, in July, they responded to 196 emergency incidents, including eight structure fires, 13 outdoor fires, and 25 calls related to carbon monoxide and gas leaks. Firefighters dealt with three structure fires within a 12-hour period on July 24th alone. Fire crews also handled 20 motor vehicle collisions, 34 medical calls, and 13 citizen assists during the month.
  
  
• The Salvation Army said it is reviewing its services in Medicine Hat. The organization’s current lease ends in October, and a new space may bring about an end to the meal program they offer. The Salvation Army says there will be a focus on making a long-term impact rather than continuing existing services just for tradition's sake. The review is still in the early stages, and more details will be available closer to October. The Salvation Army Thrift Store will not be affected by these changes, and it will continue operating as usual.

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