Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 216

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• City Manager Ann Mitchell has been placed on a temporary paid leave of absence following a unanimous vote by Council during a closed meeting. Her duties have been temporarily delegated to the City Clerk. Council also authorized the hiring of an investigator to report back on matters discussed privately, though the nature of the investigation remains undisclosed. The move follows recent closed-door meetings, including one held without public notice under provisions allowing such sessions with sufficient Council support. The City has declined to provide additional details, citing confidentiality related to personnel matters. Council emphasized the need for procedural fairness and asked the public to respect the ongoing process.
  
  
• Discussions around replacing Medicine Hat’s aging 60-year-old grandstand at the Stampede grounds have been ongoing for five years, with no funding agreement yet in place. The grandstand required costly repairs last year just to pass safety inspections, and a larger $38.9-million project has been proposed to modernize the Stampede grounds. The City previously declined to cover 60% of the cost and is now considering scaled-back options. Stampede organizers say the upgrades are necessary for safety and to boost year-round revenue, but they’re stuck in a funding stalemate as the City and Province each wait on the other to commit. The City faces competing infrastructure demands, including a proposed $100-million recreation centre. Despite the delays, both City and provincial officials acknowledge the Stampede’s economic importance to the region. A decision from Council is expected after design revisions are reviewed in August.
  
  
• The City’s planning and development services department is meeting its target to complete permit processing within designated timeframes at least 80% of the time. In the second quarter of 2025, the City achieved 100% on-time processing for building and trade permits, 92% for business licenses, and 90% for development permits. This performance surpasses their established service level goals.  The City hopes this consistency will boost confidence among developers and permit applicants. Full quarterly reports are available on the City’s website.
  
  
• The City received the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2025-2026 budget document, marking the third consecutive term it has earned this recognition. The award honours local governments that produce high-quality budget documents following national guidelines and best practices. The City’s budget report was praised for excelling as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communication tool. Jilian Campbell, the City’s Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the award as a reflection of staff dedication to transparency and accountability. The budget document is publicly accessible online and was reviewed by an impartial committee.
  
  
• Clayton Stevens has officially registered as the eighth candidate for Council in Medicine Hat’s fall municipal election. A small business owner and taxi driver, Stevens says his daily interactions with a wide range of residents give him a unique perspective on social issues. He believes areas like Riverside and Crescent Heights lack proper representation. Stevens says he wants to bring a practical, people-focused voice to Council and believes his background makes him well-suited to advocate for everyday residents.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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