Medicine Hat Minute: Rumoured Departure, Remaining Restrictions, and Shelter Frustrations Erupt
Medicine Hat Minute: Rumoured Departure, Remaining Restrictions, and Shelter Frustrations Erupt
Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics
This Week In Medicine Hat:
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The Administrative and Legislative Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 4:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
- On Wednesday, at 1:30 pm, the Municipal Planning Commission will meet. The agenda includes a rezoning application for The Mustard Seed to temporarily add 20 beds to the Allowance Avenue shelter site. (More on this below!).
- Summit Service Dogs (SSD) is seeking volunteers to assist in raising and training service dogs. These dogs support individuals with autism, PTSD, medical conditions, and mobility challenges. SSD offers two volunteer options: one for raising young puppies and another for advanced training, where dogs are cared for by volunteers during the day.
Last Week In Medicine Hat:
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At a town hall, residents expressed anger over the impact of The Mustard Seed's services on the Flats neighbourhood, citing issues like theft, drug use, and vandalism. Homeowners and business owners shared personal accounts, including feeling unsafe and facing financial losses, and called for immediate action. The Mustard Seed’s CEO noted efforts to find a new centralized location and highlighted increased police patrols, but acknowledged limits to the non-profit's authority. Mayor Linnsie Clark pledged to expedite relocation efforts and proposed short-term solutions like clean-up crews for drug refuse. A public hearing on The Mustard Seed's rezoning request for additional shelter beds is scheduled for Wednesday.
- Dennis Egert, the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Medicine Hat, has reportedly exited his role, according to multiple anonymous sources. Egert had been with the City since 2014 and also served as Managing Director of Corporate Services. The reason for his exit has not been disclosed, and the City has not commented on his employment status. His departure, if confirmed, follows a series of senior staff turnovers at City Hall, including the resignations of other key figures such as the City Clerk and former City Manager.
- Mayor Linnsie Clark said she is optimistic that City Council will lift remaining restrictions on her access to City Hall, with a review set for later this month. In August 2024, a Calgary judge overturned several sanctions imposed on Clark, ruling that restrictions barring her from the administrative area and direct staff contact were excessive. The judge directed Council to reconsider measures that balanced City Manager protection with Clark’s mayoral duties.
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