Medicine Hat Minute: Solar Field, Construction Concerns, and a 311 Line Proposed
Medicine Hat Minute: Solar Field, Construction Concerns, and a 311 Line Proposed
Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics
This Week In Medicine Hat:
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There are no meetings at City Hall this week as Council is on summer vacation. Meetings will resume mid-August.
- Several business owners in Medicine Hat say they are closing or listing their businesses for sale due to ongoing city construction projects. Business owners have struggled with decreased foot traffic and revenue loss. While the City has provided some support, such as dedicated parking and advertising assistance, concerns persist about the effectiveness of these measures. Some business owners feel the City is not adequately prioritizing the revitalization of the downtown area amidst the construction.
- The boat lake at Echo Dale Regional Park is closed for water quality testing. The City will monitor the lake to ensure it meets safety standards, and the closure is expected to last until around July 31st. During this period, the swim lake will remain open and unaffected by the testing.
Last Week In Medicine Hat:
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The "magic money" system introduced by West Coast Amusements at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede received mixed reactions. The system replaced cash handling with preloaded wristbands that were to be used at games and food stands, though debit and credit cards were still accepted. It aimed to collect data on popular attractions and streamline ticket purchases through automated kiosks, which some visitors found confusing. Issues reported include difficulties with kiosks, long lines at human-attended booths, and concerns about how children manage their spending with wristbands instead of cash.
- Mayor Linnsie Clark has proposed adding a “3-1-1” style phone line for City service inquiries to the list of new spending items for the 2025 and 2026 budget. This system, designed to streamline resident access to municipal information, was included in a larger list of over 80 budget items that City administrators are now reviewing. Council is considering the feasibility and timing of implementing such a system, with some members expressing interest but questioning the project's complexity and timeline. The proposal aims to integrate a single point of entry for phone and email inquiries, but staff have noted that it would require significant operational changes and detailed planning. Council will continue discussions on this and other budget items, with major budget discussions scheduled for late October.
- Canada’s largest urban solar field has been approved for construction in Medicine Hat. The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) granted DP Energy permission to build the Saamis Solar project on 1,600 acres of land between Crescent Heights and industrial sites in the northwest. Despite opposition from local landowners and an oil company, the AUC determined the project aligns with public interest, with conditions to mitigate impacts on native grasslands and accommodate existing oil operations. The solar field, featuring over 600,000 panels, is expected to be operational by February 2027.
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