Medicine Hat Minute: Strategic Plan, Hydration Stations, and Methadone Clinic Closed

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

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• Today, starting at 8:00 am, there will be a meeting of the Public Services Committee. At this meeting, the Committee is set to receive several presentations including the Medicine Hat Public Library 2021 Annual Report, a presentation by the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board on recognizing pandemic impacts and supports, and a Towne Square Update. Later on today, at 4:15 pm, there will be a Regular City Council meeting. Unfortunately, the majority of the meeting will be held in-camera.
  
  
• On Thursday, there will be a meeting of the Energy and Infrastructure Committee at 3:30 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting.
  
  
• If your route includes the Finlay Bridge this week, expect to take a detour Tuesday and Wednesday as there will be urgent electrical repairs happening to a section of powerline. Residents in the immediate area should also expect to be without power from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• City Council released its new four-year strategic plan which puts a focus on innovating service delivery and communications, supporting a transition to a new "sustainable" economy, and improving community wellness. The document, titled “We Have Energy”, is really City Hall’s wish list and replaces a previous plan developed after the 2017 election. The new plan is divided into six categories ranging from Economic Evolution to Community Wellness. Let’s hope these six categories actually lead to some meaningful progress and aren’t just expensive buzzwords.
  
  
• The testing phase of a new summer pilot project has been launched by the City and will see clean drinking water delivered through fire hydrants around town. During the initial phase, the system will be thoroughly flushed and the water will be sent for testing, so the new hydration stations aren’t available for public use just yet. Once the testing phase has been completed, residents will be able fill up containers, bottles, and cups with potable water.
  
  
• A local methadone clinic was abruptly closed, leaving patients with questions. The Levitee Clinic on Maple Avenue was chained up on Wednesday with many of its clients, who rely on suboxone and methadone, left wondering what to do next. Usually, clinics ensure certain protocols around closing timeframes are followed carefully, however, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the clinic in question is not run by a physician therefore adherence to closing timeline rules does not apply. The College also said they are working closely with the clinic’s medical lead and AHS to ensure patients of the clinic receive adequate care.

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