Medicine Hat Minute: Unsuccessful Bid, Solar Farm, and Budget Talks Continue

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

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a day to support causes that make a difference. If you appreciate the work we do and want to help us continue advocating for common sense at City Hall, we’d be grateful for your support. We don’t usually make an explicit ask in these emails, but given that we’re a non-profit and don’t take a dime of government funding, we rely on your support to keep us going. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. If you’d like to contribute, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you!
  
  
• There will be a meeting of City Council this afternoon, beginning with a closed session at 4:15 pm. After the meeting opens up to the public, around 6:30 pm, Council will continue their budget discussions. The proposed budget includes a 5.6% property tax increase.
  
  
• The Municipal Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 pm to discuss several land use amendments. There will be another meeting of City Council on Thursday at 4:00 pm. No agenda is available yet.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• The City has secured a key regulatory approval for its plan to purchase the Saamis Solar Park, a large renewable energy project, but it now faces potential legal challenges. The Medicine Hat Utility Ratepayers Association (MHURA) has raised concerns about the lack of public consultation and transparency regarding the acquisition, arguing that taxpayers were not properly informed about such a significant financial investment. The Association also believes the economic merits of the project should be evaluated more thoroughly. MHURA has filed as an intervenor in the application process and is pushing for greater public input on the decision. The Alberta Utilities Commission is expected to rule on the ownership transfer within 120 days.
  
  
• The Medicine Hat Tigers’ bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup was unsuccessful, as Kelowna was selected to host the event. The Tigers' bid committee expressed disappointment over the outcome, but acknowledged the significant effort and support from the city and local officials. Tigers’ head coach Willie Desjardins expressed surprise, particularly considering the City's strong fanbase and facilities. Moving forward, the team is focused on earning a spot in the tournament.
  
  
• The Medicine Hat Police Service said that snowblowers are subject to the noise bylaw, which restricts their use to certain hours. Motorized snowblowers can disturb residents if used too early or late, and can lead to fines for violations. The allowed hours are 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekdays and 9:00 am to 10:00 pm on weekends and holidays. Commercial properties have more flexibility due to the necessity of clearing spaces during off-hours.

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