Neat to Know: November 21, 2024
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Please enjoy this week's edition of Neat to Know, a roundup of City news, updates, and other important information. You can expect to see the week's most interesting content and even some that may have not been delivered through our regular channels.
Contest alert! Stay ahead of the strike with paperless billing
A national postal strike is underway, but you can stay in check with your City of Medicine Hat balances with paperless billing!
Sign up for eBilling before December 12, 2024 for a chance to win a $500 Gift Card! Visit medicinehat.ca/paperless to register. (All eBilling customers are automatically entered to win.)
medicinehat.ca/paperless Learn more about the City's response to the postal strike
The results are in: Energy Business Strategic Review
In a Special Open Council Meeting on Monday, November 25, representatives from KPMG LLP will report the results of their strategic review of Medicine Hat’s energy business. We encourage residents to join us in Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. Monday (or tune in on YouTube) to hear the recommendations.
Well, well, well: Spencer Street SE closure
A section of the eastbound lanes on Spencer Street SE will be temporarily closed and diverted to accommodate the decommissioning of private gas wells starting Monday, November 25, 2024.
During this work, Spencer Street SE will be closed between the intersection from Dunmore Road SE/Kingsway Avenue SE to the curve towards Allowance Avenue SE.
Traffic will be diverted over the median into the westbound lanes upon construction of a temporary asphalt ramp. These lanes will accommodate one westbound and one eastbound lane.
Work to complete the decommissioning of these gas wells, located on the property of the former ADM Agri-Industries Company (ADM) flour mill, is anticipated to be completed by Friday, December 6, 2024.
Please obey all posted signage and use caution when driving around the work zone.
Updated water rate design
On Monday, City Council gave first reading to the annual rate bylaws, a standard practice each year to establish fees and charges for providing utility services. This year, we’re proposing a new design to how we distribute water rates to better reflect industry best practice, incentivize water conservation, and preserve the life of our current water treatment plant by avoiding excessive peak demand.
There are three main changes:
- The base rate will now be determined by water meter size
- We’re introducing a seasonal tiered rate structure for residential customers
- A new Environmental Conservation Charge added for high usage will fund water conservation initiatives
Read more about the updated design on our website.
Farmland for lease
The City of Medicine Hat is now accepting bids for approximately 210 acres of land for farming purposes.
The legal land parcel of E ½ 4-13-6 – W4M is located just west of Redcliff's Riverview Golf Course, north of the South Saskatchewan River coulees near Echo Dale Regional Park, and south of the Trans-Canada Highway and Saamis Drive NW (map available on request). Here are some important details:
- Five-year term with 90-day cancellation
- Minimum bid is $6,300 per year
- Bid is contingent upon agreement to the City's standard farming lease (draft lease available upon request)
- Successful bidder is required to pay taxes on the property under lease (2024 taxes are approximately $300 per year)
Submit your bid by email to land@medicinehat.ca before noon on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
At Monday’s meeting, Council authorized the removal of the Sea Cans from Towne Square, distributed the 2025 Community Projects, Activities, Annual Festivals and Special Events Grants, endorsed plans to support the four items on their refocused Strategic Priorities, and approved the sale of seven residential lots in the City’s Southlands 6C subdivision.
Read the highlights Watch the meeting
You can even subscribe to receive Council Highlights right in your inbox by selecting the Council Highlights box at subscribe.medicinehat.ca.
Want to attend a council meeting in-person? City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at City Hall.
Midnight Madness - Friday!
Friday, November 22 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. - TREE LIGHTING at 6 p.m.
It’s the shopping event of the year in Downtown Medicine Hat: Midnight Madness! Take advantage of this fun annual event to get a head start on your holiday shopping and support the local shops and owners within the downtown core. Come down and enjoy all that downtown has to offer with live entertainment, giveaways, retail sales and specials, food and beverage offerings from your favourite local hot spots, a petting zoo, hay rides, buskers, and so much more.
The holidays don't start until the tree is lit! Don't miss the official kickoff to the holiday season with the Tree Lighting in BATUS Park at 6 p.m.
Smooth sailing: Division Avenue S and 3 Street SE are now open!
Division Avenue South
Construction on the Division Avenue South Rehabilitation project has been completed for 2024.
The we anticipated the work to be completed in 2024, some work remains for 2025. Division Avenue South contains critical underground infrastructure which needs to be protected and left in service for the duration of the project. As crews worked to avoid disruption of utility service, extreme caution was required when rebuilding this roadway. This, paired with weather-related events, added delays to the anticipated project timeline.
3 Street SE
Just in time for Midnight Madness, full access has returned to downtown Medicine Hat now that 2024 construction on the 3 Street SE Downtown Utility and Surface Upgrades project is complete. Some minor work remains in 2025, including top lift paving, landscaping, pavement markings and adjacent furnishings.
Normal traffic and parking regulations will soon return as well. A refresher on what to expect regarding parking allowances and traffic flow is important for motorists and patrons. To allow for affected business owners and downtown shoppers to adjust to this return to normal, free parking within the posted stalls of Towne Square and the Transit terminal will continue until Sunday, December 1.
Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) open house #2
Following a successful first open house on October 3 regarding proposed changes to the IDP, another open house opportunity is on the horizon.
The public is encouraged to join the City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County and Town of Redcliff at the Best Western Premier (35 Paul Stober Drive SE, Medicine Hat) on Thursday, November 28 between 4 and 8 p.m.
Come share your feedback on the proposed changes to the IDP and learn more about what this plan means for the region.
The IDP establishes a regional framework for attracting and coordinating economic opportunities and managing land use, subdivision, and development in the IDP area. The current Plan boundary encompasses the Town of Redcliff, the City of Medicine Hat and some surrounding areas within Cypress County.
Did you miss the first open house and want to learn more prior to this upcoming event?
MANVAN
This past Tuesday, November 20 the City of Medicine Hat hosted the MAVAN for the first time. Ninety-seven men between the ages of 40 and 70 attended the mobile clinic hosted at Fire Station 2. This turnout underscored the strong demand and community support for this important initiative.
The Man Van is a pioneering wellness initiative aimed at spotlighting men’s health and supporting our male employees. One in six men in Alberta will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The simple PSA blood test offered by the Man Van can aid in early detection, leading to earlier treatment and better outcomes.
Volunteers needed: Adopt-a-Rink
Want to bring joy to your neighbourhood this winter? We are looking for volunteers for our Adopt-a-Rink program!
What’s the benefit?
Looking after an outdoor rink will help kids and people of all ages stay active this winter. You’ll also be a source of positive community spirit, bringing warmth in the cold months of the year.
What locations need volunteers?
Click each name to view the location:
- Leinweber Pond
- Palliser Crescent Rink
- Southlands Park Rink
- Southridge Community Pond
- Viterra Park Rink
- Crokicurl Rink
What is required?
Volunteers are supplied with shovels and hoses, training, and some removal support from the Parks and Recreation City crews. They are asked to build and maintain the ice, flooding and shovelling when necessary.
Application form Learn more about the program and outdoor rinks
Join a City Board, Commission or Working Group!
We are looking for volunteers to lend their passion and expertise to a variety of volunteer groups. This is an excellent chance to have a positive impact in your community while enhancing your own professional development. We are currently seeking applicants for:
- Assessment Review Board
- Combative Sports Commission
- Working Group for Accessibility and Inclusion
The deadline to apply is December 2, 2024.
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