Neat to Know: December 19, 2024
Your weekly roundup of City news, updates, and other important information.
Heads up readers: This is the final Neat to Know of 2024. NTK will not be published the weeks of December 26 and January 2. We will be back January 9! We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season!
Council approved 2025-2026 budget
On Monday, December 16, City Council approved the 2025-2026 budget that balances the needs of today with the requirements of tomorrow, requiring a 5.6% increase to property tax revenue in 2025 and another 5.6% increase in 2026.
“We worked diligently to present a responsible budget that maintains service levels in the midst of rising costs, while investing in the services and infrastructure our residents depend on.” Dennis Egert, Chief Financial Officer
The budget includes $449.5 million for operating expenses and $99.4 million for capital projects in 2025. In 2026, the operating budget is $460 million and the capital spend is $112.9 million.
Read the news release View the budget docs
Mail delivery resumes
Canada Post has resumed operations, but it will take time for mail delivery to catch up. We, at the City, have resumed business as usual with regular bill printing and mailing.
We ask our customers to be diligent because balances may have changed by the time your backlogged bill reaches you. You may even receive a bill that was mailed before the strike at the same time you receive your current bill. It's always a good idea to look for your current balance on eUtility or contact our Customer Care team with any questions.
Customer Care and Billing
403-529-8111
customer_accounts@medicinehat.ca
CONTEST ALERT!
Head to medicinehat.ca/paperless to sign up for electronic bills to avoid impacts from a postal disruption in the future. On January 23, 2025, we’ll make another draw for a $500 City of Medicine Hat gift card which can be used for your utilities or select City services, and at recreation and cultural facilities. All eBilling customers are entered to win.
Ho-ho-ho, here’s when we’re clo-clo-closed
As the holiday season draws near, we want to remind you of upcoming closures to civic facilities and altered holiday hours of operation!
City’s administrative buildings will be closed on:
- Wednesday, December 25
- Thursday, December 26
- Wednesday, January 1
Recreation and cultural facilities may have different holiday hours. Avoid a wasted trip and check out our hours first at medicinehat.ca/HolidayHours.
Tree recycling drop-off
Once you’re done rocking around the Christmas tree, we’ll once again have several locations for you to dispose of them!
Real trees
Recycle your real tree anytime between December 27, 2024 and January 30, 2025 by dropping it off at one of our bulk recycling depot locations:
- 20 Northlands Way NE – Northlands Co-op Recycling Depot
- 240 Kipling Street SE – Kipling Street Recycling Depot
- 3292 Dunmore Rd SE – Southwest corner of the Medicine Hat Mall parking lot
We ask that you please remove all plastic bags, stands, tinsel and decorations.
Residents can also dispose of real trees at the Compost Facility located within our Waste Management Facility.
Artificial trees
Please note that artificial trees cannot be recycled in this program nor in the blue recycling cart program.
Artificial trees that can no longer be used or donated should be discarded in the garbage or taken to the landfill located within our Waste Management Facility.
For more information on this tree disposal service, download the Recycle Coach App, contact Environmental Utilities at 403-529-8176 or visit our website.
Snow and ice control
With another winter upon us, it’s a great opportunity for a refresher on snow and ice control - what we do, when we do it, and why we do it on the 670 kilometres of roads and lanes around the city.
Firstly, we initiate our snow and ice control program on this road network based on the amount of snowfall received:
- Less than 5 cm: Roads will be maintained as required
- Between 5 to 10 cm: Category System in effect with defined time frames.
- More than 10 cm: Category System is in effect with potentially extended time frames
Roads are addressed based on three categories:
Category 1 - Within 24 hours after snowfall ends:
- Emergency routes (hospital, ambulance, police, fire)
- Arterial roadways
- Hills and bridges
- Highways (Holsom Road and Highway 41A)
Category 2 - Within 24 hours after Category 1 completion:
- Collector roadways
- School zones
- Transit bus routes
- Central business district (downtown)
Note: During blizzards or long, continuous snowfalls, Category 1 routes may be cleared many times before Category 2 routes begin.
Category 3 - No prescribed timeframe:
- Residential roads
- Lanes and alleys
Note: we ensure Category 3 roads are passable for emergency response vehicles.
Visit our website for all the information on our snow and ice control program.
Route Priority Map Program page
Trail safety and snow clearing process
The recent freeze-thaw cycles and additional freezing rain this week have made it especially difficult to prevent slippery sections. City crews are actively performing snow clearing and traction control measures. However, despite these efforts, ice may still form in certain areas of the trail system.
We ask that you proceed with caution to ensure safety while out on the trails.
Want to learn more on trail safety? Read a list of tips from this week’s trail safety reminder.
Residents who encounter unsafe conditions on trails that receive snow removal are asked to report them to the Parks and Recreation department at 403-529-8333 or submit a ticket through the City’s Report a Problem portal.
So, what does snow clearing typically look like during the winter?
Our staff routinely performs snow removal on 73 kilometres of hard surface trails around the city during the week. Weekend crews will clear up to 30 kilometres of these same trails as needed – the sections cleared on weekends are determined to have the highest use.
We start trail snow removal when at least 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) of snow has accumulated. All trails designated for snow removal are made passable within 72 hours of the end of last snowfall.
Interested in seeing which trails and sidewalks we clear around the city? Check out the map on our website!
Holiday Light Maps
As we approach the shortest day of the year, one bonus of less daylight is having more time to see the glow of light displays around the city over the holiday season.
Want to go check out some of the brightest and best local displays to enjoy some holiday cheer?
Well twinkle twinkle, little star, these are maps of where they are:
There are also a lot of houses that aren’t on these user-submitted maps, so it’s a great way to go check out a different corner of our beautiful city you don’t typically visit. Enjoy!
In their last meeting of 2024, Council had a busy Monday adopting the annual utility rate bylaws, Planning and Development fees and charges, amended the Escort Services Bylaw, and approved public members to various City advisory boards and commissions. And all this was after they debated, amended and passed the 2025-2026 budget.
Read the highlights Watch the meeting
For those interested in watching Council meetings in person, City Council meets the first and third Monday’s of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
New Year’s Eve Fest
Give 2024 an epic goodbye at New Year’s Eve Fest at Big Marble Go Centre - our FREE total facility take-over event!
Join in the fun with family activities all afternoon on Tuesday, December 31 from 1- to 4 p.m. You can grab tickets to score a spot swimming and for Nerf Battles starting December 20 on tixx.ca.
Plus, take in all the other festive activities throughout the afternoon! Best of all, the New Year’s Eve countdown! Early bedtimes are no excuse to miss out on the fun. Gather in the lobby to ring in the New Year at 3:45 p.m.
See all the details: buy.tixx.ca/NYEF2024
Art Classes for children, teens and adults at the Esplanade
Discover a world of creativity and unique experiences at the Esplanade. Our upcoming programs cater to all ages and interests, offering opportunities to explore art, enhance skills, and create lasting memories. Register at tixx.ca
Acrylic Alchemy: Anatomy, Connectivity, Colour
Unleash your inner artist in this adult painting class led by international award-winning impressionist oil painter Ashlee Trcka. Whether you're a beginner or looking to level up your skills, these sessions focus on color, materials, and techniques to build your confidence in acrylic painting.
2025 Winter Art Classes
Designed for children aged 2 to 12, these 8-week art classes draw inspiration from current exhibitions. Programs like Sensory Arts for Tots & Preschoolers and Art Explorers encourage creativity through diverse media and techniques, fostering imagination and artistic expression.
Against the Grain Youth Art Class
Aimed at teens aged 13 to 17, this 4-week program encourages out-of-the-box thinking. Participants will explore unconventional materials and processes, developing technical skills and self-confidence under the guidance of experienced instructors.
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