(Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

City hall shake up: Two top staffers leave organization

Jun 6, 2022 | 11:46 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB— Two top executives at the City of Medicine Hat are out in a shake up that now has the city looking to find their replacements.

At Monday’s council meeting it was learned that Eric Van Enk , the city’s former managing director of Invest Medicine Hat has resigned from his position. While not much was disclosed about the reason behind his departure, Coun. Cassi Hider called it a huge loss for the city.

” He did so many innovative and creative things during his term at IMH, and I have mixed emotions but I wish him and his wife the best of luck,” Hider said.

Hider credited Van Enk for his work creating a new Medicine Hat advantage, and for being at the helm of positioning Medicine Hat as a contender in carbon capture utilization and storage.

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Van Enk was born and raised in Medicine Hat and he spent much of his professional career in Calgary before joining Invest Medicine Hat in 2020. Following the resignation of former managing director Jason Melhoff, Van Enk assumed the role of managing director in the fall of last year.

Another executive leaving city hall is city manager Merete Heggelund. Her contract expires later his month. The former chief administrative officer came out of retirement in March to act as city manager in the interim while council looked to find a permanent replacement following the retirement of city manager Robert Nicolay.

Coun. Alison Knodel said Heggelund brought a personality of structure, and a heart full of compassion.

” We were lucky to work with City Manager Heggelund for the short time that she has been available. unfortunately the amount of time that we need her extends the amount of time that she is available to us. So we wish her the absolute best,” Knodel said.

The departure of the two staffers comes on the heels of the departure of City Clerk Angela Cruickshank. The city announced her departure back in May.

The city is also without a police chief after the resignation of chief Mike Worden.

Long-time city councillor Robert Dumanowski told CHAT News, that throughout his years on council he can’t recall a time when the city saw so much executive turnover. But he believes a lot of that has to do with the change in council.

“Certainly with a new council there is bound to be some change. I can appreciate that it sounds unusual that we have had a number of changes in a short period of time but the fact of the matter is change in City Hall is an evolving process and this council, seven of nine are new. We came in with a new vision, a new approach, and at times that can find itself at conflict with some of the positions of the past but in this case we are excited about all the exciting opportunities moving forward,” he said.

When asked about the recent executive departures Mayor Linnsie Clark echoed similar sentiments as Coun. Dumanowski saying the change in council likely had an impact.

” I think a lot of organizations coming out of COVID-19 are in a state of transition, and with a council that changed as much as this one did. We are just excited to move forward and bring life to our strategic plan,” she said.

A big portion of the strategic plan, revealed Monday centers around economic evolution and the pursuit of becoming a leader in carbon capture utilization and storage. The establishment of a hydrogen hub is also listed as a priority. But with no one leading Invest Medicine Hat currently, questions linger as to if it will affect the city’s ability to bring hydrogen industries to the city. But Clark doesn’t believe it will have much of an impact.

” We think we are well-positioned to continue pushing those initiatives forward, and be successful.” she said.

Clark said more details as to who will assume the leadership of Invest Medicine Hat will be announced in the coming weeks. Council will also meet on Monday to appoint a new interim city manager, while the hunt for a permanent city manager still continues.