Council is to be presented with options for immediate community utility and other cost pressure relief on Sept. 5, 2023. (Photo Courtesy Chris Brown)

By Chris Brown

Council wants to see utility relief options at next meeting

Aug 28, 2023 | 11:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Recognizing a growing sense of urgency and growing frustration among ratepayers, city staff have been directed to present council with options for immediate community utility and other cost pressure relief soon.

Staff were directed at the July 4 council meeting to present options by the end of the year. They’ve now been told to have those options before council at its Sept. 5 meeting.

Coun. Darren Hirsch’s motion to amend the July 4 directive received unanimous support at a special council committee of the whole meeting on Monday. The issue took place after a meeting that saw council receive the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

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Under the Municipal Government Act the special meeting required at least two-thirds’ support from council members since there was less than 24 hours notice to other council members and no notice to the public. All councillors agreed to the meeting.

Hirsch said council members, and many others in the community, have looked at their recent utility bills with “shock and horror.”

He said he wants administration to come to council next week with methodical and well-thoughtout metrics for relief options.

Council members roundly agreed that the original directive for options to be presented by year-end made sense when it was made but that circumstances have changed.

“Just hearing from more residents about how tough it is and we all are ratepayers so we’re experiencing it as well. But I know that there are people in our community right now who are making really tough choices about what they’re going to spend money on,” said Mayor Linnsie Clark after the meeting.

She admits this won’t be a permanent solution but hopes some immediate temporary relief will make things a little easier on citizens.

Coun. Alison Knodel said people are facing the “heavy” choice between their grocery bill and their energy bill.

“Time is of the essence,” said Coun. Robert Dumanowski, who added the circumstances facing residents and businesses call for unexpected action.

A local business owner is hosting a meeting on Tuesday for ratepayers to gather and make sure council hears their concerns.

Everyone is invited to the meeting at 2:30 p.m. at Higdon Hall. Clark told reporters on Monday night she intends to be at the meeting and a couple of other council members are planning to attend as well. CHAT News will livestream the meeting on our website.