The project is slated to be finished towards the middle of February. (CHAT News)

By Adrian St.Onge

NEW

Medicine Hat city hall security making changes to layout, procedures

Jan 30, 2024 | 5:16 PM

Medicine Hat City Hall is undergoing security modifications this week and, while an official says the improvements weren’t spurred on by the attacks in Edmonton, it still highlighted a need.

Edmonton’s city hall was attacked last week when a shooter opened fire and threw a molotov cocktail. No one was injured and a man is facing weapons charges.

The Medicine Hat project includes relocating the security desk on the main floor to help with sightlines and improving access control, helping differentiate between administrative and public spaces.

Acting facilities manager Blair Bohnet said security is always at the forefront of building designs.

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“It hasn’t impacted what we’re doing,” Bohnet told CHAT News.

“It highlights the need for what we’re doing and reinforces that we need to continue on this path. The trend is certainly identified,” he added.

“Security is always a concern and we need to ensure that we’re providing a safe environment for everyone to work in and for our customers to feel safe when they come in to the building.”

Bohnet said one of the challenges in making the adjustments is keeping city hall open and welcoming for all residents.

The project is slated to be finished towards the middle of February.

The topic of city security came up at council committee last week when corporate services manager Dennis Egert said building security has been a topic for years already.