Sounantha Boss, the de-facto leader of the assocation, speaks during a press conference in December 2023. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

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‘The Medicine Hat advantage is not being met’: Ratepayers association holding town hall tonight

Jan 30, 2024 | 12:29 PM

An association born out of backlash to skyrocking utility rates in 2023 is holding its first town hall of the year Tuesday evening.

The Medicine Hat Utilities Ratepayer Association said they aim to “keep our council transparent and accountable” in a poster advertising the event.

The 6:30 p.m. town hall is taking place at the Higdon Hall at the Stampede Grounds.

The MHURA was last active in December, when it sent a letter to council demanding it eliminate a municipal consent access fee.

That fee was already being reviewed as part of an ongoing third-party review of the city’s utility company.

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The association also held a news conference denouncing the fee and revealing an expanding executive team lead by restaurant owner Sounantha Boss.

Tonight’s town hall is about assembling residents concerned about tax rates, Boss told CHAT News.

“We are concerned that the Medicine Hat advantage is not being met and citizens are overburdened by taxes, utilities and the lack of opportunity,” Boss said in advance of the meeting.

“The [City of Medicine Hat] needs to spend less so they can tax less. This is essentially a town hall to organize a group of like-minded citizens to hold the city accountable.”