City council defers Medicine Hat Stampede and Exhibition funding decision, for now

The assessment’s findings have been provided to the seven regional societies, and the province’s decision on how to proceed with the findings is expected in the first quarter of 2025, according to a staff report.

The city’s public services head Joseph Hutter said council will then have a better idea on if the province will support MHES’s project, so a decision should be delayed for now.

He warned there will be several years of increased tax rates should the city end up supplying the cash.

The Stampede — which holds hundreds of events throughout any given year — is asking for a mix of loans and grants from the city to cover a part of the expenses related to reconstruction of its broken northern grandstand.

A preferred but more expensive option proposes a full rebuild of the broken grandstand, a deck addition, maintenance to the south grandstand and the construction of a multi-purpose room that would contain a commercial kitchen and a larger multi-purpose room.

Coun. Robert Dumanowski says there’s a “growing frustration” with “another delay”, in reference to the number of times the MHES has returned to council.

The Stampede has come before the horseshoe several times since 2022 with the organization’s plans to make essential infrastructure upgrades to save its operations.

Dumanowski was impressed with the Stampede’s patience.

“I’m heartened as well that each hurdle we put before this board…they have been able to come back with the information requested,” Dumanowski said.

The councillor said he is committed to making a final decision as soon as possible, to applause from the Stampede’s supporters and members in the public gallery.

He was the only member of council to vote against the deferral.

Coun. Allison Knodel said she has “increased anxiety” over the revitalization project’s rising costs, citing heightened economic pressures.

Knodel said she is ready to support the project, ‘regardless of risks.”

“We as a community need to see a success story, we’re at the point where it’s about time,” she added.

Coun. Alison Van Dyke said she supported waiting.

“It would be poor stewardship of the public purse to commit to funding of this magnitude without having all of the relevant information before us,” Van Dyke said.

Coun. Andy McGrogan said the Stampede’s request has kept him up at night and he’s looking forward to making a decision.

“I wasn’t going to do this, but I am going to support this motion being it looks like it is a small delay,” McGrogan said.

Like others on council, he noted the magnitude of the funding ask.

“It’s the most probably has ever been asked of a council…other than spending it ourselves, so it’s a very huge decision,” the former police chief said.

Coun. Shila Sharps said she supported the organization but would make a decision based on data and not on emotion.

Edwards said the Stampede’s board does not have its 10 per cent portion raised yet but it knows how it will save the cash.

The general manager said the city signing on with its part of the funding would help his board raise the cash as potential investors would have more confidence in the project.

Edwards declined to answer reporter questions at council on Monday, saying he would release a statement at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Mayor Linnsie Clark and Coun. Ramona Robins were not present at Monday’s meeting.

by Eli J. Ridder

City council defers Medicine Hat Stampede and Exhibition funding decision, for now

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