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By Jesse Gill

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat city manager Mitchell placed on temporary paid leave by council

Jul 29, 2025 | 11:38 AM

Medicine Hat city manager Ann Mitchell has been placed on temporary paid leave by council after a special meeting of council on Monday.

The City of Medicine Hat released details on Tuesday about the result of a pair of special council meetings held Friday and Monday.

The topic for both was a personnel matter, with legal advice sought by council over the weekend prior to the Monday meeting.

During the meeting it was moved that mayor Linnsie Clark, deputy mayor Shila Sharps and acting mayor Alison Van Dyke are authorized to retain and instruct an investigator to provide a report to council as discussed in closed session, with costs being paid through the city manager contingency fund.

It was also moved that the city manager be placed on a temporary paid leave of absence during which time she delegate her powers, duties and functions to the city clerk Tarolyn Aaserud.

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The motion passed unanimously with councillor Ramona Robins absent from the meeting.

The city stated in their release that pursuant to section 194(4) of the municipal government act, prior to the beginning of Monday’s meeting, at least two-thirds of council agreed in writing to hold the meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice to all councillors and without notice to the public.

The city said this is a personnel matter and no additional information will be provided at this time.

In addition, council requests respect for the process and the need for procedural fairness and confidentiality.

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READ: Cypress County’s Tarolyn Aaserud will be Medicine Hat’s next city clerk, she confirms (7/15/2024)

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Aaserud has held the city clerk position with the city since September 2024.

She had previously served as chief administrative officer with Cypress County for a six year period beginning in 2018.

The chief administrative officer role would be the equivalent to that of Medicine Hat’s city manager.