Submitted Photo/Jett Schwaier

By Jett Schwaier

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat council votes for reimbursement of Mayor Clark’s legal fees

Oct 7, 2025 | 5:00 AM

Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark is being reimbursed $59,675.68 by the administration to immediately pay and reimburse legal fees in relation to the Code of Conduct Complaint and judicial review.

This amount had been denied previously during a council meeting on Aug. 18, 2025, with only $5,841.94 of the total ask of $76,017.62 returned to Mayor Clark.

The mayor is still seeking reimbursement of $10,500 from the total fees.

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READ: Medicine Hat mayor to receive small portion of legal fee ask

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The city council has given approval of $3,900,000 from funding capital reserves for the preliminary design of an outdoor pool on the south side of the community and the construction of sports fields in Brier Run.

An increase of $107,571 to the 2026 budget for Mayor and Council salary and wages, funded through operating reserves, has been approved by council.

Council during a meeting on Sept. 15, 2025, had approved a salary increase from $52,977 for council to $60,236, while keeping the mayor’s salary at $159,176.

The establishment of the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Advocacy Committee has been made by the council.

The committee will appoint an elected official to the advocacy committee at the upcoming municipal organizational meeting.

A five-year regional initiative was developed in 2024 with five other municipalities, including the Village of Foremost, Town of Bow Island, Town of Redcliff, County of Forty Mile, and Cypress County, to develop the Southeast Alberta Economic Strategy and Action Plan.

The committee is designed to advocate for and support the combined priorities of these municipalities.

The council removed a motion providing specific direction about general indemnification and separation of Council from Committee appointees at Monday’s meeting and has directed administration to bring the policy back for review at the upcoming council.

A non-profit operating grant program was discussed by the council. The program will be funded through the 2027-28 tax base, and any funding for 2025-26 will come from the operating reserve.

The council did not approve the grant program.

Administration has been directed by the council to extend eligibility for whistleblower reporting to include contractors, suppliers, and members of the public.

As well as introduce an independent, third-party reporting mechanism that allows for anonymous disclosures.

Administration must also strengthen anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers and provide annual, anonymized reporting on the number and types of disclosures received and outcomes to the council.

An updated whistleblower policy will be discussed before the end of the year.

Council has approved the request from the municipal name committee to rename Parkview Trail to Parrish Trail.

The procedure bylaw will get a second and third reading.

There will be an additional council meeting held virtually on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at 7 a.m.

Visit the City of Medicine Hat website for the full agenda.

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READ: Busy agenda set as Medicine Hat city council meets for final time before election

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