Council efficiently ran through its agenda during Tuesday night’s meeting, wrapping up business without bumping up against time constraints nor the need for an extension but deferring decisions on high public interest topics.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times as Tuesday’s city council meeting will be tackling controversial issues as well as a substantial pay bump as the countdown to the next election in seven weeks ticks closer.

A Medicine Hat police constable facing criminal allegations of attempting to obstruct justice had his first appearance on the matter Wednesday morning at the Medicine Hat Court of Justice.

Const. Noel Darr, 56, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of action in a judicial proceeding by dissuading or attempting to dissuade a witness, “by threats, bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence,” according to court documents.

The first graduate of Medicine Hat’s drug treatment court will be spending the bulk of the next year in jail following a guilty plea to breaking into more than a half dozen travel trailers.

During a lengthy hearing Tuesday at Medicine Hat Court of Justice, arguments were heard whether Monty McLeod, 46, should be given an opportunity to continue drug treatment or be handed a custodial sentence.