Passive aggressive council doesn’t serve Hatters

One does not need to look too far outside of the Hat to see municipal issues discussed in robust fashion.

In our city for years the idea of the need to discuss the reasons for going in certain directions and making key decisions has been seen as an unnecessarily problematic exercise.

It’s a symptom of weakness with those on council in not wanting to open topics up for public discussions and make tough decisions in defending them. Either that or an inability to understand the issues at hand.

The election platforms of the current crop of council didn’t include anything that had specifics regarding a vision for the city. That is, outside of making council more transparent and smarter city planning.

They have failed on both accounts.

Instead of opening discussions with the public about the internal issues going on between the mayor and council, they hide it and then coldcocked Hatters with absurd sanctions.

Despite the interest in smart city planning, the Strong Towns consultations ended up being forgotten before a final report was presented. Which is predictable since the city appears more than willing to ignore its own myMH Master Plan. That plan would prevent a repeat of the need public subsidizes for residential sprinkler systems at private developments like Coulee Ridge not happen again. But council seems to be more than willing to throw that plan out the window as can be seen with its willingness to build out active transportation infrastructure to far flung sub-divisions like Canyon Creek. And in doing so, councillors seem unwilling to prioritize identified shortfalls around schools and the hospital.

The issues in the Harlow neighbourhood over a proposed development on First Street are demented. But they are predictable based on the city’s quiet decision to allow the residents to take over the berm bordering homes in the neighbour to avoid a lawsuit.

The last council fell on the culmination of problems and lack of willingness to discuss important public interest issues with Hatters. The Orka/Invest Medicine Hat scandal saw most of the last council swept from power as a result.

The city’s administration is now set on developing solar resources, yet councillors have remained mostly silent weeks after the announcement. The arguments in favour of the development are strong but a decade into its last foray into renewables with the Box Springs Windfarm, no financial details have been made public to justify that deal. The

same can be said of the Manyberries oilfield. If the Saamis Solar development is to follow the same pattern, Hatters will remain blind to both the benefits and risks.

If this council is willing to take a public stance on controversial issues, defend decisions in the face of criticism and use the opportunity to educate the public, it will at least put the next council on a better footing.

But if the past April 1 press release issued by councillors indicating their unwillingness to address public concerns over sanctions leveled against the mayor is an indication, the future doesn’t look bright.