1010 COLLIN GALLANT T


Grade 5 students Chynna Verhulst and Cait MacMillan work on a math project in the Esplanade museum during a class trip with River Heights Elementary School.


Paul Heywood, former director of theatre operations at The Esplanade, shows off the guitar signed by acts who have played at The Esplanade to be auction off at the Corona auction to benefi t the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund.


he Regional Event Centre is the largest single construction project in Medicine Hat’s history.


Yet, its $74 million price tag accounts for less than one quarter of the city’s municipal capital budget over five years.


Compared to sewer, road and water projects, the outlay for the arena would only cover one-sixteenth of the city’s 30- year infrastructure renewal program.


Including other projects and the utility division, $750 million, or three-quarters of one billion dollars, has or will be spent in five years ending 2016.


That’s enough for 10 Event Centres.


“The solution to your boating PROPlems” www.saprop.ca


1944 - 11th Ave, N.W. Medicine Hat, AB 403-504-5170 • Cell 403-502-PROP • Fax 403-504-1199


Certified Marine Mechanic - Specializing in Marine Repair & Props


Authorized Dealer for... We carry TUBES all


shapes and sizes Propeller for Outboard/Stern Drive VOLVO PENTA MORE THAN JUST BO T FIX’IN THAN JUST BOAT FIX’IN 26 2015 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA


years of city infrastructure


profits as well as a precursor to possible industrial expansion.


City spending also includes sewer catch basins, park development, road repairs, computers, heating and cooling equipment in civic buildings, and the city’s vehicle fleet.


And much of that needs to be maintained or rebuilt.


In mid-2014, the City outlined the need to spend close to $1 billion over 30 years to restore its basic municipal infrastructure, such as roads and storm sewers.


We’re in the middle of the


largest capital construction


“We’re in the middle of the largest capital construction program in the city’s history,” Mayor Ted Clugston said at the end of 2014. “We've had a very large community capital fund and we've converted that cash into construction.”


program in the city’s history.


—Mayor Ted Clugston


In the 2015 budget a one per cent tax increase is earmarked to speed up repairs on the basis that spending sooner means cost savings later on.


The City of Medicine Hat completed $192 million worth of capital purchasing related to municipal


operations, including construction, from 2012 to 2014, according to the Corporate Services division.


Public sector spending is big business in Medicine Hat. Combined with provincial government projects at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, schools and bridgework, the total outlay is over $1 billion over five years.


That’s not just high-profile projects, like the 6,100-seat spectator arena in the Box Springs Business Park, Family Leisure Centre expansion, plus police and fire stations.


Just over the horizon, a new seniors’ centre and partnership to build a pool at the South Ridge YMCA could both cost upwards of $15 million. Not included is a city application to build a $50-million north-end powerplant as route to export


Another $104 million is carrying forward from those budget years, and in the next two years $101 million. About one-third of that cost will be covered by grants from other governments.


Ratepayer supported projects including sewer and water projects, known as Environmental Utilities, appearing in 2012-2016 budgets total $145 million.


Maintenance and upgrades for utility distribution networks in gas and power distribution amount to a combined $72.8 million.


Despite cutbacks in the gas production capital budget, tens of millions of dollars will be spent each year to maintain the network and shut-in costly low-production gas wells.


41156707•03/31/15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116