Provincial aid for flood work could be coming Monday

April showers bring May flowers but this time of year also brings news of flood mitigation grants that officials at Medicine Hat city hall are anxiously awaiting.

Wait no more — such an announcement is planned for Monday afternoon, it was publicized in a late release on Friday.

Ever since major flooding in 2013, the marching orders from city council have been to build berms, secure the storm sewer system and upgrade sewer lifts with reserve funds. Medicine Hat would forge ahead and wait for the province to repay their portion of the infrastructure funding after the fact.

Of note here is that 2017 is technically the fourth year of a construction program promised to flood proof the city in three years.

The last major city project, berming near Industrial Avenue, is on the schedule this year while further phases in Riverside and Harlow seem to be on the shelf.

So what can Medicine Hat expect on Monday?

We could see some sort of back payment. The 2016 provincial announcement broke with a cardinal sin of bureaucracy by awarding a grant retroactively for the Lions Park Berm.

Monday’s announcement — involving Environment Minister Shannon Phillips and Mayor Ted Clugston — also includes Cypress County Reeve Darcy Geigle and regional watershed group head Stuart Murray.

That could be an indication the province will follow a recent trend of tapping funds for watershed health and wetland reconstruction.

Remember also that a regional drainage plan was developed after overland flooding in 2010 and 2011 — a year in which Murray Lake threatened to send a torrent of water down the Seven Persons Creek.

Power play

For a couple years now, trying to find out more information about the supposedly numerous renewable energy megaprojects in southeastern Alberta has been a bit like playing “Battleship!”

We were told they were out there, waiting, but getting particular details was difficult. Reporter: ”E-5?” Company official: “You’ve found my solar farm!”

This wasn’t helped by the fact corporations generally dislike other corporations knowing what they’re up to.

Now however, with the provincial electric regulator actively examining proposals to supply green power to the grid, once-secretive business plans are being advertised.

Naturener officials are chatting up the Wild Horse Wind Farm, first proposed in 2005. It’s one of maybe 10 major proposals in the region that could cost $200 million each to build.

This coming week, EDF energies nouvelles, a French power consortium, will host open houses regarding the “Red Rock” and “Cypress” wind farm projects in Seven Persons on Wednesday and Irvine on Thursday.

Both are 250-megawatt facilities, which, for comparison, will closely match the City of Medicine Hat’s generating potential once the north-end power plant comes online later this year.

This doesn’t mean they will be built however.

The general rundown is that producers need to beat a power rate hurdle to recover costs and secure a rate of return for financiers.

Hence, the interest in the provincial supply option.

Spring cleaning

The city’s Litter Blitz takes place today so it’s likely you’ll see volunteers organized by the parks department and local watershed group SEAWA out and about on Saturday. Give a honk or lend a hand.

If you’ve missed the opportunity to lend a hand, the annual cleanup of the Kin Coulee offleash dog park is set for Saturday May 6. As usual a noon-barbeque is on offer for volunteers who register by contacting the parks department.

A look ahead

The city’s public services committee will sit Monday to discuss some transit payment changes.

100 years ago

Lt. Joseph Stauffer, the MLA for Didsbury who had joined the military, was killed only a few days after arriving at the front, the

News reported in April 1917 as casualty lists from Vimy Ridge began arriving in Alberta.

Initial reports from the engagement showed local casualties as Pte. Claude Woollven, of Alderson, killed, and Pte. Joseph English, of Fourth St., wounded.

Also, Mrs. Jennie Atkinson, of Ross Street, had been notified both her sons were evacuated with gunshot wounds.

The food controller of Britain, Lord Devonport, prohibited the sale of light pastries, crumpets or cakes as a measure to conserve flour.

Locally, non-military-age men and boys met at Riverside school to divide up the heavy work of preparing summer gardens for wives and mothers of men who were in the service.