Something’s coming. What could it be?
What has 300 jobs and is worth $150 million? It’s something “new” to Medicine Hat, is in the “agribusiness” sector, not more bitcoin, and could very well be announced at Monday’s city council meeting.
It’s not an April Fools riddle, but it’s a question that’s been concerning your author for a couple weeks, ever since local minds were blown when the city and Hut 8 announced a major power sale.
People in the know have been not-too-subtle to let everyone know something else is in store, but to this point have kept it pretty much underwraps aside from the few hints already laid out.
Consider the mounting evidence:
— Mayor Ted Clugston and other members of council have pretty much been vibrating with excitement.
— Beyond lacing his reelection campaign with promises that big things were afoot, the mayor told the audience at local Canadian Homebuilders Awards in mid-March that two major economic announcements were due soon;
— Last week’s presentation of the second Invest Medicine Hat annual report to a city committee outlined the generalities of the most-promising proposals they’ve received (the report) goes to council on April 2);
— You may recall last year, the group had a bullet in the chamber when it presented its 2016 annual report — a memorandum of understanding to create a closed microgrid for renewable energy testing and research (that is a go this spring thanks to about $740,000 in government grants announced this week).
The News’s usual sources in the ag fields don’t have a definitive answer when asked to speculate about what might be on the way.
Most ag processing businesses wouldn’t require up to 100 employees, and you can figure job totals include construction trades.
We’ve had milling before (the ADM Mill had about 50 workers when it shut in 2015), and even beef packing (much bigger investment required, not to mention environmental approvals).
“It’s got to be pot!” says one voice in the peanut gallery.
As for peanuts, or legumes, or pulses, the same logic with milling applies, and it’s unlikely the vacant mill would be sold by ADM to a competitor. even the configuration of the utility servicing to individual lots isn’t finalized.
Actual hook-ups involve digging up the road (where the main lines are), which would make finishing it with a top lift of asphalt counterproductive.
Crowds for two Tigers home playoff wins last weekend were 3,050 and 2,943.
The Swift Current Broncos hosted a sell-out crowd of 2,890 last weekend. C’mon folks.
Council’s 2018-2022 strategic plan will be unveiled at Monday’s meeting, including changes to mandates for the land department and an eye to contract out more city services.
A “bombshell” claim of rakeoff demands and war profiteering were levelled in a Calgary Court against Medicine Hat Mayor Mervyn Brown and several other prominent citizens, the News reported March 28, 1918.
The case involved a claim of criminal libel by R.B. Bennett (yes, the future prime minister), a prominent Conservative who had headed the national war service campaign.
Walter Martin, of the Hatbased Western Canadian Manufacturing and Supply Company, related on the stand that in 1915 Brown (then a merchant) had told him he could help secure a contract for 100,000 shell casings. However, a 30-cent per shell donation to the Conservative Party of Canada would be needed.
Residents of Bowmanton had formed a local of the United Farmers of Alberta with Charles Athlen as its founding president.
A syndicated column held a dire prediction.
“The war,” it argued, “fulfilled the prophesies of the Bible and is to be followed by a revolution that would sweep away all existing churches” ahead of doomsday.
Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com