HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Havre City Council convened for their regular monthly meeting on Monday night and unanimously approved a series of agenda items.
Three of the agenda items were resolutions. One of which gives the City the ability to assign the duties of the Clerk-Treasurer to the Mayor on a temporary basis. This is because the City is looking at the potential of putting an initiative on the November 2022 ballot that if approved, would see the City hire a Manager. Current Clerk-Treasurer Doug Kaercher will be the Mayor beginning in January, and will continue to fulfill many of his current duties while serving as Mayor.
If the ballot initiative were to be approved, the Mayor position would likely either be eliminated or made ceremonial in nature.
Alderman Andrew Brekke says this was initially going to be an ordinance, but the City Attorney told him it could be done via resolution.
Another resolution that was approved was a request from Town Pump to vacate a dedicated alley between 5th Avenue West and 6th Avenue West where a casino is being built. The City will continue to have the right of way for utilities. Although the area is a dedicated alley, there is not actually a physical alley, just a utility corridor. Town Pump owns all property bordering the alley and plans to utilitze lots north and south of the alley.
The third resolution assesses a special property tax against property owners that did not pay the fee the city assessed after trimming nuisance weeds that were not dealt with in a timely manner. The owners of eight of the nine premises listed in the resolution will be charged the minimum fee of $150, while the owner of the other premises is being charged $300.
On first reading, the Council also approved an ordinance that allows the Public Works Department the power of code enforcement to deal with certain abandoned and/or boarded up properties. This will go through a second reading at their November 1st meeting.
Other agenda items approved:
- The Fire Suppression Contract with Hill County Rural Fire District No. 1. This will now go to the State Department of Labor for final approval
- An agreement for Professional Services with Great West Engineering. The task order will pay Great West an estimated $100,000 in ARPA Funds to create a plan for replacing lead pipes in the City
- September Claims and Manual Warrants
