HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Havre City Council met on Monday evening for their regularly scheduled meeting.
By an 8-0 vote on second reading, a raise to the Mayor’s office that was proposed by Terry Lilletvedt was approved. This is the first raise for the Mayor since 2006, and boosts their annual salary from $22,000 to $30,000, starting on January 1st, 2021.
Also approved at the meeting was October’s claims and manual warrants.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, local resident Val Murri praised the Public Works Department for their work maintaining local roads.
Councilmember Denise Brewer then said there are some issues with potholes on Lincoln and Wilson Avenues. The Council also expressed concern that there should be a streetlight placed at the intersection of 8th Street and 14th Avenue because it gets too dark there at night.
Public Works Director Dave Peterson was not at the meeting, but the Council said they will relay the concerns to him.
It was also mentioned that there are several street lights out on Hospital Hill, but Mayor Tim Solomon says that was due to a recent crash and they are working on replacing the lights.
Ordinance Committee
Following the City Council meeting, the Ordinance Committee gathered to discuss a potential way to decrease the deer population in Havre.
Councilmember Andrew Brekke proposed a draft ordinance that states it is illegal to knowingly or purposely feed deer. As proposed, the ordinance says:
A person may not purposely or knowingly provide supplemental feed to deer. Any person found to be in violation of this section shall be guilty of maintaining a public nuisance as defined by 8-5-14 of this code
Although this is already in state law and citable by Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Committee hopes to use this as an educational tool to try and decrease the overpopulation of deer in Havre. If passed, it would be enforceable by the Havre Police Department, which could write citations.
The proposed ordinance was unanimously passed by a 3-0 vote out of the Ordinance Committee by Brekke, Lindsey Ratliff, and Karen Swenson.
It will now go to the County Attorney for review, and then to the next regular City Council meeting for a first reading. Ordinance changes must be approved twice by the City Council to be enacted.
