By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Havre City Council convened on Monday evening for their regular monthly meeting and voted down a zoning change in a 4-3 vote.
Jim Treperinas had requested that the area 14th to 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue should be rezoned from Residential General to Commercial Local. Treperinas owns a property on that block and has stated his intent to try and get HRDC to move their food bank there.
However, the local Zoning Board recommended against the rezoning, and HRDC District IV has not publicly supported the request.
A copy of meeting minutes from a September 2021 Board of Directors District IV HRDC meeting shows that during public comment, Jim and George Treperinas “shared their ideas for a new Food Bank location and shared drawings and pictures of possible locations.” However, no action was taken by HRDC on the matter.
The three votes for the zoning change came from Councilmembers Heather Parker, Josh Miller, and Denise Brewer. Ed Matter, Lindsey Ratliff, Derek Eldridge, and Sarah McKinney voted against the zoning change. Andrew Brekke had an excused absence, as he was out of state.
“First of all, I’d like to thank Mr. Treperinas for his strong desire to better our community and support our Food Bank,” Ratliff said prior to the vote. “His continued willingness to improve Havre is admirable. I, however, cannot vote to reconsider the zoning change from Residential General to Commercial Local. First of all, the zoning board has recommended against it. If I were to vote against the recommendation of the zoning board, it would need to be with a good reason based on accurate information. After speaking with various members of the HRDC Board, including the Executive Director, it has been made clear to me that while appreciated, the lot on 5th Avenue is not the desired location for the Food Bank. When I spoke with the Director, she said that HRDC has a property across town and the preferred location is between Oakwood Village and the old Northstar Dodge. She also mentioned that due to the Food Bank providing zero income, HRDC is unable to make payments on a lease for a building, so they would need to build their own. After reaching out to parties involved, I do not believe it would be appropriate to change zoning for an initiative that does not have the support of the stakeholders in charge. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Treperinas. However, I cannot vote for a change at this time.”
During public comment, Bob Sivertsen, Bob Kaul, and Jim and George Treperinas all expressed their support for the voting change. No members of the public at the meeting were against the change.
With the vote, Treperinas now says his focus will shift to trying to putting up duplexes on his lot.
Also discussed at the meeting:
- The election of Josh Miller to fill the vacancy for Ward 1 on the City Council. Miller was the only applicant for the position and was interviewed by the Council last week. The opening came as the result of the newly elected Kimberly Bolta moving out of Ward 1, making her ineligible to serve.
- Approval of a resolution calling for a public meeting to consider a municipal water and wastewater system rate increase. The meeting will be held on Monday, May 2nd at 6:30 PM at City Hall, just prior to their regular monthly meeting. Mayor Doug Kaercher says rates will increase by around 7 percent. He says this is due to the fact that the wastewater system will be out of compliance on its covenant for their bond, so they don’t “have much of a choice,” other than to increase rates to meet the covenant. In addition, several water projects have recently been finished and several more need to go forward. Due to this, Kaercher says the city needs more resources.
- Approval of a request by the Havre Chamber of Commerce to close roads within City Limits for the 2022 Bear Paw Marathon, scheduled for June 4th.
- Approval of a resolution designating Public Works Director Dave Peterson as the Environmental Certifying Official for Havre. This was a necessary step in the process of receiving funds for a project to replace the waste water system and mains at Clear Creek Court Community, Inc.
- Approval of February Claims and Warrants
- A public hearing to Introduce Bear Paw Development Corporation’s Needs Assessment CDBG Grant Application, which is sponsored by the city of Havre. The potential exists for the grant to go towards improvements to the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line. More public hears on this are expected in the future.
- Police Chief Gabe Matosich presented Sergeant Jordan Chroninger with a Commendation for his investigative work in a recent case.
