By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – Two weeks after the fire suppression agreement between Havre and Rural Fire District 1 was terminated, both sides remain at a stalemate.
The Rural Fire Board held a meeting on Tuesday morning, and officials from the City and County engaged in contentious debate over enforcement of building codes.
Mayor Tim Solomon recently said that without an agreement, the Havre Fire Department would only continue to respond to calls in the District through July 15th, but he changed that deadline to the end of July during the meeting.
“I’ve been at meetings saying you need to have more special meetings to get this issue addressed…Now, we’re beyond the cancellation and we’re still working with you,” Solomon said. “But at some point, cause you guys aren’t moving forward. In fact, last time we got threatened that we were going to get served with papers in court to continue (the agreement). The courts aren’t going to address that.”
Board Chairman Steven Jamruszka disputed the claim that they were preparing to serve the City with papers, and says that they are working on a backup plan if the Havre Fire Department stopped responding to fires in the District, but said nothing has been finalized.
“The system works,” said Jamruszka, questioning why the city terminated the agreement. “What’s changed?”
Havre terminated the fire suppression agreement with the District back in November, effective July 1st, hoping that the sides could come together to work out a way to enforce building codes within the District.
However, both sides continue to have a completely different interpretation of enforcement authority. Havre officials contend that the Board can hire someone to enforce codes, while the Board says that is up to the state.
Both sides have presented the other with contract offers, but no movement has been made towards any agreement.
Two members of the public spoke at the meeting. One of which was Arleen Rice. She is an operator at Hi-Line Chemical, which is in the District. She is also on the County Weed Board.
She expressed frustration at the logjam, saying she is going to work on her own time at finding a resolution.
“There’s good people in this room. And nobody’s intention is that somebody’s house or business or whatever burns down and we keep people’s fire insurance in place. I just think there is a way to get a workable agreement here. And (Mayor) Tim Solomon has said he would give us until the end of the month. I’ll make some phone calls. I’ll get some ideas from other communities, too, to see what we can do.”
