(Havre) – The monthly meeting of Havre’s City Council was held on Monday Night.
Mayor Doug Kaercher swore in new finance director Stacy McIntosh and new public works director Trevor Mork to their positions. Mayor Kaercher then reported that that city’s 2022 audit was finalized and there were no issues with the audit. The next item on the agenda was a resolution authorization the city’s participation in the Montana Board of Investments Short-Term Investment Pool. Kaercher state that the city is already participating in this program but the resolution was need to switch authorization authority for the program from him to new finance director Mcintosh.
Police Chief Gabe Matosich (Matt-Toe-Sitch) came before the council to confirm Officer Lucas Elander as a full officer in the department as his probationary period was over. The council unanimously approved the confirmation. Chief Matosich had Officer Elander stay at the podium to present him with a letter of commendation from his Sergeant in the department
Next Debbie Vandeberg representing the Hi-Line Arts Council made a request to the council to close streets on Saturday June 3rd for annual HI-Line Arts Council Spring celebration which the council approved unanimously.
Alderwoman Sarah McKinney in the Council Initiatives part of the meeting discussed a couple of items here constituents had brought to her attention. The first matter was if the snow removal ordinance on personal property was being enforced. Mayor Kaercher responded that that riddance had not been enforced for a long time due to a lack of manpower in the Havre Police Department. Kaercher then suggested McKinney take the matter to the city streets and sidewalks committee for further discussion. The second item that Mckinney brought to the council’s attention was an issue with feral cats in the east end of the community. Chief Matosich responded to Mckinney by sating that city Animal Control Officer Pete Federspiel is aware of the issue and traps the cats and then makes sure they are fixed before they are released back into the east end of town. Matosich also informed the council that if there are animal issues in the community to report them to the police department and they will contact animal control officer Federspiel.
The public comment section of the meeting ended the night with a newer member of the Havre community asking the council to opening up a discussion again about allowing chickens to be raised in the city limits.
