City keeps ties with Bear Paw Development

The freshmen council members on Havre City Council continued their streak as some of the most inquisitive members in years, prodding and questioning contracts and relationships, in some cases decades-long, that were up for annual renewal.

The first vote was whether Havre should continue its ties with Bear Paw Development Corp., which includes the city paying the economic development organization $20,000 per year.

First-year council member and former Sunnyside Intermediate School Principal Brian Barrows asked where the money comes from, and Mayor Tim Solomon explained it is budgeted for out of the city's general fund.

Council member Rick Dow asked how long the city has been paying into the group. New Finance Director and former council member Doug Kaercher said the city has been with Bear Paw Development since the company began in 1968.

The council voted unanimously to continue participating.

The second vote was over the annual $54,000 contract for legal services from Havre law firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin & Kaze, which writes up all the city's contracts, ordinances and legal documents.

Council member Bonnie Parenteau asked if the contract was with a particular attorney at the firm, or if the work was handled by whoever was free, and Solomon explained it is usually the latter.

The council also voted unanimously to continue this contract.

The third vote was on the contract with Tammi Barkus for her work as the city prosecutor. This year she requested a $600 increase for the annual cost, which Solomon explained was basically rounding up to an even $48,000 per year. He also said that she had not received a raise in several years.

Seven of the council members voted to approve the new rate of $4,000 per month.

Dow abstained, as Barkus is prosecuting his case in city court over his alleged use of a handheld electronic device while driving.