Council OKs school officer

Havre City Council unanimously approved a plan to assign Officer Ryan Pearson to Havre High School and Montana State University-Northern for the coming school year.

Northern and the Havre School system will contribute to Pearson’s salary.

The idea of the program is to have Pearson interact with students on campus and at the school so they become used to dealing with officers before there is an emergency.

The Havre school board has already approved the plan.

The council also approved routine measures at its meeting:

• It unanimously passed a resolution that levies and assesses taxes to defray the cost of maintaining street lights in Havre, street maintenance the Bullhook system and the solid waste operations.

• The city budget was adopted without dissent.

• Council unanimously passed Police Chief Kirk Fitch’s request to appoint Justin Gomke and Jordon Chroniger as probationary police officers.

• All but Andrew Brekle, councilmember for Ward 4, voted in favor of the 4 for 2 Highway Association membership, which cost the city $100.The organization lobbies in behalf of making U.S. Highway 2 four lanes across Montana.

• 4 for 2 President Bob Sivertsen spoke to the council, urging them to focus on the “safety goals” of the city, citing seven safety violations he saw on his way to the meeting, including weed-eating without protective eyewear and people not wearing seatbelts.