Havre street, sidewalk repairs will be costly

Havre City Council members say they realize that city streets, sidewalks and water and sewer lines are seriously in need of repair.

But they were amazed at what the cost would be and are doubtful city residents would be willing to pay for all that needs to get done.

“The question is, how big a project do we want, and how are we going to pay for it,” said Councilman Allen “Woody” Woodwick.

Most council members agreed that a multi-million project was needed and that the project should be stretched over many years — maybe as many as 20 years.

Some favored spending as much as $5 million a year so that eventually, all streets in the city would be reconstructed.

“We will have to fix all the streets that need to be fixed now, but by then more streets will have to be fixed,” said Councilwoman Terry Lilletvedt said.

To raise just $1 million for the project, city taxes would have to be hiked $165 on a $100,000 home, city officials figures out on their calculators.

That, most said, would hardly keep the city’s head above water, and council members questioned whether that could meet the approval of city residents. A referendum is required for that kind of tax hike.

“Somebody did this for us 50 years ago,” said Councilwoman Pam Hillery said. “Now it’s our turn.”

The project would be costly, it was agreed, because on most streets, it is time to replace water lines that run beneath the street and replace curbing as well as the streets.

Bit that kind of works can be costly.

“Five million doesn’t do that much,” said Councilman Andrew Brekke.

But if the city doesn’t do something, there will be problems, Councilwoman Janet Trethewey said.

“Somebody will fall into Bullhook Creek or in a sinkhole,” she said.

Council members agreed that the state should be pressured to provide more assistance for infrastructure, and that some of the repairs should be done with federal funds.

Mayor Tim Solomon said cities in every part of the country are facing similar problems.

The mayor said that the cost of making infrastructure across the country would total $1 trillion, he said.

“We spend that on wars all the time,” Hillery said.

Round 2 of the council members’ discussions on the massive undertaking will be at 6 p.m. today at City Hall.