Havre $30M street repair program goes to voters

Havre City Council Monday night officially put the proposed $30 million street repair program on the fall election ballot.

As they voted on the proposal, several council members urged that the city undertake a public information campaign to let people know what the proposal contains.

If approved by the voters, the city would spend $1.5 million per year for 20 years to improve streets that have fallen into disrepair. Taxes would rise accordingly.

Council member Pam Hillery said said she had posted comments on social media in favor of the proposal, and has found there is widespread confusion about what the proposal would do.

She called on the city to launch a campaign on the Internet, radio and in special meetings on what is actually included in the proposal.

Council member Terry Lilletvedt said she, too, is confronted with questions all the time.

The biggest question, she said, is why the city hasn’t been taking care of street problems over the years.

“These streets were built by our parents and grandparents,” she said.

Special Improvement Districts were formed to build the streets, she said. When the SIDs expired, she said, taxes and fees went down, and this generation has not properly taken care of. streets

She said she is ready to go to groups and organizations and explain the proposal.

Dave Peterson, the city’s Public Works director, said that recently the Great Falls Tribune carried a story about how the city of Great Falls public works director says the city needs to spend $15 million annually just to properly maintain city streets.

The only dissenting vote came from council member Andrew Brekke. As he has said before, he doesn’t believe a tax hike of that magnitude is supportable, and he has heard widespread opposition from residents of his Ward 4.

“That’s my job to represent them,” he said.