County nixing swimming pool payments

A decade-long controversy between Hill County and the city of Havre may be resurfacing.

County commissioners have notified the city that they will end the contract under which the county pays $20,000 for the operation of the swimming pool at the city hall complex.

Presently, the city pays $160,000 for the pool, the county contributes $20,000 and Havre Public Schools chips in $19,000.

Commission Chair Mike Wendland said the county didn’t want to exacerbate the sometimes tense relations with the city government but was forced to call off the deal because of fiscal concerns, he said.

“The fact is, we’re broke,” he said.

The county, like the city, is up against its taxing authority, he said.

He left the door open for further discussion with the city, but quickly added, “We will make our last payment in December.”

“It’s not like we broke the contract,” he said. ”It sunsetted, and we will not continue it.”

Mayor Tim Solomon said the city was “disappointed” at the county’s decision.

He said city officials had believed that although the contract was only for three years, they had an informal commitment from the county that the deal would be extended.

Three years ago, the city and county were engaged in a lawsuit and rancorous verbal disputes over the costs for the pool.

The county had signed a contract when the pool was first opened, but said the deal was unenforceable.