City Council swears in three

Two new members of Havre City Council were sworn in Monday night, though they won't formally take office until Jan. 1

Caleb Hutchins of Ward 3 and Ed Matter of Ward 1 took the oath of office for four-year terms, while Andrew Brekke of Ward 4 was sworn in for his third term. Council member Brian Barrows was unable to attend Monday's council meeting and will be sworn in later.

They were installed in a simple ceremony during the regular council meeting.

Mayor Tim Solomon called them to the front and administered the simple oath in which they promised to uphold the constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Matter and Hutchins replace veteran members Pam Hillery and Allen J. "Woody" Woodwick respectively. Both declined to seek re-election.

Traditionally, new members are sworn in at the first meeting in January, but City Clerk Doug Kaercher said that it was decided to formally swear them in now in case there should be a need for a special council meeting between Jan. 1 and the first council meeting. The terms of the retiring members expire on Jan. 1.

At the first of the year, Brekke will become the council's senior member, replacing Woodwick in that position.

In other business, council faced a light agenda for its last meeting of the year:

• Vicky Olson, who has served as a probationary police officer for one year, was approved as a permanent officer.

She has worked as a reserve officer for the Havre department and the Hill County Sheriff's 's Office. She is a former chief detention officer at the Hill County Detention Facility,

The council members voted unanimously to approve Police Chief Gabe Matosich's recommendation that she be appointed.

"Welcome, and it's good to see a woman," Hillery said.

• The council members also unanimously approved re-appointing Bob Breum to the Havre City-County Airport Board and Keith Doll to the Havre-Hill County Historic Preservation Commission.