City plans fight on blight

The city of Havre may launch an effort to curtail blight in the city, but first it wants to make sure it completely understands the complexities of state laws governing such efforts.

City Council’s Ordinance Committee decided to wait taking any action on the effort until experts on the matter can be brought in to discuss the laws.

Ordinance Chair Andrew Brekke is suggesting the city consider tax increment financing districts and Urban renewal districts as a way to fight the increase in delapidated buildings people have complained about in neighborhoods and the downtown area.

Such legislation allows some tax money paid by properties in such district to be spent on improvements to the area.

An independent group looking at blight in the downtown area is considering creation of such districts in the city’s central business district.

Brekke said he is working with City Clerk and Finance Director Doug Kaercher and Paul Tuss of Bear Paw Development Corp. on the proposal, but would like to have some expert advice before decisions are made.