Karen Swenson named to Havre City Council

Retired elementary school principal Karen Swenson was elected to Havre City Council by a 5-2 vote of council Monday night.

Swenson defeated Kevin Zoren for the seat being vacated by Janet Trethewey who resigned.

Even before the vote, the candidates were praised by Mayor Tim Solomon who said it was encouraging to see candidates come forward for the seat. In the past, council members have had a hard time attracting candidates for open seats.

Asked before the vote if they cared to address council Zoren said he could say nothing bad about his opponent.

"I wouldn't say a word to disparage her," he said. "She was my kindergarten teacher," as the audience broke into laughter.

Council members Caleb Hutchins and Matthew Boucher voted for Zoren. The other five members backed Swenson.

Swenson is the wife of Lowell Swenson, who served for many years as Havre city clerk. He now sits on the Government Study Commission, which is reviewing the form of government the city operates under.

Swenson will represent Ward 2, the Highland Park area.

Zoren won praise for coming forward and volunteering his service.

Solomon urged him to keep on his work for the city.

In other business at Monday night's council meeting:

Open container laws

With council member Brian Barrows dissenting, council agreed to set up a permit system to allow people or organizations to be exempted from the city's open container ordinances.

The legislation was designed to eliminate a controversy that flared up last summer when someone was charged with an open container violation during Sounds on the Square, the weekly summertime concert series sponsored by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.

The city contended that Town Square, even though it is under the control of the Chamber, is covered by the open container law.

By seeking a permit for Sounds on the Square, people will be allowed to have open containers at the concert, said council member Andrew Brekke, chair of the council's Ordinance Committee.

But if police find people consuming alcohol at the park during nonconcert hours, they can be issued summonses.

Brekke said the legislation will also apply to any privately owned open spaces in the city.

People will be able to serve alcohol on their private property if they are having a private party, he said.

But if people are having an open party on property that has access to city streets and sidewalks, police might consider that to be a public space and might ticket those with open containers.

The legislation is aimed "trying to avoid police having to cite somebody they don't want to."

Williams Syndrome Walk

Council approved a walk to raise awareness about Williams Syndrome on June 26.

Last year, $7,000 was raised by the downtown Havre walk.

The walk was organized in honor of Keeley Wilson, the daughter of Stewart and Dottie Wilson, the coordinators of the event. Kelley has Williams Syndrome.

Solomon's appointments

The council unanimously approved Solomon's reappointments to city boards.

They are:

The city-county planning board: Alan Pearson and David Peterson.

Zoning Board: Gus Korb and Jay Springer

Police Commission: Stuart Small

Havre Historic Preservation Commission: Wade Bitz

The Havre-Hill County Library: Julie Verploegen representing Hill County and Delores Noffsinger representing the city.