Ratliff, Whitacre square off in council election

Ward 3 Havre City Council candidate Lindsey Ratliff, a history and art teacher at Havre High School, said part of the reason she is running is to show her students how to make a difference.

"In my job, I try to teach kids how to become responsibly engaged citizens, and I think running for City Council is a great way of showing an example of how to get involved in the community and make a difference," Ratliff said.

Ratliff faces ophthalmologist Marc Whitacre in the Nov. 7 general election for the Ward 3 council seat held by Jay Pyette. Pyette did not file to run for re-election.

Ballots in the Havre election will be mailed to voters Friday.

Ratliff said she supports the proposed mill levy to fund repairs to the city streets that is on the ballot. If the increase in property taxes, is approved, it is expected to generate $15 million over 20 years, or $750,000 annually.

The increase would cost owners of a property with a taxable value of $100,000 an additional $89.50 a year and properties valued at $200,000 an additional $179.

"I think one of the most important things is infrastructure, investing in and maintaining our infrastructure in town, and we can't kick this down the road any farther," Ratliff said.

The issue of how to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries has been a subject taken up by cities throughout Montana. In Havre, the council's ordinance committee has discussed whether medical marijuana dispensaries should be able to have storefront advertising.

Ratliff said since medical marijuana is legal in Montana, the city should regulate them through zoning but allow them to advertise as long as their storefronts are discreet and providers follow the law.

Earlier this year at the request of Council President Andrew Brekke, Mayor Tim Solomon appointed a five member committee to look at how the city can address the problem of derelict vacant properties.

Ratliff said she strongly supports the efforts of the committee which she said is "moving in the right direction."

The committee was created after Samantha Clawson, a homeowner in Havre and grant writer at Montana State University-Northern, asked the city to consider creating a vacant property registry ordinance, or VPRO, to address the issue of derelict vacant properties.

Ratliff added that something needs to be done to address blight, decrepit buildings and irresponsible property ownership.

Cities and counties are grappling with how best to meet expenses as revenues shrink. Ratliff said she would like to look at how other communities handle the problem.

"I think I would have to do a little bit of research into what other communities have done in similar situations," she said.

Ratliff added that she would like to work to make Havre a place where there are more things for people to do in town. Though it is not something that is under council, they can work with people to ensure Havre is a fun place for kids to live and for young adults to have things to do in town. She said Havre Trails, the program that promotes hiking opportunities for locals, is an example of such an activity.