News you can use
News you can use
A sign saying the park is closed until further notice hangs on a tree in Pepin Park Thursday. Montana Disaster and Emergency Services has approved reimbursing Havre, and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, for some work to recover from an Oct. 2-3 snowstorm, but a company that was supposed to start cutting tree limbs in Havre this week had to delay its work due to the current wintry conditions.
Contractors hired by the city of Havre to cut down tree branches left dangling after last October's snowstorm could not begin work this week because of snow and frigid temperatures.
Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson said Thursday a two-person crew from Davey Tree Surgery Co. in Billings had been contracted to begin work Tuesday, but that start date has since been postponed.
A new date for when the contractors will start work has not been set, he said.
"It's all weather-dependent now on when they can get up here," Peterson said.
He said the city talked to three contractors and hired Davey Tree Surgery for $5,700 a week.
Peterson said that he plans to call another contractor about possibly assisting with tree branch removal.
A record-breaking snowstorm in October dumped 13-inches of snow throughout north-central Montana and brought down trees and power lines from Chester to Malta. The storm left 9,000 NorthWestern Energy customers throughout the region without power.
Havre Mayor Tim Solomon said today some other parks have had signs posted warning about hanging tree limbs.
Havre Parks and Recreation was unable to be reached for comment before print deadline today.
Peterson said the city had received a letter from state Disaster and Emergency Services saying the city's request to be reimbursed for some costs associated with the snowstorm was approved.
Any money the city receives, he said, will be used to offset the cost of overtime pay for city employees, the use of equipment during the storm and the hiring of private contractors to help with storm cleanup.
Money, he said, can also be used to cut down tree limbs and clear streets, boulevards and public parks of debris from the storm.
State money cannot be used by the city to do work on private property, Peterson said.
He said the state still needs to submit some paperwork to DES, but how much money they get and when depends on the state.
"It's up to them now to get that squared away now," he said.
DES Response and Recovery Coordinator Cheri Medow said Thursday Havre and Fort Belknap have both been approved for money to be used to cover costs incurred as a result of the storm.
Medow said DES is now writing up project worksheets detailing the amount of money needed to cut down branches and remove debris from the storm.
She said DES hopes to provide the money by the end of January.
"That is the goal," she said.
Reader Comments(0)