Brekke officially resigns from City Council

Havre City Council President Andrew Brekke officially handed in his letter of resignation Monday during the council meeting in Havre City Hall.

Brekke told the council he is resigning because he is moving to another district and because state law dictates that council members must be a resident of the ward they are representing. The date of the resignation is left open, he said. Technically, he will be resigning from his seat 30 days after Nov. 1, which is his last day in his old home, but Monday he closed the deal on his new property.

"I appreciate my time," Brekke said, "I will just miss the 11-year mark and the final year of my third term. I've appreciated working with all of you and the staff and the constituents of Havre. I'm not going anywhere, just moving up the street and over a little ways."

Brekke said he will appear at the next two City Council meetings as needed.

The City Council will have to begin the process of finding a replacement for the seat. Mayor Tim Solomon said the item will be on the next meeting agenda. Solomon said that now there is an official vacancy, the council will recognize the vacancy and appoint a temporary president to take on the process of finding a new member. He added that the vacancy will be advertised for any one of interest to come forward. If the number of applicants is seven or greater it would be subject to an interview process and the applicant is required to have a council person recommendation, Solomon said.

Council member Caleb Hutchinson said whoever is selected for the position will serve out the rest of Brekke's term in City Council.

Director of Public Works Dave Peterson gave an update to the council on the Public Works Department.

Peterson said Public Works has completed a water line near First Street West and Sixth Avenue West, where erection of a Burger King is proposed. In 2001, he said, Public Works worked on the water line on First and Second streets, although due to budget restrictions at that time the line was not connected. Public Works has now completed the connection of the 8-inch water line, Peterson added, and if Burger King does build near that location it will give a better opportunity to connect to the water for the property without hooking up to the main transmission line.

Peterson said this is not a guarantee Burger King will be building, adding whoever decides build at that location will be able to hook up to the line. The system will also provide better flow in town, he added.

Vy Trinh of Meridian, the company planning to build a Burger King in Havre, said this morning the company plans on having the business open next year.

Peterson said the water tank at Legion Field project is also 50-75 percent complete with only a couple of weeks left to redo the interior of the tank. He added there will also be new valves installed on the tank.

Public Works is also still out paving and filling potholes, Peterson said, and will continue until Sand and Gravel, the city's supplier, stops producing asphalt for the fall.

Branches that were broken in the early October blizzard last year are still hanging on trees, he said, but Public Works is on track with Parks and Recreation to work to take care of the tree hangers, and work can still be done until the temperature gets too cold.

Peterson said the department has received a newer sewer vac truck to clean out all the storm drains and catch basins so they do not freeze during the winter.

He added that in the fall season the department is also running its street sweeper trucks to pick up the leaves on the streets.

"But just a reminder to, I guess, the public," Peterson said. " ... Don't put the leaves in the street for us to pick up, it's the responsibility of the property owners with the boulevards to bag the leaves and put them out for us to be able to pick up."

Bags of leaves should be left by a trash can, Peterson said, adding that if people should put their bags of leaves out before Oct. 31.

Joe Sarmiento spoke to the City Council during the public comment section of the meeting requesting the Zoning Board meet with he and his wife, Kerma Boyum, about opening an Airbnb. Sarmiento said Airbnb is where Uber was a few years ago in Montana and it is a viable alternative to hotels and motels.

Peterson said Sarmiento and Boyum can speak with him or Public Works Deputy Director Jeff Jensen for more information on how to pursue the idea.

The City Council passed a resolution to amended its 911 budget to account for a new state procedure where funds go directly to the city rather than the county before being distributed to the city.

The council also approved the appointment of Nate Baltrusch to the City-County Planning Board and approved the Independence Bank Pledged Securities for the quarter ending in Sept. 30.