City council switches fire truck donation from Kremlin to Rudyard

Havre City Council Monday rescinded the donation of a fire truck to the Kremlin Volunteer Fire Department then donated the truck to Rudyard Volunteer Fire Department - and poked some fun at Havre Fire Chief Mel Paulson in the process.

"If this wouldn't have been on the agenda there wouldn't have been anything there," Council Member Eric Meis said.

"It gave us a reason to be here," Council Member Denise Brewer said.

Rescinding the donation to Kremlin and donating the fire truck to Rudyard were the only items on the agenda.

The fire department decided after it acquired its first new fire engine in 26 years, a Pierce Arrow XT fire engine, last July  to prospect for departments interested in its oldest engine, a 1973 Howe fire engine that was sitting unused.

People from several fire departments, including at Dodson, Kremlin and Rudyard, all contacted Paulson, all by telephone.

Paulson said Monday he was talking to so many people by phone he mixed up who was with what department.

The council also heard from Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss, who presented the economic development agency's annual report to the council.

Tuss noted that Havre is an original member in Bear Paw, which is Montana's oldest economic development agency and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

"You guys were a charter member way back when," he said.

The council had a special guest, with Mayor Tim Solomon inviting Boy Scout Jackson Siemens of Troop 1438, who was there to observe the meeting, to lead the room in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting.