News you can use
News you can use
Derek Eldridge and a number of returning council members were sworn in at the Havre City Council meeting Monday.
Eldridge was the winning candidate in the only contested race for Havre City Council last year, defeating incumbent Erik Meis with 149 votes to 78 votes for Ward 4.
"I'm excited," Eldridge said after the meeting. "I'm ready to go. I want to help. I want to do what I can."
He added that, for him, being on City Council doesn't mean making decisions that will personally benefit him but providing the voice for the people of Havre. Not just the wealthy or those who own businesses or properties but working to make changes and decisions that will benefit the people who don't normally have a say when things are done.
"What I want to do, I want to be the voice for the little person," Eldridge said. "... I want to talk to and get to know the people who are cleaning the floors at night, stocking the shelves at night, those are the people to me that matter. If you really think about it, that is what makes a business go around and makes a city go around."
He said he has been placed on the Labor Relations, Streets and Sidewalks, and the Fire and Police committees.
He added that one of the things he has been hearing a lot of people discuss is the conditions of the streets and sidewalks, and although he doesn't know very much about the details of special improvement districts he understands the concept and the need for the program. The money to repair the streets and sidewalks in the community has to come from somewhere, he said.
He added that the city could either ask for a loan or raise taxes, but something needs to be done.
"At least it's going to something that's going to do some good," he said.
Eldridge said that he is open to ideas and if anyone was any ideas about anything regarding City Council he is more than happy to hear what they have to say.
He added that he does outside-of-the-box thinking, and although it may not always be the greatest idea, it can spark a conversation and other ideas to help get the job done.
Council members Ed Matters, Caleb Hutchins and Denise Brewer, who were unopposed and elected by acclamation, were also sworn in at the meeting to serve another term on Havre City Council.
City Judge Janie Hedstrom was also sworn in to serve another term as the Havre City Judge. Hedstrom was appointed as the city judge last year after former City Judge Virginia Seigel resigned in last January.
Council member Ed Matter nominated Terry Lilletvedt to retain the office of council president, and she was elected unanimously.
The council also approved on first reading an ordinance changing the hiring qualifications for police officers.
Hutchins said the change in the ordinance is similar to the change in the ordinance for the Havre Fire Department, removing the age restriction for applicants and refers to Montana Code Annotated. The change was also rewritten to be include a requirement for officers to registered city voters, which requires officers to live within city limits, unless an exception is approved by the city and the chief of police. He added that the addition is to allow officers to quickly respond in case of emergencies if needed.
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