Havre city council approves patrol, probationary police officers

Havre City Council passed the confirmation of Tyler Craig as a patrol officer for the Havre Police Department as well as confriming Joseph Pliler and Taylor Gopher as probationary patrol officers, and approved resolutions Monday at the council’s monthly meeting.

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said Craig will complete his one year probationary period Wednesday, April 1.

Matosich said Craig has gone through an extensive background investigation, graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, completed the 14-week training and has met all the necessary requirements for the position of a full-time police officer.

Matosich said Pliler and Gopher will be effective as probationary Thursday, March 26, with confirmation and approval from the council.

Gopher and Pliler have met all the necessary requirements for the position of probationary police officer, Matosich said, adding that both are scheduled to attend the Montana Basic Law Enforcement Academy in April.

“It’s nice to get more on board,” Havre Mayor Tim Solomon said.

Two resolutions were also approved at the meeting.

Resolution No. 3813 which is a resolution to authorize adoption of the 2018 international swimming pool and spa codes.

Public Works Director Dave Peterson said the code is mainly for residential pools.

Resolution No. 3814 was a resolution by the City Council by adopting the 2019 Hill County Growth Policy update which was prepared by Bear Paw Development Corp.

Solomon said this is something used for grant applications and is done every five years.

Ordinance No. 911 was also passed.

Ordinance Committee chair Caleb Hutchins said, with its passage, the City Council will be meeting on the first Monday of the month and special committees will meet on the third Monday of the month.

Special meetings of the council of the whole also can be called.

During the public comment section, Solomon said the Havre Community Swimming Pool and the Havre-Hill County Library are closing and the city is cutting down on staff around town due to the coronavirus. 

He said he is working on getting those employees on paid leave.

Council member Karen Swenson said she wants to the people to look at post made by Peterson on Havre’s Questions, Comments, and Concerns which showed what kind of items not to flush down to the toilet because it can cause not only expensive problems to repair, but also problems to the sewer mains and the Waste Water Treatment plant equipment.

Those items include facial tissue, napkins, flushable wipes and paper towels.

Council member Denise Brewer  said the Streets and Sidewalks committee would not meet after the council meeting as scheduled because of the coronavirus.

She said she doesn't know when they’ll be able to meet again.

The next Havre City Council meeting is Monday, April 6, at 7 p.m., at City Hall.