Havre City Council aims to improve infrastructure

Havre City Council Monday night approved authorization to submit a Montana Coal Endowment Program infrastructure planning grant application.

The resolution says, “The City of Havre is applying to the Montana Department of Commerce for financial assistance from the Montana Coal Endowment Program to fund a Preliminary Engineering Report for water and sewer projects within the city.”

Havre Mayor Tim Solomon referred Havre Daily to Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson, who did not attend Monday’s council meeting, for more details about how the grant money would be used. Peterson could not be reached by printing deadline this morning.

The resolution says the city commits to provide the amount of matching funds as proposed in the MCEP application and the city commits to provide any funding from other grant sources listed in the application budget if not awarded by those grant sources.

Solomon is authorized by the resolution to submit the application to the Montana Department of Commerce and to act on behalf of the city.

The council also approved a resolution to cancel the Nov. 2, 2021 general election of certain municipal officers.

Havre Finance Director and City Clerk Doug Kaercher, who is a candidate for mayor, said the Legislature allowed cities to not hold primary elections in races with two or fewer candidates, and cities can cancel some general election races.

“If you don’t have opposed races for the general (election) you can actually cancel those,” Kaercher said.

He said cities need to pass a resolution after the write-in deadline to cancel the races in those elections. Passing an election-by-affirmation resolution elects the uncontested candidates.

The resolution says the following offices are eligible for election cancellation, Mayor, City Judge, Ward 1 Alderman, Ward 2 Alderman, and Ward 3 Alderman and Ward 3 Alderman two-year unexpired term.

The one contested race is for the Ward 4 Alderman position between current alderman Sarah McKinney and candidate Anthony Gabrielsen. The position has a four-year term.

That election will be held with mail ballots.

The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is Aug. 30.

Kaercher said the resolution states that if one or more of the municipal officer positions remains uncontested as of Aug. 30, the city will cancel the 2021 general election for the positions.

If one or more eligible people file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and creates a contest for one or more of the municipal officer positions, the city will hold general elections for those races.

Other items approved by the council during the meeting included the ratification of AFSCME Local 336 Public Works Collective Bargaining Agreement lasting from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.

The council approved a request by Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter for a variance to a city ordinance to allow dogs in Pepin Park from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 14.

Also approved was a request by Palace Bar to barricade the alley between Second and Third avenues behind the bar Saturday, Sept. 18, for a cornhole tournament with alcohol sales.

Havre Chief of Police Gabe Matosich told the council law enforcement’s National Night Out will be held Tuesday, Aug. 31, on the Montana State University-Northern campus. The event will include a barbecue.

Matosich also announced the promotion of multiple officers. C.J. Reichelt is now a lieutenant. Jordan Chroninger and Justin Gomke were both promoted to sergeant.

Matosich also said the department recently passed audits from the FDIC and the state.

The next City Council meeting will be Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.