Council Ordinance Committee discusses vacant property ordinance

At its second meeting of the month, Havre City Council had a busy night last night, giving its blessing for work to continue on a splash park in Havre, approving the closure of streets for the 41st celebration of Havre Festival Days and confirmed the appointment of Havre Police Patrol Officer Brandon Murnion.

At an ordinance committee meeting immediate following the Havre City Council meeting, the committee discussed a proposed ordinance concerning abandoned and boarded up structures, an issue the council has been looking at for several years.

The draft ordinance says these structures pose a risk to health and safety and standards in the ordinance will help improve the appearance of the structures and preserve neighborhood property values.

The ordinance then defines abandoned and boarded up structures and other terms before discussing enforcement.

The ordinance says if an officer finds there is a violation, a written notice will be given in person or by certified mail to the property owner and the owner’s agent of the specific nature of the violation, the specific condition to be abated and the specific abatement requirement.

Unless otherwise notified, the owner or the owner’s agent will have 60 days to voluntarily abate the premises. Violation of this ordinance, a misdemeanor, is punishable by civil penalties.

The ordinance will be effective 30 days after the second reading and final adoption as provided by the law.

Following discussion, the committee then set a date to bring this ordinance to the public, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.

During the full council meeting, Brett Patrick of the Natalie Patrick Foundation spoke about a project to create a splash park.

Patrick said the nonprofit foundation has been raising funds for different causes his late sister was passionate about, ranging from scholarships to parks and recreation projects and things of that nature, for about 20 years.

For about the last three years, he said the foundation has been setting funds aside for a splash park in Havre which would be next to the city pool. Patrick said this would allow the pool’s bathrooms and changing areas to become dual-purpose areas.

A splash park, also known as a splash pad or spray pool is a recreation area, often in a public park, for water play that has little or no standing water.

He said the splash park would be fully funded by the foundation during the construction process and then it would be turned over to the city.

He said the foundation has already met with the parks and recreation department, Mayor Tim Solomon, City Finance Director Doug Kaercher and Havre Public Works. A letter sent to the council addresses this and says all parties have aligned on the matter.

The foundation’s letter continues, saying the foundation hopes to break ground on the project during spring 2022 with a grand opening planned for June 17, 2022.

The council expressed some concern regarding maintenance.

“The engineering firm figures that you have about 4,500 bucks in yearly maintenance costs for the maintenance, the general work on it and the wear and tear as well as kind of the savings for repairs and stuff like that,” Patrick told the council. “So the city would be looking on average by their reports and their proposals between about 4,500 and 5,000 bucks a year to be put towards that,” he added.

Discussions about if the splash park will be free or charge for use are ongoing. Patrick also said the foundation’s proposal includes a water recirculation system for the park, reducing water usage and cleaning the water by way of filters.

The council gave its approval for the project to continue.

the council also confirmed Brandon Murnion as the newest patrol officer of the Havre Police Department and awarded a certificate.

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said Murnion has met all the necessary requirements for the position of a full-time patrol officer.

He added that Murnion has undergone the extensive background investigation, completed the Montana Basic Law Enforcement Academy and completed the department’s 14-week field training program.

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julea Robbins asked for the council’s approval of the planned parade route for Festival Days, assistance from the police and Public Works Departments and also the closure of Third Avenue from First and Second Street for a downtown vendor show.

A letter from Robbins to Mayor Solomon says the parade will again line up on Bullhook Road and be staged in the parking lot of Havre High School. starting at 7:30 a.m. Parade entries will enter the HHS parking lot from 17th Street.

The parade route will head north on Fifth Avenue from Rod’s Drive-In at 10 a.m. The parade will continue North on Fifth Ave. to Third Street, turn west on Third Street to First Ave. and the area around the Post Office to disassemble the parade.

The letter says the chamber has submitted a plan for both the parade and vendor show and will continue to incorporate any health precautions the department asks of the chamber.

The council gave its approval.

The council also approved a request to close Third Avenue between Second and Fourth Street to hold the Annual Steve Heil Memorial Car Show Saturday, Sept. 18, during Festival Days.

The council approved a request a request from PJ’s Restaurant and Casino to close Main Street behind the bar to host a Street Dance with live music Saturday, Sept. 18, during Festival Days.

The next Havre City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.