New city council members take oath of office

Four incoming members of Havre City Council took the oath of office Monday during a council meeting in Havre City Hall, with Mayor Doug Kaercher saying the fifth, Chris Partin, would take the oath at the next meeting, Jan. 2.

Kaercher also said the oaths don’t go into effect until the terms start Jan. 1.

Ed Matter, Wade Bitz, Dave Brewer and Josh Gomez took the oaths Monday.

Bitz and Matter already sit on the council, with Bitz appointed to fill out the year in place of Ward 1 council member Josh Miller, who died at Age 32 May 14.

Matter was going to leave office at the end of his term this year, but decided to run for the remaining two years of Miller’s term in Ward 1.

Bitz then filed for the four year term in the Ward 1 seat previously held by Matter.

Martin is taking the Ward 4 seat now held by Derek Aldridge, who did not run for re-election, and Partin is taking the Ward 3 seat now held by Andrew Brekke, who also did not run for re-election.

Brewer is taking the Ward 2 seat now held by his wife, Denise Brewer, who did not run for another term.

The council also heard a request during the public comment section from Scott Dion that it do something to slow down traffic on 14th Avenue. Dion said people drive down the avenue far above the speed limit, in cars as well as trucks and semi-tractor trailers, saying that includes city vehicles. He requested the city work to do something to slow the traffic down.

During the public comment section, Trygve “Spike” Magelssen asked the city to join in an effort to hold a community meeting to address rampant crime in the community.

Magelssen said his residence has been burglarized and robbed five times in the last two months, even after he added security lights and cameras. He said he has lost 10s of thousands of dollars worth of possessions.

Drug sales and manufacture seem to be rampant in the city, and crime seems to be a common occurrence, Magelssen said, and he asked the city to join in an effort to raise community awareness with an event probably happening in February.

He said he has been talking to the staff at the Montana State University-Northern radio station, KNMC, about holding an event and has been in touch with insurance agents — whose agencies pay benefits to policy holders impacted by crime — and other community groups about joining.

Magelssen said he hopes local law enforcement and other city agencies join in the discussion.

Kaercher recommended Magelssen and the others who want to put on the event hold some organizational meetings, then come back to the city council with more details. Then, Kaercher said, the group could contact Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich to get some hep putting the event on.