Engineering firm to study water tanks

Havre City Council has approved a $171,000 contract with NCI Engineering of Great Falls to do design work for the major repairs planned for the city's two water towers.

The actual refurbishing of the towers will cost about $1 million, Public Works Director Dave Peterson estimated.

Work needs to be done at both tanks, Peterson said, but the city is more worried about the east tank where there are signs of rust.

Council approved the contract without a dissenting vote, but some council members were concerned about the details of the contract,

Pam Hillery of Ward 1 complained about a clause that allowed NCI to bill the city at cost plus 10 percent.

She was worried that discouraged efficiency.

"We could put them up in a nice hotel," she said.

Peterson said that was standard for such contracts.

"Engineers make a lot of money," he said.

In other action at Monday night's council meeting:

• Council confirmed Curt Smith as a police officer. He has served as a probationary officer for the past year.

He came to Havre after serving stints in the Fort Benton Police Department and the Chouteau County Sheriff's Department.

Acting Police Chief Gabe Matosich said Smith "has proven himself to be a strong candidate" to win permanent status with the department.

• Council approved the closing of a small portion of 20th Street, located behind Havre High School.

The street services the high school and nothing else. The district is reconfiguring the parking lot,

"The school district can have the street," Mayor Tim Solomon said, laughing. "That's one less for us to maintain."