Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
Havre Mayor Bob Rice said today that the city will send the Rocky Boy's/North Central Regional Water Authority a "good intent" fee of more than $21,000. Rice also said he would attend a meeting of the water system's coordinating committee in Great Falls on Tuesday.
Once the fee is paid, an engineering firm will begin to study the cost of connecting Havre to the water system, which will bring water treated at Tiber Dam on Lake Elwell to more than 18,000 residents across seven counties.
The Havre City Council voted on April 4 to pay the fee. In a letter dated April 25, coordinating committee co-chairmen Dan Keil and Jim Morsette requested that the city send a formal letter and the fee. At the May 2 City Council meeting, Rice said he wanted to see financial statements from the water authority before paying the fee.
Bear Paw Development Corp. official Annmarie Robinson, who is coordinating the water project, said she sent the financial statements to the city on May 5.
Rice said he has reviewed the statements and the city will mail the check today.
"The financial statements seem to be in order," he said.
He also confirmed he would attend the coordinating committee's regular monthly meeting.
Robinson said members of the water authority want to discuss the city's specific needs at the meeting. City officials had mentioned the possibility of using the water system as a supplement to the current city system, and members want to hammer out exactly want the city wants so the engineering study can be done appropriately, she said.
"They had discussed some alternatives they wanted us to look at," she said. "We've always assumed the system was going to be used as a sole source, but if the city wants (supplemental use) evaluated, we'd be happy to provide them with a document they can use."
The project has been approved by Congress with a $229 million price tag.
City officials - without a vote by the City Council - decided in 1997 not to join the project, and instead chose to upgrade the city's water treatment plant.
The City Council began reconsidering the issue early last year after residents and members of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce voiced concerns over the future of the city's water supply.
