Krista Corner Havre Daily News kcorner@havredailynews.com
A new, temporary City Council Committee appointed by Havre Mayor Bob Rice to look into annexation issues for the city held its first meeting May 28. The committee’s duties include investigating which properties to annex into the city and which of nine different ways to annex property would apply. The Havre City Council Annexation Committee Chair Andrew Brekke said the committee is not looking at any particular areas to annex. "We're looking at all areas of the city to annex," he said. "Which areas we are interested in and in which areas residents are wanting to be annexed. Areas that already receive water and sewer services, that's what we are interested in looking at. “The mayor has tasked our committee with researching all the ways we can annex and the areas which we feel should be annexed and recommend that to the Council," Brekke said. One of Havre's city attorneys Mary Van Buskirk described the nine ways to annex property into the city. "Annexation is an ever-expanding beast," she said. "It is statutory, and under the provisions, there are at least nine ways to annex property. Ultimately it has to be for the public good and in the best interest of the town and the parcels. "The utility rule says if someone is receiving city sewer and water services, they consented to annexation when they got the hookup," Van Buskirk added. The contiguous areas rule states that any parcels adjacent to parcels within the city limits may be annexed, but a lengthier process for that annexation rule exists, she added. "The Council would have to decide which areas they would consider, then they pass a resolution showing intent and notify the property owners," Van Buskirk said. "There is the opportunity through written rejection or a public hearing for the property owners to express their wishes." Havre Mayor Bob Rice said his hope for expanding the city limits was to improve the city's overall financial health. "It's all about money," he said. "We've got a pool we're trying to operate and we don't have the tax base that warrants all these expenditures. My hope is to get some increased tax base by (annexing). The pool is just one example. We've got another enterprise fund the ambulance that keeps going up. I don't think the local taxpayers are able to keep up with the increased expenses." The committee plans to meet again Tuesday, June 10 at 4 p.m. On the discussion table will be a map provided by Director of Public Works Dave Peterson for the committee to consider. "He's giving us a map of the city with an overlay of areas that already receive services and areas where we have petitions on file for annexation," Brekke said. The Annexation Committee's other members are Pam Hillery, Allen "Woody" Woodwick, Terry Schend and
