By Martin J. Kidston
The Havre City Council gathered Monday to hear several guest speakers request everything from a public hearing on the citys strategic plans to the need for a beer garden at the American Legion ball park.
Dick King, facilitator for the citys planning board, came before the council with a strategic draft on long- range planning. In its entirety, the draft is a compilation of information accumulated over the past five months. It catalogs everything from public letters to committee proposals, newspaper articles to the minutes taken at each of the town meetings.
As promised, weve put together a draft a strategic plan that will take us through the year 2010, King said. It identifies our near-term and long-term objectives. ... It identifies approximate funding options and approximate costs.
King gave the strategic draft to members of the council and asked the council to call a formal public hearing.
A public hearing is scheduled for June 21 at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers.
Pat Newell, director of Havres American Legion baseball program, told the council he would like to open a beer garden at legion field during tournaments. The beer garden, he said, would be isolated away from the bleachers.
Reactions from the council were mixed.
Currently, the Sixth Avenue ball park is the only city park which allows alcohol. Police Chief Mike Shortell said it was grandfathered into protection, and allowing alcohol into legion field would require changes in the city ordinance. He suggested the possibility of permits.
I think we should take a look at it, said Parks and Recreation Director David Wilson.
The issue was passed to the Parks and Recreation Committee for review.
Lastly, the Streets and Sidewalks Committee reviewed a complaint by Scott Dion, who came before the council on May 3, questioning the citys height restrictions and trimming enforcement on shrubberies.
Dion was required to have his hedges cut back, but noticed other hedges were taller than four feet, the Committee told the council after taking Dions complaint under review. The Streets and Sidewalk Committee reviewed the height restrictions on hedges, and had nothing further to discuss. We forwarded the issue on to the Ordinance Committee.
