By Alan Sorensen
The Havre City Council took little time in dispatching the few pieces of business on its agenda Monday night.
The council gave its unanimous approval and authorization for Mayor Phyllis Leonard to sign a safety study memorandum of understanding with the Montana Department of Transportation.
The agreement also requires the signatures of representatives from the state and from Hill County. The agreement, when signed by all, will give the nod for the state to hire a consultant for a maximum fee of $75,000.
Streets and intersections within the city that would be studied under the agreement for safety improvements include:
Second Street from Second to Seventh avenues;
Eighth Street and 12th Avenue;
Seventh Avenue and 11th Street.
Hill County and state secondary roads and intersections to be studied would include:
Secondary 232 (Wildhorse Road), reference points 4.2 to 4.7 miles north of Havre;
Seventh Avenue North and First Street North and the First Street North approach (at viaduct/bridge junction);
Second Street West and 16th Avenue West (cut across behind fairgrounds).
State highway system locations include the intersection at First Street and Seventh Avenue (viaduct) in Havre and U.S. Highway 2 at mile post 377 (at the county's request).
The state will administer the studies, and the state, city and county together will participate in the field review, comment on the preliminary plans, and approve the recommendations.
The agreement would call for each government to implement the study's low-cost safety recommendations in its maintenance jurisdiction, depending on available funding. The improvements could include signing, striping, delineation, and removal of vision obstructions on the roadways and streets.
Each of the governments also agree by signing the document to submit more complex safety projects for funding under the MDT safety engineering improvement program, if needed. Those projects could include road and street widening, electrical work and extensive slope flattening.
The council also voted unanimously to create the Havre Historic Preservation Commission. The vote calls for the listing of qualifications for membership on the commission, listing of duties and responsibilities of the commission, and provides rules for the appointment of members.
Parks and Recreation Director Dave Wilson provided the council with the recreation committee's recommendation for the negotiation of a buy/sell agreement with the owners of the McKenty house in the vicinity of the Havre Swimming Pool.
Wilson said the committee's recommendation called for a property appraisal by an independent appraiser.
Wilson assured the council that any buy/sell agreement would require the council's final approval before any money and property could change hands.
In another matter, Wilson said the Lion's Swim Team has asked permission to build a small shed near the pool for storage of its American flags. Team members hang the flags outside area businesses on Flag Day and other major national holidays.
The next city council meeting and the swearing in of the new council are scheduled for Jan. 3.
