By Alan Sorensen
The Havre City Council Monday night voted unanimously as a committee of the whole to approve $161,500 in CTEP funding for area projects.
The funds, from the federal government's Community Transportation Enhancement Program, were tentatively earmarked for five different projects:
$10,000 for renovations at Fort Assinniboine;
$22,000 for improvements at H. Earl Clack Museum;
$97,000 for landscaping at the Havre Ice Dome;
$16,900 for sidewalk and other work at Havre Beneath the Streets;
$16,500 for a new sidewalk at the Mat Corner.
Each of the projects must come up with matching funds prior to the start of its job.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Helen Hill said the expenditures would leave the CTEP account with a balance of about $37,000. She suggested that the remaining funds be saved and added to future CTEP grants for funding of subsequent projects. One of those projects, she said, could be a walking, jogging and biking trail around town. The trail site suggested by several people would run along the top of the dike that extends from near the south end of Washington Avenue all the way around the south and east ends of town to where it meets U.S. Highway 2. The dike along the Milk River could probably be included in the trail system, too.
The city council also heard a pitch from Bob Worthington of the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority. MMIA is an insurance provider that is owned by a consortium of 117 Montana cities and towns, Worthington explained. The city of Havre currently buys its liability and workmen's comp coverage through MMIA. Worthington asked the council to consider buying its property insurance through MMIA, too.
He said MMIA's coverage differs from most because it pays full replacement cost of city equipment regardless of age. The only cost, he said, is the deductible. The MMIA coverage also pays for damage caused by earthquakes and floods and covers all purchases made by the city between premium payments under its automatic acquisition coverage.
MMIA also provides $10 million in fine arts coverage that applies to any exhibits or projects that may be traveling through the area under the city's sponsorship.
The council voted unanimously to turn Worthington's request over to the finance committee with the power to act.
The council also voted to:
Give Mayor Phyllis Leonard the power to sign construction bid contracts for the water treatment plant;
Approve the request to vacate the portion of Montana Avenue at Third and Fourth streets that runs adjacent to Eagles Manor (City Engineer Ron Bastin explained that the city never constructed a roadway across the property and has no intention to).
Sign the Local Government Certification Agreement in which the city will form a Havre Historic Preservation Commission, adhere to state and federal historical project policies, and be eligible for federal and state historical grants;
Approve the amendment for the mayor's signature to resolution 3306 that redefines the property that extends from each home into the middle of its adjacent street.
Allow the mayor, at the street and sidewalk committee's recommendation, to sign off on Dan Korb's Southview Subdivision Plat west of Ridge Road.
The next city council meeting is set for 8 p.m. May 1. The finance committee will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, and the labor negotiation committee will meet at
