By Crystal Thompson
As winter weather slowly makes way for a Montana spring, Dave Peterson prepares to keep the city's utilities in good repair.
Peterson, a Havre native, was appointed director of public works in November 2000 by the Havre City Council. The position became vacant after Ron Bastin retired last June. Peterson had served nearly twelve years as assistant director before being promoted last year.
Peterson heads up a group of nineteen employees who work out of the city shop to patrol and maintain Havre and its water, sewer and sanitation facilities. Peterson said that he is looking forward to making some needed improvements at the wastewater plant in the near future, while working to complete the construction at the water treatment plant. He added that one of his big goals as director is to push for the replacement of some of Havre's older water mains.
Mayor Phyllis Leonard said that she is confident that Peterson will move the Public Works Department forward in the new millennium. "I think that we're going to make great progress," Leonard said. She said that Peterson's youth and determination should prove beneficial to future projects like the Global Positioning System and improvement of urban roads.
"I have confidence in the fact that Dave won't sit with his feet up on the desk," Leonard said.
