By Tim Leeds
Havre may have a new taxi and limousine service in the works, but a protest has been filed against part of its application for a state license.
Kenneth J. Wilson has filed an application with the Montana Public Service Commission to transport passengers in Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Liberty and Choteau counties, under the business name of Havre Taxi and Limousine.
Louis Bibeau of PS Limo in Havre filed a protest against the limousine part of the application, stating there is no need for another service in the area.
Bibeau said today that there just isn't enough business to support two limousine services. PS Limo operates in the same area Wilson has applied to serve, and also is authorized in Toole County.
"In our protest we stated a taxi would be a viable business," he said. "We asked that they limit it to taxi only."
Havre has not had a taxi service in two years.
Wilson said Bibeau offered to sell him the limousine Bibeau was using at PS Limo three times last year, but he declined to purchase the vehicle. For Bibeau to file a protest after offering to sell a vehicle to use for the service doesn't seem like the right thing to do, Wilson said.
Bibeau said he was considering taking a new job that would have prevented him from running the limousine service when he made the offers. He has since decided not to take that job, and to continue running PS Limo.
Wilson said he hasn't purchased a limousine yet, but the vehicle he is considering would be different in style.
Wayne Budt, transportation director for the PSC, said a hearing will be scheduled in Havre to consider the protest against Wilson's application.
Wilson was granted a license for his service last July, but the license was canceled in October. Wilson said both his grandfather and father died within a few weeks of each other, and he was tied up handling estate issues and couldn't file necessary documents in time to keep the license.
He refused to disclose specifics about his planned business.
