Mayor gets our praiseOur View

Mayor gets our praise

Our View

We are very fortunate to have the mayor that we do.

He picks up trash wherever he sees it. He created a program of his own so young people who get into trouble can work with him on projects to make Havre more attractive.

Many of us have seen him walking down the street and stopping to pick up litter.

Bob Rice's methods can be unconventional.

How many mayors would organize a group of city employees to volunteer on a holiday to help rebuild a curb that a local business owner couldn't afford to rebuild. Unfortunately, they created a water leak, but it was easily corrected, from what we've been told, and the taxpayers weren't stuck with a bill they didn't need. A new curb is in place and Havre looks better for it.

Rice also paid out of his pocket to have city workers paint stripes in the parking lot of the Atrium Mall. He did it because the owner needed help and Rice recognized that the lot is used by the public, not just Atrium customers.

Some questions have been raised about Rice's methods. For instance, is it fair to help out some businesses and set a precedent so that others can ask for help? We suspect the answer will reveal itself soon.

And is the city crew taking opportunities away from private businesses?

Still, how can anyone not applaud the innovation of Bob Rice? He sees a problem and tries to find a solution. He very often succeeds.

Hopefully he asks the city attorney to examine any possible legal pitfalls before acting on his good will.

Helping people is his nature.

This is a benefit, folks.

As he grows in the job, hopefully he can convince others to adopt the same attitude. For instance, maybe he can find a way to get landlords and homeowners around town to put a layer of paint on their buildings and take care of the weeds.

And maybe the city will get property owners to either take down or improve the dilapidated eyesores that are too common in town.

This mayor is working for all of us, and he has so much energy that no problem will be left untouched.

Bob Rice should be appreciated for his work. He does it for the people of Havre.