Sixth Avenue field gets renovations

Sixth Avenue Memorial Field is getting a facelift.

The Havre City Council on Tuesday gave permission to Milk River Engineering Inc. to design renoviations to the complex so the project can be put out for bids, Mayor Bob Rice said.

The renovation consists of the installation of new topsoil, sod and the planting of about 13 trees, and a new chain-link fence. The estimate also calls for the construction of about 300 feet of new concrete sidewalk and curb and gutters. An underground irrigation system and installation of a handicap-accessible ramp at the viewing area is also part of the project. The plan also covers the costs of the removal of asphalt at the complex.

Milk River Engineering's fee for the design is $4,056. The city will pay for most of that from CTEP the Community Transportation Enhancement Program.

The total budget for the renovation is estimated to be $43,890 with CTEP picking up most of the tab. The city's contribution will be $5,889.

The expected completion date for the renovations is expected in the summer of 2003.

In other business, the council debated for nearly 15 minutes about moving the Heritage Center's flag pole to the newly constructed Town Square park at First Street and Third Avenue.

The debate was brought up by Jim Matters of the American Legion, which is in charge of removing and installing the flag.

Matters said the state Historical Society approved of the flag pole being moved to the new location.

The cost of a new flag pole would be nearly $5,000, which is why the Heritage Center's flag pole was recommended, Rice said.

"We're not changing custody of the flag pole. We're only moving it," Rice said. "The Heritage Center would just as well move it because the original flag pole was on the top."