Mayor proposes water line program

Havre Mayor Bob Rice is working on a proposal that would offer Havre residents a type of mandatory insurance program for their city water lines and shut-off boxes.

Rice would like to implement a program similar to one used by the city of Billings, where all city water users pay an additional $1 per month on their water bill and the city then picks up the cost and responsibility of replacing broken water lines and shut-off boxes.

Right now, Havre homeowners are responsible for replacing the water line that runs from their home to the main line if that line is no longer working properly. In addi...