Council waits on supporting two ports

The biggest subject of discussion at Monday night's Havre City Council meeting was a resolution "Affirming Support for the Designation of 24-Hour Commercial Status for the International Ports of Entry of Wild Horse and Turner. "

The tied vote was broken by Mayor Tim Solomon, who opposed passing the resolution at this time.

The resolution was introduced by Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss.

Tuss told the council that the resolution was a part of a regional collaboration, involving many communities across northern Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The addition of the Turner Port of Entry is part of an effort to include Saskatchewan in recent border talks, Tuss explained.

"I have seen a notable increase in visitors from Saskatchewan, " Tuss said.

When it came to vote on the resolution, Councilman Bob Kaul said he thought the council should table the resolution.

Kaul said that he had been talking to the Washington offices of Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and feared that the resolution could interfere with national legislation to grant the port of Wild Horse its desired status. He said he was under the impression that if anything happened to the current legislation it could be three to five years before any progress was made on the issue.

"Wild Horse has to remain priority one, " Kaul said. "I'm not against the regional effort, don't get me wrong. "

He said he recommended the council wait and see how a meeting about the port goes today, and the council members know for sure whether they could jeopardize the Wild Horse 24-hour status.

Some members of the council thought they didn't need to worry too much about the resolution, including Councilman Andrew Brekke.

"I understand Councilman Kaul's concern, but I believe the senators can handle this, " Brekke said. "This is just a resolution. It doesn't carry that much weight. "

"I don't think we have that kind of authority, " Councilman Gerry Veis said.

Those who agreed with Kaul said that it wouldn't hurt to wait until the next meeting on Monday, Dec. 20, using the time until then to get a better idea of what is in the works and what the resolution could do.

When it came time to vote, council members Brekke, Janet Trethewey, Veis and Allen "Woody" Woodwick voted to pass the resolution. Pam Hillery, Bob Kaftan, Kaul and Cal Long voted to hold off for a couple weeks. The mayor sided with the latter group.

Police Chief Jerry Nystrom presented Jesse Ellers to be sworn in as a permanent full-time member of the police force, for which he was approved and congratulated.

The biggest subject of discussion at Monday night's Havre City Council meeting was a resolution "Affirming Support for the Designation of 24-Hour Commercial Status for the International Ports of Entry of Wild Horse and Turner. "

The tied vote was broken by Mayor Tim Solomon, who opposed passing the resolution at this time.

The resolution was introduced by Bear Paw Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Tuss.

Tuss told the council that the resolution was a part of a regional collaboration, involving many communities across northern Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The addition of the Turner Port of Entry is part of an effort to include Saskatchewan in recent border talks, Tuss explained.

"I have seen a notable increase in visitors from Saskatchewan, " Tuss said.

When it came to vote on the resolution, Councilman Bob Kaul said he thought the council should table the resolution.

Kaul said that he had been talking to the Washington offices of Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and feared that the resolution could interfere with national legislation to grant the port of Wild Horse its desired status. He said he was under the impression that if anything happened to the current legislation it could be three to five years before any progress was made on the issue.

"Wild Horse has to remain priority one, " Kaul said. "I'm not against the regional effort, don't get me wrong. "

He said he recommended the council wait and see how a meeting about the port goes today, and the council members know for sure whether they could jeopardize the Wild Horse 24-hour status.

Some members of the council thought they didn't need to worry too much about the resolution, including Councilman Andrew Brekke.

"I understand Councilman Kaul's concern, but I believe the senators can handle this, " Brekke said. "This is just a resolution. It doesn't carry that much weight. "

"I don't think we have that kind of authority, " Councilman Gerry Veis said.

Those who agreed with Kaul said that it wouldn't hurt to wait until the next meeting on Monday, Dec. 20, using the time until then to get a better idea of what is in the works and what the resolution could do.

When it came time to vote, council members Brekke, Janet Trethewey, Veis and Allen "Woody" Woodwick voted to pass the resolution. Pam Hillery, Bob Kaftan, Kaul and Cal Long voted to hold off for a couple weeks. The mayor sided with the latter group.

Police Chief Jerry Nystrom presented Jesse Ellers to be sworn in as a permanent full-time member of the police force, for which he was approved and congratulated.