CTEP projects approved, sent to state

CTEP projects approved, sent to state

Zach White

Improved sidewalks should be coming to different parts of Havre in the next year.

Havre City Council approved three projects for the Community Transportation Enhancement Program, all of which were for sidewalk renovation.

Krystal Steinmetz of Bear Paw Development Corp. told the Council that three of the projects were submitted with estimates and pleges for the nearly 14 percent match that the program requires.

The first project discussed was to fix the sidewalks around the Atrium Mall downtown, between 2nd and 3rd streets and 2nd and 3rd avenues.

Steinmetz said the project should cost about $148,700. That estimate was calculated a year ago, when the owners were first looking at this project.

The owners of the businesses on that block have agreed to pay the approximately $20,000 required to get the other funding.

The second project was to redo the sidewalks around Lincoln-McKinley Primary School.

This project, according to Steinmetz, should cost $64,000, with the Havre Public Schools paying the nearly $9,000 match.

The last project is to redo the sidewalks and drainage next to the North Central Senior Citizens Center, to stop the collection of water. When frozen, it can be a hazard.

This project should cost $18,500.

When voting on the projects, Councilman Allen "Woody" Woodwick asked to vote on them individually, since he wasn't sure about the Atrium project.

"I have a problem with spending CTEP funds on private property, " Woodwick said. "It's laid out in ordinance, and they've made it clear that they don't want the city involved in their business. "

Other council members were more supportive.

"I have always felt that a city should take care of its sidewalks, " Councilwoman Pam Hillery said.

Councilman Cal Long said that it would show taxes doing some good, in this time of tax-related controversies.

All of the project proposals passed. The latter two passed unanimously. Council members Woodwick and Andrew Brekke voted against the Atrium sidewalks.

The total cost of all of the approved projects is $231,200, of the city's $273,000 CTEP funds.

Steinmetz said that the city could probably expect $60,000 to be added to that fund sometime this summer.

Improved sidewalks should be coming to different parts of Havre in the next year.

Havre City Council approved three projects for the Community Transportation Enhancement Program, all of which were for sidewalk renovation.

Krystal Steinmetz of Bear Paw Development Corp. told the Council that three of the projects were submitted with estimates and pleges for the nearly 14 percent match that the program requires.

The first project discussed was to fix the sidewalks around the Atrium Mall downtown, between 2nd and 3rd streets and 2nd and 3rd avenues.

Steinmetz said the project should cost about $148,700. That estimate was calculated a year ago, when the owners were first looking at this project.

The owners of the businesses on that block have agreed to pay the approximately $20,000 required to get the other funding.

The second project was to redo the sidewalks around Lincoln-McKinley Primary School.

This project, according to Steinmetz, should cost $64,000, with the Havre Public Schools paying the nearly $9,000 match.

The last project is to redo the sidewalks and drainage next to the North Central Senior Citizens Center, to stop the collection of water. When frozen, it can be a hazard.

This project should cost $18,500.

When voting on the projects, Councilman Allen "Woody" Woodwick asked to vote on them individually, since he wasn't sure about the Atrium project.

"I have a problem with spending CTEP funds on private property, " Woodwick said. "It's laid out in ordinance, and they've made it clear that they don't want the city involved in their business. "

Other council members were more supportive.

"I have always felt that a city should take care of its sidewalks, " Councilwoman Pam Hillery said.

Councilman Cal Long said that it would show taxes doing some good, in this time of tax-related controversies.

All of the project proposals passed. The latter two passed unanimously. Council members Woodwick and Andrew Brekke voted against the Atrium sidewalks.

The total cost of all of the approved projects is $231,200, of the city's $273,000 CTEP funds.

Steinmetz said that the city could probably expect $60,000 to be added to that fund sometime this summer.