Council to begin long treks tonight

The Havre City Council agenda tonight doesn't list any large actions, but makes small steps down three long paths.

The first action will amend the city's budget to allow city-wide tree survey to begin, freeing up funds from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Urban Community Forestry grant.

Havre Parks and Recreation Director Chris Inman told the council when it approved the grant last November that the city hasn't catalogued the city's trees in nearly 20 years. The survey will help assess how healthy and numerous the city's trees are.

Then the council will amend their contract with the engineers at Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services in Great Falls, "for the preparation of an Environmental Report for the" $8 million wastewater treatment system upgrade being developed.

The last beginning on the agenda is for the council to vote on joining the conversation among the members of the Vibrant Futures Consortium, a group funded by a $1.5 million Department of Housing and Urban Development grant secured by Opportunity Link last year.

The consortium will consist of dozens of groups from 11 counties, from Glacier to Phillips and down to Judith Basin, including city, county and tribal governments, that will collaborate on laying the tracks for the region's future.

The consortium will be gathering and verifying data over the summer and holding several meetings with community members in the fall to discuss what should be done.