Council panel favors plans to renovate softball fields

Havre City Council is poised to spend $77,356 to help the Havre Softball Association make renovations to its slowpitch complex.

The remaining CTEP program money the city will receive, $50,644, will go to help Hill County pay for major repairs to the landmark county courthouse building.

The county had asked for $100,000 for the project.

The city’s Streets and Sidewalks Committee is proposing that the softball field renovations have priority. City Council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight to decide whether to go along with the committee’s recommendation.

The softball field renovations will include new walkways and many other upgrades.

Association officials have said they hope to attract more tournaments, including possibly a state tournament that would bring many people to town.

The long-running CTEP program comes to an end this year. The federal money has been forwarded to the city through the state.

The softball association and the county were the only two groups to seek funds from the city this year.

County Commissioner Mark Peterson asked council earlier this year to allocate $100,000 to the courthouse repairs.

The county has allocated all of its CTEP money for the courthouse and has put away some money over the years for the project, but still came up $100,000 short, Peterson said.