Task force considered

by Lindy Williams
Burns Times-Herald

In its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 12, the Hines Common Council discussed the possibility of implementing a task force for researching various marijuana ordinances and regulations. The task force would include citizens of Hines and would make recommendations to the council.

This task force would contemplate zoning laws, as well as distances from school zones, day cares, and public parks when drafting and creating ordinances.

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Kylee Murphy, whose property is near the proposed growing site, began the public comment period by handing out pamphlets for the council to read concerning the difficulties that marijuana businesses still face when depositing funds into banks.

She also thanked Administrator Judy Erwin for looking into some of her previous concerns and stated that she “really hoped that this task force thing works.”

Murphy then stated that, despite the press release that ran in the Burns Times-Herald last week concerning newly passed legislation that would allow marijuana businesses to safely deposit money, she found multiple articles online stating they couldn’t use banks.

The new legislation, passed on June 16, states: “The amendment, passed as part of the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, would prevent federal banking regulators from prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging a bank from providing financial services to a legitimate state-sanctioned and regulated marijuana business. The amendment passed 16-14.”

This new legislation will now be sent to the Senate floor for a vote, then merged with a counterpart bill from the U.S. House of Representatives before it can be turned into law.

Murphy stated that she still had concerns about money laundering, despite the new legislation being passed.

“There is no electronic way to do it; it all has to be cash…The joke in the article is that you have to pay your taxes in a gym bag. But it’s true, that’s the way it goes on right now,” Murphy said. She also mentioned violent crime rates in Colorado centered around marijuana-based monies.

The quote she mentioned was in reference to Senator Jeff Merkley’s comment concerning the reasons behind the newly passed legislation.

“The federal government should not be forcing Oregon’s legal marijuana businesses to carry gym bags full of cash to pay their taxes, employees and bills,” he said.

Murphy admitted that the issue would have to be dealt with on a federal level; but for now, she was concerned about the banks.

She said that the citizens of Hines had no way to say “no” to opting in or out, and she would like to see it on the November ballot. She then asked what the process would be to get the opting proposal on the ballot. Administrator Erwin said she would look into the process for petitioning to include the proposal in the ballot.

Mayor Nikki Morgan acknowledged that they had to make difficult decisions when it came to bringing funding into Hines. She stated that they researched the marijuana laws extensively before voting. Morgan emphasized that the choice was not made hastily or easily. She also stated that there had been meetings for public comment concerning the bill. But, ultimately, the council found no other options for funding much-needed repairs to the city.

“We are looking at the revenue side,” Morgan said.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with trying to find out the process for putting it on the ballot, and I don’t think it’s inappropriate for us to be asking our constituents how to go about this issue,” Councilor Loren Emang stated.

Eldon Hart agreed that the issue should go to a vote.

Councilor Ron Williams stated that the council is taking the implementation of the Hines grow house “one step at a time,” but that they didn’t want to miss an opportunity for funding by not having their foot in the door.

“We as a council were elected for this position by the city to make decisions; good, bad, or otherwise… We’re here to make tough decisions as well as easy ones. Some good, some bad. We look at it, as a council, to invest interest down the road. Not to turn the city of Hines into a big marijuana fest, but as a legitimate business that brings in revenue,” he said

Williams then stated that there would be multiple state-monitored laws, requirements, qualifications, and specifications that the growing operation would have to abide by to even operate.

Emang stated that the council should work on educating the public about the benefits of the proposed marijuana growing business.

Morgan cited the decades of research done on the downfalls of alcohol and tobacco usage, yet the city still deems it acceptable to receive revenue from these businesses.

Rene Scoresby questioned whether a 3 percent tax on marijuana would be enough to fund the law enforcement associated with implementing marijuana.

Chief Ryan DeLange stated that the legal dispensary price of marijuana in Washington was 10 times higher than the street price, and increasing the tax even higher would drive the trade further underground.

Councilor Diane Rapaport asked DeLange to confer with the Bend police chief about any increased crime rates they’ve experienced with retail marijuana establishments.

She also expressed her doubts about marijuana seriously affecting the crime rate in Hines when the city already struggles with methamphetimine problems.

DeLange said there is a marijuana problem in the youth population.

The council then discussed the various ways this problem could be dealt with.

“Can we have a public meeting and see what kind of position we have from the city of Hines?” Williams asked.

Councilor Hilda Allison said: “I think that’s fair [to put the issue to a vote], but I think the people who have been here the longest have seen the terrible struggle with trying to come up with funding to keep our city as beautiful as it is.”

“It’s not just for beautification, we have pipes that are 80- and 90-years-old. We have pipes thats patches are being patched,” Morgan said. She also stated that there are issues with the water system and water towers, and the city does not have the funds for the repairs needed.

“So we’re going to bring pot in?” Murphy asked.

“Do you have any other ideas? Do you have better ideas? If you do, bring them in,” Councilor Allison said.

As a suggestion, Murphy stated that she’d seen the council donate to various groups in the community. She suggested they use this budget to help with maintenance.

Rapaport commented that the donations to the community came from a small budget designated for donations. She believed that the budget was less than $1,000.

The council stated that the donations are minimal, and they felt it was their responsibility to give back to the community.

Morgan finished the discussion by stating that the marijuana issues are still a work in progress and that tough decisions had to be made.

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Fire Chief Bob Spence reported that all had been quiet. He added that the fire department received a $14,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry. This grant will go toward purchasing firefighting equipment, wild-land firefighting jumpsuits, and maintaining two older fire engines.

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Acting Public Works Superintendent Jerry Lewellen said the lagoons appeared to be in good shape, but they dropped six to seven inches.

He stated that both bathrooms in the public park were vandalized. The toilets had parts dismantled, and rocks and garbage were stuffed inside. The public works staff cleaned out the garbage, reassembled the toilets, and returned them to working order by Monday morning.

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DeLange reported that the Fourth of July weekend was quiet with no DUIIs or accidental fires. He stated that domestic violence reports were down, while other assaults had increased. DeLange stated that dog complaints and dogs running at large were still a big issue for the city.

He said Officer Marc Novak had been doing well, and he was pleased with the decision to hire him. DeLange reported that Novak made a methamphetimine arrest four days after starting with the force.

He stated that public support after national incidents of police violence had been greatly appreciated.

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In other business, the council:

• passed Resolution 2219 — a resolution calling for an election on Nov. 8, 2016, to refer to the voters of the city of Hines, a 3 percent tax on retail sales of recreational marijuana in the city of Hines, and adopting a ballot title and explanatory statement — was read. The motion was carried unanimously;

• approved Ordinance No. 313 — an ordinance amending the Hines municipal code by adding chapter 5.40, recreational tax — was read. The motion carried unanimously;

• agreed to review Jeff Graham’s lease proposal presented at the last meeting. Graham presented a business license application for Grase Communications, doing business as Miwave.

Graham also presented a letter of cooperation between Grase Communications/Miwave and Harney County ESD whose equipment is also on the water tower that Miwave hopes to use, explaining that they will work together so that they do not interfere with the operation of the other system;

• reviewed a donation request received from Harney County Fair, Rodeo and Racemeet for $170 to sponsor the Red S Memorial Buckle. The council approved the donation;

• approved a request for the city administrator to attend the EFCN Asset Management Workshop for Small Water System, a free workshop to be held in Eugene on Aug. 25;

• heard from Administrator Erwin who said she was approached by two young men who wanted to know if they could attempt to raise funds for improvements to the skate park, in cooperation with the city of Hines;

The council asked her to inform the youths that the improvements would be very expensive and the work extensive, but the council was willing to work with them if the funds were raised.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at city hall.