Ken Patterson and Paul Woodworth of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) attended the Burns City Council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 22, to ask the council whether it would be in favor of changing West Monroe Street (U.S. Highway 20/395) from four lanes to three in conjunction with the sidewalk project that’s being planned for construction next year. The affected area would be from the stoplight on North Broadway to one block west of Safeway.

Patterson added that ODOT is also looking at possibly changing the highway from four lanes to three all the way from North Broadway to Burns High School for safety reasons. He explained that project would be part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for the 2021-2024 time frame.

Patterson said ODOT was reaching out to the city council and the community to get their input because ODOT doesn’t want to program a project that doesn’t have community support.

The city previously asked about installing a crosswalk on the Safeway block during next year’s sidewalk project. Woodworth said that to do that, ODOT would put in a rapid flash beacon, and that would require a pedestrian refuge area for safety reasons. The refuge area is a slightly raised concrete island in the roadway with an additional push-button signal on it. In order to install the island, the roadway would have to be three-lanes as four-lanes wouldn’t allow the visibility or the island needed for pedestrian safety.

As for the larger proposed project of changing all four-lane to three-lane, Patterson said it has worked in reducing crashes in other cities. La Grande saw a 45 percent reduction, Hines a 49 percent reduction, and Baker City a 35 percent reduction on crashes and a 44 percent reduction in injury crashes.

Patterson said by having a center lane (three-lane), it provides a vehicle with a safe spot to make a left turn without slowing the traffic flow, and also a safe spot for vehicles turning left on to the roadway. He noted that three lanes would also help vehicles stay in their lane in the area of the S-curve near Figaro’s.

The council expressed concerns about large trucks making the corner and congestion at the North Broadway intersection, as well as congestion near the high school.

Patterson and Woodworth both stressed the fact that they were talking about two different, but related, projects. If the city wanted to install a rapid flash beacon near Safeway, that section of road would have to be converted to three lanes. ODOT could then do a test of three lanes out to the high school by restriping the road. The timing of the traffic signals would also have to be adjusted.

Woodworth went on to say that if the council decided not to put in a crosswalk with rapid flash beacon during the sidewalk project, that could be done later if the city decides to go with three lanes all the way through town.

The council decided not to install the beacon during the sidewalk project, and ODOT will host a community meeting at a later date to receive input on the three-lane proposal.

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Prior to the regular meeting, the council held a workshop to discuss the Local Improvement District (LID) fund and what the money could be used for.

Curt Blackburn, who was on the council at the time the LID fund was created, told the council the fund was intended to help with infrastructure in the city. The plan was for the city to install water and sewer, and improve streets, and the residents in those areas would be assessed a fee for a number of years to pay the fund back, creating a revolving fund for expansion. As the local economy slowed however, the fund sat unused for years.

At a previous meeting, Luke Hemphill asked the council for a loan, from the LID fund, to be used to improve buildings on North Broadway.

Councilor Forrest Keady said he would like to see the fund used for economic development. It was explained that the fund couldn’t be used in that manner because the way the ordinance was written didn’t allow for that.

City Manager Dauna Wensenk said the council could abolish the current ordinance and create a new ordinance.

Councilor Dennis Davis cautioned the council about making loans, explaining the risks of doing so.

Keady suggested the council invite Greg Smith of the Harney County Economic Development Office to attend a meeting and possibly provide insight into using the fund for economic development.

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City Manager Wensenk reported that residents have been cleaning up around their properties and she thanked them for their cooperation. She added that several letters have gone out regarding nuisance vegetation and reminded residents they are also responsible to keep vegetation in the right-of-way cut down or removed.

Wensenk said the city has received complaints about travel trailers parking on city streets. She said she has visited with the trailer owners about the situation.

The council also reviewed a decision it made previously to allow a miniature horse to be kept in town. One of the restrictions was that the owner had to erect a fence that had not been completed in the alloted time frame. Wensenk said she would send a letter out to let the horse’s owner know she was out of compliance with the agreement.

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In other business:

• Patricia Smith asked the council to allow her to use a camp trailer as an extra bedroom on a semi-permanent basis. The council denied the request;

• Airport managers Walt and Pat Sitz reported July was a good month for fuel sales. In July of last year, the airport reported 18,000 gallons of jet fuel were sold, and the amount this year was 17,000 gallons. The numbers are down for August however, with 22,000 gallons sold last year compared to 7,000 so far this month. Wild fires in the area last year contributed to higher sales, plus this year, the smoke has reduced traffic at the airport;

• Councilor Liz Appelman wanted to recognize the emergency personnel who responded to the tragic crashes the previous week. She said it couldn’t have been easy for them to deal with the situation, and wanted them to know they are appreciated and have the community’s support.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, at city hall.