Operation would be allowed from October to May 

With the winter season upon us, the Hines Common Council is ready to allow all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to operate on city streets.

City Administrator Kirby Letham reviewed Ordinance 322, also referred to as “The ATV Ordinance,” and said that several citizens asked for permission to drive on city streets so they can plow snow when the need arises. Letham said ATVs would be allowed to cross state highways according to regulations, and they must obey all traffic laws.

The ordinance defines what type of ATV would be allowed. It also requires operators of the ATVs to have a valid driver’s license, an ATV-operating permit, and be at least 18 years old. The ordinance also states that the vehicle must be insured, and operators must follow safety rules (such as wearing seat belts and helmets). Additionally, the ordinance states that operation of ATVs on city streets is allowed only during daylight hours, and it defines penalties (such as fines) for violations.

Hines Police Chief Ryan DeLange stated that he is in favor of the ordinance, as residents need to plow snow, but both he and the council expressed concerns about ATVs on the streets during the warmer months of the year. Councilor Dan Grigg suggested that the ordinance limit the operation of ATVs on city streets from October to May. The council agreed to put the operating limits into the ordinance, and will vote on it at the next meeting.

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The council is looking into participating in the certified local government (CLG) program to promote historic preservation at the local level. It is a federal program (National Park Service) that is administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

By taking part in the CLG program, cities may apply for annual grants from SHPO to be used for preservation activities.

To take part in the CLG program, the city first has to establish a commission and appoint members, then pass an ordinance to address historic preservation issues.

Letham said the council has to decide if it wants to be a quasi-judicial body or an advisory body for the program. He then deferred to former City Administrator Judy Erwin to explain the difference.

Erwin stated that if the council decides to go the quasi-judicial route, then it would be up to the legislative body to decide if a home or other structure would be included in a historic designation.

If the council decided to just be an advisory body, then the appointed commission would designate the properties eligible for historic designation, and the council would act as an appeals board.

“You either make the decision or you become the appeals board to the decisions made by whoever you appoint to that committee,” Erwin said. “So first of all, you need to decide if you’re going to be quasi-judicial or advisory, then you would have to select the elected official and a decision-making body to appoint that historic landmark commission.”

If a property owner doesn’t want a historic designation, they can appeal and opt out.

Erwin added that the historic designation isn’t limited to just buildings. It could also include water towers, the big slide at Hines Park, and the smokestack at the former mill site.

The council will continue to look at the program and make a decision in the future.

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Letham reported that a structural engineer would be looking at the condition of the old water tower in Hines to determine whether it would be too costly or unsafe to remain standing. If it is unsafe, the engineer will give a recommendation on taking it down. Letham said the city is also trying to determine how to drain the tower at this point.

Construction on a new water tower is expected to begin in the spring as part of the water system master plan, and it will be located up the hill from the existing tower.

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Letham said he attended the most recent Community Response Team meeting, and Greg Smith of the Harney County Economic Development Office recommended that the cities and the county come up with “one ask” from the entities, between one million and four million dollars, that he could present to the state legislature. Letham said it was unanimous that the “ask” be for the maximum four million dollars for the purpose of bringing broadband to the area.

“Everybody in that meeting felt like, in our day and age, having broadband here is crucial because that would be attractive for businesses to come here,” Letham said.

He stated that one study showed it would cost $44 million to bring broadband into the entire county, and Erwin added that right now the emphasis is on getting broadband into Burns and Hines.

Letham said the city is also looking at housing needs, and he has been working on codifying and reformatting the Hines Comprehensive Plan.

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Pat Brewster, a resident  of Burns, approached the council to talk about the urban deer population.

In a prepared statement, Brewster said she wanted it to be clear that her remarks were not an attack on the Oregon department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). She stated that ODFW took ownership of the deer when they tagged and released them, only to find it did not work, and at that point, they washed their hands of responsibility after failure.

She referred to Senate Bill (SB) 373, which requires the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt a pilot program for urban deer control, and stated the cost of the program is put on towns and counties if they want to reduce deer populations.

Brewster said state taxes already pay for ODFW, and asked why residents are being asked to pay again for the pilot program.

Brewster suggested that funding could be used to provide fencing for residents who want to protect their property from deer. She said the papers she has read state that hazing, sterilization, and removal of deer are not viable solutions, and fencing should be available for those who want it.

Later in the meeting, the council approved a resolution declaring deer a public nuisance and requesting ODFW’s assistance in reducing the deer population, per SB 373.

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In other business, Chief DeLange reported domestic violence calls have been up, which seems to be a trend during the holiday season.

He said there will be saturation patrols out on New Year’s Eve to cut down on driving under the influence of intoxicants and distracted driving.

DeLange also reported that Alan Johnson was promoted to chief of police for the Burns Paiute Tribe and said he is looking forward to working with Johnson;

• Hines Fire Chief Bob Spence told the council December has been a much quieter month than November, going from 22 calls down to seven, including assisting Burns Fire Department at a fire in Lawen;

• the council approved a $50 donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Bend;

• Mayor Nikki Morgan presented out-going councilors John Mims, Diane Rapaport, and Dan Grigg with certificates and thanked them for their civil service.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at city hall.