For the past several months, there has been a difference of opinion on what to do with the deer that roam through the community. Some residents regard them as part of the community, while others perceive them as pests or a nuisance. Both sides of the discussion have voiced their opinions at public meetings, although that only provided a small sampling of the residents. To reach more of a consensus on what should be done, if anything, the city of Hines will mail a survey to city residents.

At its meeting on Tuesday, April 9, the Hines Common Council voted in favor of sending the surveys out with the water bills at the end of April. Once residents check their preferred option (from the three provided), they will be asked to sign the surveys, provide an address, and return them to city hall.

Two or three councilors will tally the surveys, and the results will be announced at a council meeting.

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With several of the city streets in dire need of repair, the council discussed how to address the problem and reviewed a list of streets that were identified as highest need.

City Administrator Kirby Letham told the council that it could get the engineering firm Anderson Perry to perform a study of the streets and lay out a plan for repair and maintenance at a cost of $10,000 to $12,000.

Councilor Ron Williams pointed out that doing an overlay and crack sealing on streets would make the dollars go farther than completely tearing the streets up and putting in new asphalt.

The council agreed that a long-range plan would be beneficial to the city, and Mayor Nikki Morgan said it would also help the city when it applies for grants and other funds.

The city already received grants for street repair, but that money has to be spent on specific streets as outlined in the grant proposal.

Letham said he will contact Anderson Perry about putting together a 10-year plan and report back to the council.

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The council discussed the cost of the fire department providing fire suppression in rural areas. The rural fire subscription program that is currently in place allows rural residents to pay $100 a year for fire suppression, but that doesn’t cover the costs to the city.

Letham said the city of Burns is looking at implementing a sliding scale, basing the fee on the assessed value of the property, rather than a flat fee. He stated that the city of Hines has three options — do nothing and leave the fee as it is; follow Burns’ lead of using a sliding scale; or the council can come up with its own plan.

Hines Fire Chief Bob Spence said, although it has never happened, there may be a time when the fire department responds to a rural fire and then there is a fire call in town. Spence stated that he makes sure the city is always covered, as that is the priority, and it is the town residents who are paying the taxes. He also mentioned that rural residents are paying less for fire insurance because the cities do respond to calls outside city limits.

It was brought up that a fire district could be formed for rural areas, but that would only happen by a vote of the people as it would be a new taxing district.

Letham said he will do more research on possible fee increases and the council could vote on it at a later meeting.

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Letham told the council he was working with the county and city of Burns to make an application to the University of Oregon program Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE). Letham said the cost of the intern to administer the program would be $23,500. The cities and county are putting in a grant application to the Ford Family Foundation for $10,000, then the remainder of the cost would be split among the three entities.

The intern would be asked to look at the current planning and permitting processes and determine how they could be streamlined; perform a study on emergency services to recommend better coordination among the cities and county; and conduct a study on the viability of an ordinance officer.

Letham added that the coordination among emergency services is not a consolidation effort.

He said the three entities are still looking at the proposal, and if the grant request is unsuccessful, the city of Hines will not go through with the program.

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In other business:

• Letham stated that he is sending letters to residents regarding nuisance violations, and he hopes the residents clean up the violations so the city doesn’t have to take further steps. He said there is also a group working on the feasibility of a Silvies River levee to help with flooding in the city of Burns. The goal of the group is to determine what can be done to alleviate the flooding, which could retract some of the land that is currently in the flood plain;

• the council voted to donate $125 to the Diamonds in a Glass fundraiser for Kids Club of Harney County;

• Hines Police Chief Ryan DeLange reported that his department received 67 calls in the past month, including domestic violence and break-ins. He reminded residents to lock their vehicles and residences. He said there has been some flooding already, and it is probably going to get worse as there is still a lot of snow in the higher elevations;

• Acting Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Lewellen reported that the lift station serving the south end of town was repaired and is working well. He also noted that, because of the recent precipitation, they pumped water out of the lagoon into the overflow;

• the council proposed holding a spring clean-up day in May for residents to take yard debris and metal to C&B Sanitary. Volunteers would be needed on that day to help out. Letham said he will check with C&B about the proposal;

• Mayor Morgan noted that the playground equipment at the park needs some attention. It was suggested that improving the equipment at the park would be a good project for an Eagle Scout hopeful;

• prior to the regular meeting, the budget committee held its first meeting.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at city hall.