So far, the deer are winning.

Recently, the cities of Burns and Hines declared the urban deer a nuisance and are considering seeking kill permits from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in an effort to eliminate or decrease the urban deer population.

ODFW would likely issue each city a kill permit for 25 deer the first year. The pursuing of, killing, transporting, and processing of deer would be at the sole expense of the city. The processing expense alone is estimated at $150 to $250 per deer.

Since the cities have declared deer a nuisance, both sides of the debate have attended council meetings to share their opinions. To get a better idea of how most residents feel about the urban deer, the two cities have sent out surveys.

The surveys have three options for residents to choose from:

1) I don’t consider the town deer a nuisance and choose to live with the deer we have. (Spend money on other projects within the city such as roads, water system, etc.)

2) I consider the town deer a nuisance, but don’t want them to be killed at this time. (Spend money on other projects within the city such as roads, water system, etc.)

3) I consider the town deer a nuisance, and want the city to use tax-payer money to carry out the pursuing, killing, transportation, and processing of the town deer.

At the Burns City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 8, City Manager Dauna Wensenk reported that 110 people selected option 1, 43 chose option 2, and 48 were in favor of the third option. She added that six of the returned surveys featured residents’ own ideas. The surveys are arriving at city hall, and an update will be provided at the next meeting.

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Wensenk asked for volunteers to help out with the cleanup day set for Saturday, May 18. Residents will be able to take yard debris to C&B Sanitary Service from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for free. Allowable yard debris includes grass, leaves, limbs, branches, or untreated wood. If brought in bags, the debris must be emptied from the bags.

No fencing, railroad ties, wood siding, pressure-treated lumber, plywood, or anything containing glues will be allowed. Also refrain from dumping garbage, household items, metal, appliances, or electronics.

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Regarding the current vacancy on the council, Wensenk said the city has received one letter of interest.

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Burns Fire Chief Scott Williamson invited the council to attend the second annual Firewise Day, which was held May 11 at the Big R parking lot. The event is held to teach people about the importance of maintaining defensible spaces around their homes. Around 400 people attended last year.

Williamson said there weren’t as many wildland fire calls last year, and he likes to think that information provided during the Firewise Day event helped in that regard.

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Roy Crafts of the Public Works Department reported that there was a breach at the sewer lagoon dike on May 3. A temporary patch was applied, and they dumped the chlorinated water into a field to lower the water level so they could put a permanent patch in place.

Crafts added that the department has also been busy patching potholes on city streets.

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In other business:

• the council voted to award the cemetery maintenance contract to Big Ridge Construction LLC to be paid at $40 an hour and to not exceed $68,000. The contract also includes a provision to allow for renting equipment from the city as needed;

• Burns Police Chief Newt SkunkCap said, with the warmer weather, more people are out and about at night. He reminded residents to take possessions out of their vehicles and keep their doors locked. He also reported that Officer Brennan Pilon is leaving the Burns Police Department to join Oregon State Police. SkunkCap and the council thanked Pilon for his service to the city, and wished him well in his new position;

• the council approved Resolution 19-668 declaring certain city equipment to be surplus property, and indicating the intent and method for the disposal of the surplus property. The surplus includes a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado with about 55,173 miles, a 1997 Jeep Sport Cherokee, 1978 GMC dump truck, 1983 International dump truck, a street sweeper, and a pick-up sander;

• applications for a new city manager will be accepted until May 15. So far, two applications have been received. On May 17, the search committee will review all applications. If there are no qualified applicants, the search will be reopened.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at city hall.