Hines Police Chief Ryan DeLange welcomes Parker Hetherwick to the police force. Hetherwick has been employed by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office in Mountain Home, Idaho, since 2016, but has worked for both the Harney County Sheriff’s Office and the Burns Paiute Tribe in past years. Chief Delange said he is excited to have Hetherwick join the team, adding, ‘It is nice to have someone that knows the area and how we work and can jump right in.’ Hetherwick and his wife, Sabrina, said they are glad to be in the area and serving the people of Hines, Burns, and Harney County. (Submitted photo)

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After several months of discussion and polls, the issue of what to do about the urban deer population is still unsettled.

At the Hines Common Council meeting on May 28, the council looked at the poll numbers to see if they would provide a solution agreeable to all, or at least the majority.

City Administrator Kirby Letham provided the council with results from the online poll and the paper survey conducted in Hines.

In the online poll, there were 135 respondents from Hines. Of those, 79 respondents (58.52 percent) voted to have the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) move forward with a population control program; and 56 respondents (41.48 percent) voted no to the ODFW program. The 135 respondents comprise 8.65 percent of the Hines population.

A total of 127 Burns residents voted online, with 69 yes votes (54.33 percent) and 58 no votes (45.67 percent). The 127 respondents make up 4.49 percent of the city’s population.

There were also 33 county residents who responded, with 18 voting yes (54.55 percent) and 15 no votes (45.45 percent).

Totals respondents were 295, with 166 yes votes (56.27 percent) and 129 no votes (43.73 percent).

Numbers on the Hines paper survey were markedly different. There were three options to choose from on the paper survey:

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.

There were 700 surveys mailed out, with 277 respondents (39.57 percent). Of those, 141 voted for the first option, 70 selected the second option, and 66 chose the third option.

Councilor Gary Miller told the council that, if you add in the numbers from the paper survey in Burns, there were 292 voting for the first option, 127 for option number two, and 131 for the third option.

Miller also noted that the mule deer numbers, provided by ODFW, show the deer population is down. He said ODFW likes to have a ratio of 30 to 35 fawns per 100 deer each season, but this year the ratio is down to 20 to 22 per 100.

Mayor Nikki Morgan said some residents told the city that they thought the paper survey was biased, and it was pointed out that the majority of residents didn’t vote.

“Does this mean we keep playing this game?” Councilor Duane Hutchins asked. “We have more important things to worry about financially in this city than some deer running around.” He added that the surveys were sent out to residents and stated that if they didn’t vote, “They don’t care.”

The council agreed that the polls weren’t 100 percent accurate, as the majority of town residents didn’t vote, and discussed putting the issue on the ballot during a general election.

Letham suggested tabling the issue and continuing to explore other options to control the deer population, and the council agreed.

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At its meeting on May 14, the council discussed implementing a fuel tax within the city with all proceeds dedicated to repairing and maintaining the city streets.

Letham explained that to put in a fuel tax, the city would have to draw up a new ordinance and then refer the ordinance to the voters. If the council submitted a ballot for a special election, the cost would be $3,500 to $5,000. If it were to be on a general election ballot, there would be no cost to the city. The council would also have to determine the amount of a fuel tax to be on the ballot.

Hutchins said he doesn’t want to spend money on a special election, and waiting until the general election would give the council more time to work out the details.

The fuel tax would provide the city with a stable income for street work, but it could also hurt the gas stations in town.

The council instructed Letham to find out what the state charges for administrating the tax and report back to the council before a decision is made.

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In other business:

• members of the Burns High School Key Club presented a $5,000 check to the council to be used for new playground equipment at the city park. The council agreed to a funding match, and the equipment was expected to be shipped out within eight to 12 days;

• the council approved a new fee schedule for the Rural Fire Suppression Program. The new fee will cost subscribers $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed value on the structure. The new fee has been implemented to cover the costs of responding to rural fires;

• the budget board approved a budget of $2,607,705.30 for fiscal year 2019-2020;

• Letham reported that 44 residents took advantage of the clean-up day on May 18. Residents could take yard debris to C&B Sanitary Service at no charge.

Letham also told the council that the speed limit is expected to go down south of the city limit to get drivers to slow down entering the city;

• the council approved a donation to the Kiwanis fireworks in the same amount as the previous year, and a $150 donation to the Meal program at the Harney County Senior and Community services center;

• the council approved sending out a Request for Bid (RFB) for improvements to Roe Davis Avenue. A second RFB will go out for work on West Hanley in the near future.

A subsequent council meeting was held Tuesday, June 11, at city hall.