The search for a new city manager for the city of Burns is proceeding on schedule.

At the Burns Council meeting on June 26, Burns Mayor Jerry Woodfin reported that the search committee narrowed the search down to five applicants. The city will conduct interviews with the five applicants on July 12, and make a decision from there.

The city will also notify the unsuccessful applicants.

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City Manager Dauna Wensenk reported that more than 20 letters were sent to residents regarding nuisance violations, and some citations were issued.

Wensenk said work on the Highway 20/395 street project was under way, and workers started pouring concrete on Grand Street.

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Burns Fire Chief Scott Williamson told the council that his department responded to 14 emergency calls. He noted that, with the summer season upon us, the amount of traffic is picking up, leading to more accidents. Williamson said there were four traffic crashes in just the past week, including a double-fatality. He encouraged the public to watch their speed and watch for other vehicles.

Williamson also mentioned that burning restrictions would go into effect July 1. That means no open burning, but recreational burning in back yards will still be allowed.

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Officer Jeff Brewer of the Burns Police Department told the council that the department is looking to purchase a new vehicle. He stated that it’s been nine and a half years since the department bought a new vehicle. The department has some previously-owned vehicles that were either purchased or given to the city, but they are starting to have problems because of the number of miles being put on them.

Brewer said the department is looking into a lease program through Emergency Response Services (ERS) in Idaho. He added that he received quotes from both ERS and Burns Garage, and has not heard back from a third company on a quote.

Along with the vehicle itself, the lease program offered by ERS could include all the equipment to go into the vehicle, along with other needed equipment, such as Tasers and body-cams. The lease could run anywhere from three to six years, and at the end of the lease, the vehicle could be purchased for $1.

Due to the amount of the purchase, Wensenk said three different quotes must be brought before the council.

Following a discussion on how the vehicle would be paid for, Brewer was asked to do more research and report back to the council.

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A public hearing was held during the meeting to provide information to the public regarding the city’s intent to apply to the USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities program to complete a water system master plan that will address planning needs for the community for the next 20 years.

Wensenk said the council held a workshop earlier in the year to address the water master plan, and she then reviewed the information discussed in the workshop, including the preliminary cost estimate for the water system improvement project of $5 million to $5.5 million. Potential funding sources, such as loans and grants, were also discussed.

The application for the water master plan will be in the amount of $30,000.

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In other business, the council:

• approved a resolution setting the rates for water and sewer services provided by the city, pursuant to the water and sewer ordinances;

• approved the budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 in the amount of $5,801,774.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at city hall.