by Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

With the resignation of Gary Estep, the Burns City Council has a vacant seat once again.

At a special meeting of the council on Oct. 30, Estep announced he was resigning from the council, and on Nov. 13, the council voted to accept his resignation. In his resignation letter to the council, Estep thanked the city for the opportunity to serve on the council for the past two years, and wrote that he hoped to have the opportunity to serve again when he has more time to give to the position.

Anyone interested in filling the vacancy on the council may submit a letter of interest to city hall.

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The council meeting on Nov. 13 was the final meeting for Dauna Wensenk in her official capacity as city manager. After 38 years of working for the city, Wensenk announced she would be retiring Nov. 17. To fill the position, the council voted to hire an interim city manager for a six-month period while it conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Wensenk agreed to assist the interim city manager when needed.

Dennis Davis has been hired to fill the interim city manager position, and the council approved the employment agreement with Davis. Davis will begin his new position Nov. 18, at a salary of $5,000 per month.

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Diana Davis of the U.S. Forest Service announced that the Emigrant Creek Ranger District opened up an area of felled trees to the public for cutting firewood. She said there are about 1,000 cords of wood in the area, and a special permit is required to remove the wood. The cost is $1 per cord with a minimum of five cords, and a maximum of 100 cords per household. The permits expire Dec. 31, but the project may be continued into 2020 if there is a need.

She noted that those interested may drive right up to the firewood to load it, and there are no size limits on the cut wood. The trees were cut down last spring.

Permits and a map of the area are available at the Emigrant Creek and Blue Mountain Ranger District offices.

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Becky Cunningham of Rimrock Recycling was present at the meeting to ask for assistance with the recycling center. She stated they are still in business, but cash flow is still a concern.

She said they have applied for a grant with the Department of Environmental Quality to purchase 24 more bins for cardboard, but are still waiting to hear from them.

When asked what kind of assistance the city could provide, she answered that either a financial donation or volunteer help would benefit the business, as well as public awareness and participation.

Cunningham said recyclables such as cardboard, milk jugs, cans and bottles, baling twine, electronics, and appliances are always welcome.

Rimrock Recycling is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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In other business:

• the council approved the street right-of-way vacation for Nolan and Dedra Giesbrecht of Juniper Cookhouse;

• Wensenk stated that the Washington Park restroom project should have been completed by Nov. 4, and the matter has been turned over to the city’s legal counsel;

• it was announced that the 2019 Street Project was completed. The work crew did have to come back and perform more work in some areas, as it didn’t conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that has been taken care of;

• the council approved Resolution No. 19-675 declaring certain equipment owned by the city to be surplus property and indicating the intent and method for the disposal of the surplus property;

• Wensenk thanked the city and council for her 38 years of service, and said the city has great department heads and employees as a whole. She also noted that, in the past several years, there has been great collaboration with the county and the city of Hines on issues the communities are facing, such as a lack of housing and the flood plain.

At the end of the meeting, the council thanked Wensenk for her many years as a city employee.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at city hall.