by Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Brandon Mahon of Anderson Perry attended the Hines Common Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, to give the council an update on the water system improvement project.

Mahon said, currently, there is environmental work being done, permitting is under way, archaeologists are in town digging shovel test pits, and design development.

Plans include a new 800,000-gallon reservoir to be placed on the hill in the area of the existing water tower. Mahon said the project is a major improvement to the distribution system, so the new reservoir is a key component to that. The project also includes work on two of the city’s wells, such as upgrades to the buildings, electrical control work, and work on the existing south water reservoir. Mahon stated that the south reservoir has some issues, and they hope to alleviate them as part of the master plan.

As for the schedule, Mahon said they hope to have the design completed and  out to bid by February so bids are out before the construction season gets really busy. Construction on the project should begin around April, depending on weather and contract terms.

There are a number of water lines in alleyways around the city, and Mahon wants residents to know that they may encounter construction in the easements near their homes.

Councilor Ron Williams asked in what order would the project proceed?

Mahon explained that the original plan was to have the reservoir installed this fall, but because that didn’t happen, the entire project will be bid out. The reservoir will still take priority because they want to get the existing tower off-line, and the new reservoir will have to be in place before any work can be completed on the south reservoir.

Councilor Duane Hutchins commented that some people are asking why the city is doing this project, but they don’t realize that the law requires a water master plan, prepared by a professional engineer, evaluating the needs of a water system for at least a 20-year period.

Williams also asked if Anderson Perry would have a representative in town while the project is under way, and Mahon said there would be someone staying in town for the duration.

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City Administrator Kirby Letham reported that the city received another Small City Allotment Grant in the amount of $100,000 for the 2020-2021 time period to be used for street improvements.

Letham is continuing to work on a grant through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to help with funding for the proposed bathrooms near the pavilion.

Letham told the council he recently attended a meeting regarding brownfield sites. He explained that a brownfield site is a place, land, property, or building that has been deemed unusable by a community because of environmental reasons. The state has grants available to clean up a brownfield site and make it usable again.

Hutchins asked whether the city could get a Brownfield grant to clean up the former mill site. He added that the soil in the area is contaminated with oil, diesel, and other substances from years past.

Letham said the procedure would be to first get a grant to inspect the area. If the report comes back showing problems that need correcting, the city can apply for another grant for clean up.

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Hines Police Chief Ryan DeLange reported that calls have been down, but his department is still busy. He said there was a pursuit recently that lasted overnight, but the suspect was apprehended and heroin was involved.

“We still have a problem with meth, but right now, heroin is here, so we’re trying to tackle it as much as we can,” he said.

He added that having heroin in town is “up and down.”

“We’ll go through a two or three month span, then we won’t see it at all for two or three months,” DeLange explained.

He also reported that one of his officers has been writing a number of tickets for import/export of marijuana to out-of-state residents.

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In other business:

• the council approved Resolution No. 2268 pertaining to the setting of water meter rates and volume charges, and authorizing collection of such funds. Along with setting the new water rates, the resolution sets the sewer volume rate at $0.002 per cubic foot year round for commercial accounts. The previous charge for commercial accounts, $0.0029 per cubic foot, was only applied Nov. 1-April 30;

• Acting Public Works Superintendent Jerry Lewellen said the parks have been winterized, the leaves have been collected, and the vehicles have been serviced for the winter;

• the council approved business licenses for Big Ridge Construction, owned by David Moss, and for Bella Vista Irrigation & Landscape, owned by Juan Ramirez;

• the council approved Resolution No. 2270 designating a cost recovery program for fire suppression and other emergency services provided by the Hines Fire Department to non-residents of the city. EF Recovery was designated the administrative agency in establishing a claim;

• Hines Fire Chief Bob Spence stated that his department responded to 14 calls in the past month, including a bomb scare, house fire, and brush fire. Spence reminded everyone that it is still very dry, and the danger of brush fires is still present. He also stated that burning leaves in town is not allowed, as the leaves smolder for a long time and could flare up.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the council will not meet again this month. The next council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at city hall.