The following are the unapproved minutes from the Hines Common Council meeting held Nov. 10. These minutes were edited for clarity and length:

During the department head reports:

• Police Chief Ryan DeLange said the police department received 202 calls since his previous report to the council. This is a decrease of about 45 calls. However, sexual assault cases are on the rise. The department has also received a lot of theft calls lately, and DeLange is reminding everyone to lock their vehicles. Domestic violence calls have decreased, but mental health cases have increased.

The department also noticed that more people are speeding, and police are preparing for “crash season” with the weather change.

DeLange said the new patrol car is amazing. He also noted that Officer Parker Hetherwick’s vehicle will need to be replaced in the next couple of years.

DeLange said he is very disappointed that Measure 110 passed, and it seems like there is a move toward decriminalizing all drugs. He added that the council may need to consider revising the city ordinance against drugs.

Councilor Robert Beers asked whether the city can set a fine that is higher than the state’s fine.

DeLange replied that the city can set whatever fine it wants to within city limits.

Councilor Marsallai Quick asked about the steps that would be required.

City Administrator (CA) Kirby Letham said he will work with DeLange to draft an ordinance. He will then ask the city’s attorney to review it and present it to the council.

DeLange thanked CA Letham for his work;

• CA Letham reported that he applied for an Oregon Department of Transportation grant. The award amount ranges from $100,000 to $4 million.

CA Letham applied for the grant to work on the pathway that was discussed during the budget meetings. He said the city will have to pass through multiple rounds in order to receive the grant, but it has already made it through the first round. He will keep the council informed about the next steps.

CA Letham also reported that the skate park equipment should arrive in the next couple of weeks.

•••

Lola Johnson, director of the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, provided a copy of the bill for the Eastern Oregon Visitors Guide. Part of the transient room tax (TRT) funds are used to advertising in this magazine. The chamber also helped the Hines Pine Mill House and Alvord Desert advertise in the Visitors Guide, which is sent to more than 10 different countries.

Johnson also discussed BizHarney and ShopHarney. To date, 40 businesses have signed up, and there will be a big campaign leading up to Black Friday.

•••

The council received an update regarding the water project.

As of Nov. 10, 70 to 75 percent of the water lines and about 33 percent of the water meters were installed. Site prep for the new water tank was also complete, and some of the pumphouse work was completed. Nov. 12 was the last day before the crew’s winter break. They will resume work in 90 days.

Anderson Perry GIS survey crew will be out mapping system components.

•••

The council considered Resolution No. 2297.

CA Letham explained that the resolution would temporarily suspend the usage charge for the city’s residential water users.

CA Letham said, if the resolution passes, residents might be surprised when the city starts charging usage again.

He also expressed concern regarding how the suspension of charges would impact the city’s revenue. However, during the winter months, the city might not see a big impact on revenue. CA Letham will calculate revenue projections for the council.

The resolution was tabled until the next council meeting.

•••

CA Letham presented a copy of a status report that he submitted to the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) regarding the city’s plans to use the $50,000 in CARES funding that Hines received.

He suggested forming a committee of two council members and the mayor to review the applications and report back to the council.

Councilor Misty Shepherd asked how the city is informing the community about the grants.

CA Letham explained that all businesses are either being emailed or called. Andrea Letham of the Small Business Development Center offered to help with this effort.

CA Letham said that it may not be obvious, but some of our local business have lost a lot of money due to the pandemic.

Councilors Quick and Raymond Breshears volunteered to serve on the review committee.

Applications should be submitted to the city by Dec. 7. However, the deadline could be extended if the city deems it necessary. CARES-CRF funds must be allocated by Dec. 30.

•••

Under new business:

• Denise Rose of Harney County Economic Development and Harney County Judge Pete Runnels provided an update on the Brownfield grant.

Harney County, together with the cities of Burns and Hines, applied for the grant. The county and two cities were not successful in the first round. However, they received a $600,000 grant in a subsequent round.

The funds can be used to expand, redevelop, or reuse real property that may be complicated by the presence, or potential presence, of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Cardno Consultants will be working with the group to identify properties that qualify for the program.

Phase 1 of the program is identifying properties within the county that would qualify for cleanup.

Councilor Breshears asked about the smokestack. Judge Runnels said the smokestack is owned by the county, and it is one of the properties that is under consideration.

This is an opportunity to clean up properties and possibly bring new businesses to the commercial area.

•••

Summer Anderson, a home-based skin aesthetician, applied for a business license for SummerLove Skincare.

Anderson could not attend the meeting, but she submitted a letter explaining her business, which was read aloud by CA Letham.

Councilor Quick made a motion to approve the business license for SummerLove Skincare, and the motion carried.

•••

General residential contractor Brent York applied for a business license for Reliable Remodels & Repairs LLC.

York could not attend the meeting.

Councilor Quick made a motion to approve the business license for Reliable Remodels & Repairs LLC, and the motion carried.

•••

The city was asked to donate to the Harney County Senior Center’s Senior Nutrition Program.

Councilor Quick made a motion to donate $150 to the program, and the motion carried.

The council received a request for a donation toward the USS Oregon Crew commissioning celebration, which is scheduled for the summer of 2021.

At this time, the council decided to pass on the donation request.

•••

During mayor and council comments:

• Councilor Breshears thanked the police, fire, and public works departments as well as city staff for doing an excellent job;

• Quick offered words of encouragement to the police department;

• Morgan echoed all of the positive comments and told the departments to “hang in there.”