The following are the unapproved minutes from the Hines Common Council meeting held Jan. 12. The minutes were edited for clarity and length.

Police Chief Ryan DeLange reported that there were 211 calls since the previous council meeting. This is a slight increase from previous months. The majority of the calls are for domestic violence and mental-health issues, and they are very time consuming.

The month of November has been slow for the department.

Officer Mike Mitchell made three driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in six days. All three were for drugs.

Officer Parker Hetherwick completed the Oregon Child Interviewing Class, and Officer Mitchell will be attending an advanced DUI drug class.

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Fire Chief Bob Spence reported that there were five calls to 911 since last month.

The department has one trainee who completed one of three training sessions.

The department has been keeping up on housekeeping and maintenance.

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Acting Public Works Superintendent Jerry Lewellen reported that:

• they are currently pumping approximately 175,000 to 200,000 gallons of water per day, and the lagoon is handling approximately 130,000 gallons per day. He also noted that the pumps at the lift station are clogging daily with items that should not be flushed.

Mayor Nikki Morgan asked whether there was something (like a cage) that could be installed before the pump to catch the blockage before material reaches the pump.

Lewellen said they make such things, but they are rather expensive. However, he said it might be something to consider when the city thinks about updating the sewer system.

• they removed a pine tree in front of Hines City Hall. There is a tree behind city hall that needs to be removed, but it will need to be done professionally.

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City Administrator Kirby Letham reported that the city Christmas lighting contest went well. He said Matt and Kelsi Palmer took first place, and there seemed to be more participants than in previous years. Letham also mentioned that the city participated in the Christmas parade.

Additionally, Letham informed the council that the CARES funding was extended to June 30, 2021. This will give the city time to get the bathroom project completed as well as other projects.

Letham also reported that the city began the transition to Caselle.

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Ed Horvath of Three Rivers Mosquito and Vector Control provided a mosquito-control proposal.

Due to budgeting cutbacks and concerns with broadcasting pesticide sprays, the city of Hines quit aerial spraying. However, the concern about mosquitoes has surfaced again. Several council members have received requests from citizens to implement a mosquito-control program again.

Councilor Robert Beers and previous council members have researched this topic.

Mayor Morgan advised that there were previous concerns regarding respiratory issues with fogging.

Horvath explained that residents can contact the company to find out the application dates so that they know to close windows, etc.

Horvath presented a proposal for one year of service for $12,000. There was discussion regarding why bids from other companies were so much higher. The explanation is that Horvath’s company uses drones, rather than helicopters or airplanes, which cuts expenses dramatically.

Tom Choate asked about the bid process, and Mayor Morgan explained that the process was followed.

Councilor Ron Williams made a motion to accept the mosquito-control proposal for $12,000. Councilor Marsallai Quick seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

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Lola Johnson, director of the Harney County Chamber of Commerce, reported that the Shop Harney program is going well. As of Christmas, $23,000 were spent locally. A local group contributed another $20,000 into the program for a total of $43,000.

Johnson also reported that Councilor Quick is now a member of the Chamber Board of Directors, effective January 2021.

She also noted that the Chamber Awards Banquet would be held Jan. 22 and 23. Superintendent Lewellen won the Man of the Year award, and Andrea Letham was named Woman of the Year.

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The council discussed and reviewed the deer population.

In 2015, the city became aware of problems caused by citizens who would feed and attract wild animals into residential areas, even into their yards.

The council passed Ordinance 312, banning the practice of feeding all wild animals, including deer.

In 2017, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 373. This bill required Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to develop and adopt a “pilot program for urban deer population control.” The cities of Burns and Hines would have been “test pilots” for this program.

The draft program outlined three basic steps to start the program:

1) Adopt an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer, which the city of Hines already had in place.

2) Adopt a resolution declaring the deer population had risen to levels that constitute a public nuisance.

3) The city could then petition ODFW for kill permits to reduce deer population levels within city limits.

Ordinance 312 and Resolution 2252 met the first two requirements to initiate the program.

Several council meetings were held with strong and heated opinions on both sides of the issue. At that time, the topic was tabled and has not been discussed until now. The question remains: Should the city move forward with the program developed by ODFW?

Rod Klus of ODFW provided information on the number of deceased deer they picked up in city limits.

In 2016, ODFW picked up 71 deer, 59 deer were picked up in 2017, 38 were picked up in 2018, 37 were picked up in 2019, and 17 were picked up in 2020.

Letham asked Klus about the process for thinning the deer population if the city moves forward with the program. Klus explained that, to thin the herd, permits would be issued for females. These permits would only be issued during an established season, probably concurrent with hunting season.

Letham explained that, if the city moves forward, ODFW will issue permits detailing the numbers that will be harvested. An authorized city employee would kill the deer, and the meat would be donated to the food bank at city cost. Letham explained that the subject has come back in front of the council at the request of some residents who have had pets killed by deer.

Councilor Gary Miller expressed his condolences to Mark Palmer for the loss of his dog who was killed by a deer. Miller reviewed the responses from the amateur polls that were sent back during 2018/2019. At that time, responses seemed to favor leaving the deer alone. He suggested that, rather than an amateur survey, put it on the ballot and let the voters decide.

Discussion ensued regarding the program. There was a question regarding the efficacy of relocating the deer. Klus responded that it has been proven that relocation does not work.

Councilors Beers and Misty Shepherd went on record that they agree with Miller that the decision should go before the voters. Mayor Morgan encouraged the new council members to read the minutes of previous meetings to understand what has been discussed in the past.

Mayor Morgan said, if the city chooses to do a special election, there is a significant cost involved. Otherwise, the decision would have to wait for the next general election.

The topic was tabled and will be discussed at a later date.

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In other business:

• Letham proposed that the second city council meeting of each month be designated as a work session. The difference between a regular meeting and a work session is that a work session is open to the public, however, it is not open to public comment, nor are any decisions made during these sessions.

The next meeting of the Hines Common Council was held Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.