Photo by SAMANTHA WHITE

The Burns City Council discussed forming a cemetery district. 

The following are the unapproved minutes from the Burns City Council meeting held Feb. 24. The minutes were edited for clarity and length.

The council discussed transfer of ownership and operations of the Burns Cemetery. 

City Manager Dan Brown explained that this matter was started by Councilor Judy Erwin, and it is solely a discussion about the future of the cemetery. Brown also noted that he has yet to discuss this matter with the cemetery committee. 

Brown explained that, per ordinance, the city of Burns runs the cemetery. However, the city attorney provided a memorandum that discusses how to form a cemetery district.

In this memorandum, the city attorney discusses Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) chapters, which provide the basic requirements for formation of a cemetery district. He also addresses the formation of a working committee to analyze the need and feasibility of a cemetery district, formation by filing a petition, county hearings, elections, and then the process to transfer the cemetery.

The decision to form a district would have to go on a ballot and be voted on by the people.

Brown stated that the city had a loss of $95,944 in 2017/2018, $89,032 in 2018/2019, and has lost $41,228 so far this year. He noted that the Racine Funds are not included.

Brown added that the city of Hines provides $8,000 per year for operation of the cemetery, but the county doesn’t provide any funds. As a result, the city of Burns bears the brunt of the cost.

Brown said forming a district wouldn’t mean that the cemetery would go away. It just means that it would be owned and operated by the district.

Brown said the city had a loss of more than half a million dollars over the last five years, so he’s looking for guidance from the council. He said no funding would be taken from the cemetery. All funds, including the Racine Funds, would go to the district. He concluded that the city needs to be fiscally responsible with tax payers’ dollars.

Councilor Erwin stated that, during its last meeting, the cemetery committee discussed expanding the cemetery and putting in grass and sprinklers. She said this would increase the sexton contract, and the budget is already “tapped out.”

Councilor Brad Herrera suggested looking into historical grants, as some of the plots date back to the 17th century.

Jackie Caizza said she has been on the cemetery committee for several years, and this is the first she’s hearing of it. She stated that the city has a budget, and Dauna Wensenk always told the committee how much they have allotted. She asked why the model should be changed.

Brown stated that it’s  for fiscal reasons.

Cemetery committee member Bev LaFollette said there is no way that the people are going to vote this in. She added that very few people in the county use this cemetery because there are several cemeteries out in the county. She also noted that there is a rise in cremations, which means fewer burials, and the city benefits from the perpetual care, which goes into the general fund and is used for things in other departments like new equipment and employees. LaFollette said she would like a break down of the costs because she believes the figures that Brown provided were  over inflated.

She added that, in 1979-1980, the city agreed to take care of the cemetery. She stated that the city contracted out the maintenance, then put it back to a city employee, then contracted it out again, and no one will bid on it.

She added that she feels trying to go to a district is a waste of time.

Jim Withee, who has been on the cemetery committee for 28 years, said he will contact Grant County about their cemetery district. Withee added that he understands that the city bears the brunt of the costs, and efforts are being made to keep the cost down when expanding the cemetery. 

Councilor Jen Keady stated that this is a huge loss and something needs to be figured out because the city can’t continue to operate like this. 

Mayor Jerry Woodfin stated that the council definitely needs to have a discussion. He added that this might open up discussions with the county and Hines for more funding.

Councilor Herrera asked how long it would take to establish a district, and Brown replied that it could take 12-24 months. 

Brown also stated that the numbers presented to the council came from the city’s budget, which was audited, and they were not inflated. He said he understands that this is a tax, and it may or may not pass, but he needs the council to tell him how they want to proceed.

Councilor Jen Hoke said the costs are tremendous, and the council needs to do something. She said we all take pride in the cemetery, but we need to be mindful and put all ideas on the table.

Councilor Herrera said he agrees, and he will attend the next cemetery committee meeting to gather input. He will also look into historical cemetery grants.

There was a consensus of the council to leave this discussion on the table and revisit it during the next council meeting.

•••

Brown proposed that the city begin using Caselle software to manage the water system. He said he researched different software vendors and found that this cloud-based, government software covers everything the city needs in a real-time system.

The city currently uses Chaves software, which Brown described as very old, time-consuming, and difficult to use. 

Brown said the initial cost of the Caselle software would be $53,883, which would be paid in three payments of $17,961. The first payment would be due up front, the second by July 31, 2021, and the third by July 31, 2022.

Two representatives from Caselle came and spent an entire day with staff going over everything that the software can do. Brown said this software will save staff many hours of work and will be transparent to the public.

He also noted that Hines is switching from Chaves to Caselle as well and expressed concerned that Chaves will become outdated.

Councilor Keady voiced concerned about the cost and where the money would come from.

Brown said he already found the money and would never present a purchase proposal if he didn’t know where the money would come from. Erwin stated that $40,000 is set aside in Capital Projects for city hall.

Councilor Hoke stated that she is impressed with the software, and she likes that it is interactive and city hall can turn people’s water on and off from the office.

Brown said technology costs up front but saves in work hours.

Councilor Herrera moved to approve the Caselle Software proposal, and Councilor Hoke seconded the motion.

Councilor Keady voted nay, Councilor Hoke voted aye, Councilor Heather Smith voted aye, Mayor Woodfin voted aye, Councilor Erwin voted aye, Councilor Christy Rivera voted aye, and Councilor Herrera voted aye.

The motion carried.

•••

Brown reported that he and Erwin recently attended a housing committee meeting with the county, city of Hines, Burns Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation, and local realtors to discuss how to develop housing in our region for middle-income homes.

Brown said Greg Smith secured a program through Morrow Development to provide financing to qualified borrowers for short-term, residential construction loans at exceptionally low interest rates up to $225,000 for Harney Home projects.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels and the county commissioners identified three county lots that will be available for development. Hines will also look at city-owned lots that could be used.

Erwin said they want to get students involved so they can provide assistance while learning about construction, loans, and the housing market.

Brown added that Morrow Development wants the local community to be involved.

•••

Public Works Director Michael Berry presented the council with a short video about the department’s ongoing activities. 

Berry also noted that he met with Brandon Mahon of Anderson Perry to receive an update on the Water Master Plan. He will also meet with Rusty Merritt regarding mapping the city’s water and sewer systems.

The department has been in touch with Compliance Officer Randy Nice of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure that the city is in compliance. Roy Crafts has been completing OSHA online trainings, and he became certified in 11 trainings in the past couple of weeks. 

About $1.2 million remains from House Bill 2017 funding, and the department has been working to prioritize streets and familiarize Crafts with the project.

Berry also noted that the public works department has a position open.

Councilor Hoke thanked Berry for his presentation. She also thanked the department for doing a great job plowing snow this year.

•••

In other business:

• Municipal Judge Dawn Crafts was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for additional training through the National Judicial College;

• Brown has been working on the budget, and budget calendar dates will be out soon;

• Brown said the work session went very well, was very positive, and that they’re moving in the right direction. The next work session will be held March 26;

• Erwin and Brown had a brief meeting with the airport managers and discussed the budget and property that needs to be sold;

• Councilor Rivera asked Police Chief Newt SkunkCap if they have any idea who killed five deer with blow darts.

Chief SkunkCap stated that the Oregon State Police is conducting the investigation;

• Councilor Smith thanked everyone who helped remove the Christmas lights downtown, adding that it went smoothly.