Photo by TERRI WATTS

Hines’ new water tank is scheduled to be in use between Aug. 10 and Aug. 15.

The following are the unapproved minutes from the Hines Common Council and Budget Committee meeting held July 27. The minutes were edited for clarity and length.

The new water tank is complete, and they started filling it to test its structural integrity. Once testing is complete, the tank will be sanitized, and water-quality testing will be completed. 

Next, they will give the tank a shot of chlorine, flush out a good portion of it, refill it, and test the water quality again. If it passes, the tank will be brought online. The goal is to have it operational between Aug. 10-15. 

Information is being released through the radio, newspaper, and city’s website advising residents that they might smell and/or taste chlorine for 60-90 days. This is normal, and levels will not exceed acceptable amounts. The chlorine will go away after the tank cycles through a couple of times.

Two additional water lines need to be installed.

The city is working with the Burns Paiute Tribe on mitigation solutions, as archaeological material was found in a few areas.

The city has been working with the Tribe to protect and respect those areas, and they are working toward an agreement that will allow the city to move forward with the water project.

The Tribe stipulated that they be permitted to have a representative onsite as the city finishes the project. 

City Administrator Kirby Letham read an email from the archaeologist, which listed some of the standard mitigation measures that the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) typically sees. Out of the ideas proposed by SHPO, the Tribe would support interpretive panels, a donation to the cultural department, ethnography of the Hines area, planting native plants, and a National Register listing.

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Letham provided an update on the Harney County Housing Project. 

He said the city would like to hire a surveyor to partition the lot and make a lot line adjustment to ensure that the city right of way is preserved. Letham said the city also needs to ensure that it has access to the ditch and the area behind the lot and determine the sewer connection.

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Letham also reported that:

• the engineer is working on the bid packet for the park bathrooms;

• he will meet with the League of Oregon Cities to determine what other cities have done regarding homeless camping. Letham will use this information to draft an ordinance and come prepared for a first reading at the next council meeting;

• the city received a grant earmarked for the North Saginaw paving project, which is to be completed this year. 

The city may approach Oregon Department of Transportation regarding an extension, as the grant was awarded in January 2020.

Hines will consider applying for the next Small City Allotment Grant and determine which street(s) have the most need;

• the Lagoon Lift Station Renovation is becoming a high priority, as the pump has been working extra hard.

Letham received notice that American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds are becoming available, and he will confirm that infrastructure will be covered under these funds.

Councilor Marsallai Quick asked what would happen if the lift stops working.

Letham replied that it would create an emergency situation within the city to get the sewer system to continue working. However, he noted that there are three pumps, and Public Works rotates through the pumps so that there is no undue strain on one particular pump;

• LS Networks is continuing to install high-speed Internet around the city and will approach they city when they need right of way permits. Spectrum Communications is also improving their infrastructure around town;

• the park sprinklers around City Hall and Fire Hall should be fully functional by next week;

• the city has been notifying residents about nuisance violations. 

Councilor Robert Beers asked about what appears to be a junk pile near the Sands RV Park. 

Letham explained that the Stare Fire Marshall was in town and did an inspection of the Sundowner Motel. A brush pile belongs to the Sundowner, and the city is working with the owner to get it cleaned up.

Beers clarified that he saw a junk pile at the Sands RV Park. Dean Brizendine advised that Mr. Phelps is trying to sell the RV Park, and he is supposed to have the items removed;

• due to high fire danger, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) instituted a new policy. The policy states that OTEC will shut off power when there are projected winds of 50-plus miles per hour and the National Weather Service has declared a Red Flag Day. If those conditions are met, OTEC will shut down the line between John Day and Burns along Highway 396.

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In other business:

• Councilor Ron Williams said the city needs to get the crack seal project started immediately;

• the council reviewed Resolution 2309, authorizing the city’s participation in the League of Oregon Cities’ advise program. This program provides limited free legal advice to Eastern Oregon cities.

Letham read Resolution 2309 in its entirety, but he did not read Exhibit A.

Beers made a motion to approve the resolution, Councilor Misty Shepherd seconded it, and it carried;

• Cynthia Spencer attended the meeting to request a new business license for KC’s Coffee Box, a mobile trailer coffee kiosk. 

Quick made a motion to approve the business license, Councilor Amity York seconded it, and the motion carried;

• Municode will review the city’s municipal code to ensure that it complies with state law. Municode will add links from Hines’ code to state law to show the references. They presented two options of available services.

Beers made a motion to adopt Option 1 of the Municode legal review proposal. Shepherd seconded the motion, and it carried;

• Harney County Fair Manager Jordon Bennett asked for a donation to the rodeo purse. The larger the purse, the better quality of participants. The purse was $10,000, and he asked for a $2,000 donation for a total purse of $12,000. In the past, the city has sponsored a buckle for about $200.

Quick made a motion to donate $2,000 to the Harney County Fair to sponsor the bronc riding event. Beers seconded the motion, and it passed.