The following are the unapproved minutes from the Hines Common Council meeting held June 11. They have been edited for clarity and length.

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The budget committee agenda for June 11 was reviewed and approved.

Committee Chairman Jeff Hoyt asked City Administrator Kirby Letham to update the committee. Letham explained that the overall budget number that was approved during the last budget committee meeting was incorrect, and Administrator Letham presented the committee with the corrections.

The correct, balanced budget number is $2,952,521.30, and the council approved the corrected budget as presented.

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Hines Fire Chief Bob Spence reported that Obsidian Days was a success. The number of vendors was down some, but it was still a good event.

He reported that the department had seven calls in the month. Most were stand-downs, and there were a couple of vehicle crashes. He said that the department is still training with Burns, and things seem to be going well around the city.

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Acting Maintenance Superintendent Jerry Lewellen reported that they put a lot of work into mowing and spraying weeds, and the park looks good because of it.

In May, 14,978,000 gallons of water were pumped into the lagoons. Lewellen said the increases were due to a wet spring. However, the flows are slowing down.

Lewellen told the council about repairs that were made to the southeast corner of South Roanoke Avenue and West Conley. The corner is deteriorated and presents a dangerous drop-off for vehicles making the turn at that corner.

Lewellen and crew filled the shoulder of West Conley with dirt, and will return with rock to finish the job. A seven-foot culvert remnant was donated by the county road department to extend the existing culvert.

Councilor Duane Hutchins asked whether the sewer system is working properly and whether the irrigation system pumped from the Hines lagoon overflows. Lewellen said that the lagoons were working properly, and that the irrigation system is supplied from the city of Burns lagoons. Councilor Hilda Allison asked whether the field that’s irrigated by the sewer lagoons is owned and leased by Burns. Lewellen and Hines Mayor Nikki Morgan explained that the city of Burns is a two-thirds owner, and the city of Hines is a one-third owner. Any lease funds received go to repairs and maintenance in the Sewer Fund. If someone wants to lease the field, they need to contact the city of Burns.

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Hines Police Chief Ryan DeLange reported that there were two suicides since the last meeting. He added that suicide has been a problem in the community lately, and law enforcement is trying to get the message out that there is help.

DeLange reported that there have been several crashes in town lately, including one at the corner of Pierce and Highway 20, in which a small pick-up truck crashed into the side of a nearby building.

DeLange reported that he helped coordinate an anti-drug presentation at the high school, and expressed that it went very well. He stated that vaping is a significant problem at the high school right now. He explained that vaping is a problem because a user can incorporate many types of substances, which can be more potent and dangerous.

He also discussed the new hire of Officer Parker Hetherwick. He noted that Hetherwick is doing well and has found resources to fund a new K-9 unit for the city.

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Bids for the Roe Davis project were opened promptly at 2 p.m. June 11. The city only received one bid, from Harney Rock and Paving, for $111,630.00. Morgan asked whether the bids were sent out to other companies. Letham read the list of companies that the bids were mailed to, which were: Harney Rock and Paving of Burns, Choate Construction of Hines, High Desert Aggregate and Paving from Terrebonne, Marcum and Sons LLC from Redmond, and Mainline Paving LLC of McMinnville.

Morgan noted that the bid was a little higher than anticipated. Letham suggested that the bid was about 15 percent higher than anticipated, but was not over a reasonable amount for the project. The bid would still allow the city to have West Hanley done, and other maintenance done for fiscal year 2019-2020.

The council voted to approve the bid.

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Councilor Hutchins started a discussion on the transient room tax (TRT), expressing his view that the city of Hines should have more flexibility to spend the dollars designated for “tourism” as the city chooses, rather than donating the full 25 percent of revenues collected from the TRT to the Harney County Chamber of Commerce.

Letham said he estimated that $62,500 would need to be paid toward “tourism” for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, and showed the council that $53,000 was planned to be given to the chamber, and $9,500 could be spent as the council determined. Letham also explained that the council would need to make this change by ordinance.

Allison expressed her desire to know the return on the dollars that have been spent. She expressed frustration with the lack of interest that the chamber has shown to the city of Hines.

Amie Breshears was given the floor and addressed comments that were made by Chamber Executive Director Lola Johnson during a previous council meeting. Breshears said she understood from Johnson that the city of Hines need only to pay 2 percent to the chamber. Breshears also commented that the chamber did not promote Obsidian Days, or other recent events in the city.

Morgan offered direction to the council to remember that the city is part of the overall community. She said the city of Hines must still operate with Burns, and with the county, stating that, “We don’t want to set the chamber out.” Morgan also expressed concern that there were several businesses that left the chamber because they weren’t getting represented.

Allison wondered why the  Archaeology Roadshow wasn’t being promoted by the chamber, or why Obsidian Days wasn’t promoted together with the Archaeology Roadshow.

Morgan suggested that the city designate a percentage that the chamber will receive at the beginning of each budget year.

Letham reminded the council that the current proposed and approved budget for the chamber is $53,000. The council directed Letham to let the chamber know that this amount will change.

The council charged Letham to have a new ordinance drafted by the city attorney and be prepared for the council to discuss re-budgeting of funds.

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The council approved a livestock application for Trevor Simmons and Mandi Dowell for a 4-H animal.

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Morgan noted that rattlesnakes were killed around the city. One was killed in the Pettibone area, and one in the South Quincy area.

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The following council meeting was held Tuesday, June 25, at city hall.