With the city of Hines setting a new fee schedule for the rural fire protection program, Hines City Administrator Kirby Letham took a few minutes during the Hines Common Council meeting on June 25 to clarify how the new fees would be assessed.

He explained that the fees would be calculated on the trended real market value (RMV) per the Harney County assessor’s summary report for properties. The fee will then be $1.75 per $1,000 of the trended RMV listed on the summary report.

Letham went on to say that land would not be included in the fee, only the improvements on property such as houses, barns, sheds, etc. Additionally, the property owners can decide which improvements they want included in the fire protection program.

“Again, it’s not the assessed value, but the trended real market value that’s on that assessor’s summary,” Letham said. “That’s the number we will use.”

The county assessor’s summary reports for properties are available in the tax assessor’s office at the Harney County Courthouse.

The new fee schedule replaces a flat fee for subscribers to the rural fire protection program.

•••

Also in his report to the council, Letham said the city’s new website is now online at www.cityofhines.com

Letham noted that the website will include meeting agendas and minutes, feedback from residents, a calendar, and more. It will also be updated on a regular basis.

The city is currently in the process of interviewing for a utility clerk. Letham said there have been several good candidates for the position, and a decision could be made by the latter part of the week.

•••

During the regular meeting, the council convened into a budget hearing and adopted the approved budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 in the amount of $2,952,521.

The council approved Ordinance 327, amending Ordinance 272 and repealing section 2 of Ordinance 272 providing for the disposition and use of transient lodging taxes collected by the city.

Ordinance 327 states:

“1. Section 2 of Ordinance No. 272 allocating 25 percent of transient lodging taxes collected by the City to be paid to the Chamber of Commerce general fund is hereby repealed;

2. Effective July 1, 2019, twenty-five percent (25%) of the transient room tax collected each year annually shall be dedicated to tourism promotion for the City of Hines, and shall be disbursed to activities and organizations to be determined in the adopted budget each fiscal year by the Hines Common Council.

3. Should rate of transient lodging taxes charged by the City be increased to finance or refinance the debt of tourism-related facilities and to pay reasonable administrative costs incurred in financing or refinancing said debt, then upon retirement of the debt, the rate shall be deduced by the amount it was increased to finance or refinance such debt.”

•••

Brandon Mahon of Anderson Perry Associates told the council that a Request for Bid (RFB) will be sent out to several contractors for the West Hanley Avenue paving project.

He explained that it’s the same process that was used for the Roe Davis Avenue paving project.

Letham added that the Roe Davis paving project is on schedule, and traffic will be rerouted while the paving is in progress.

Later in the meeting, Mahon presented the council with an update on the water system improvement project for the city. He said the design effort is under way, and the goal is to put the project out to bid in the late fall or early winter.

•••

In other business, the council:

• approved a business license for Wheelhouse, owned by Louis and Cheryl Smith. The business, located in the former Lee’s RV building on Hines Boulevard, will provide RV supplies and parts. It is also a floral shop;

• reviewed the city’s agreement with the Valley Golf Club. Letham stated that he will update the agreement and bring it back to the council for approval.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at city hall.