Vacancy left by Jeff Howes is filled by former councilor

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

At the May 26 meeting, the Hines Common Council appointed Crimson Presley to fill the seat previously vacated by Jeff Howes.

Howes submitted his letter of resignation at the May 12 meeting. He accepted a position with the Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board and his starting date was May 18. In his resignation letter he stated that he enjoyed being on the city council and all the activities to help with city development.

The council members expressed their sadness in his departure, but accepted his resignation.

Previously, Presley served four years on the council and will fill in for the remainder of Howes’ seat, which lasts through 2010.
In other business:

• the council agreed to participate in the “Yard of the Month” program that the City of Burns is implementing. Linda Johnson from the Burns City Council told the Hines council about a program, which they hope will serve as an incentive for residents to keep their yards cleaned up. A committee comprised of a member of the Burns council, a member of the Hines council and three members of the Sunrise Garden Club will select “Yards of the Month” for June, July, August and September. Those selected will receive a $25 cash award and will have their picture in the paper as well as a sign proclaiming their “Yard of the Month” status. Each month there will be a winner from both Burns and Hines. “We’re looking for yards that are neat,” Johnson said. “There could be zero landscaping.”

Hines council member Dona Johnson said she liked the positive approach the program will take.

The Hines council agreed to nominate someone to the Yard of the Month selection committee;

• Hines resident Bill Christen was present to talk about an issue he has with his neighbor’s awning. Christen said the awning violates the city’s setback ordinances. “That’s an encroachment on the property that needs to be addressed,” Christen said. He also noted that information in the council’s May 12 minutes regarding the situation was incorrect, and he had the documentation from the county to prove it.

Council member Nikki Morgan stated that she would like to see more documentation on the matter before the council makes a decision.

City Administrator Pam Mather stated that she would gather the proper documents from the county and provide that information to the council. She also suggested making sure that both parties, Christen and his neighbor, Sam Kaser, would be present at the next council meeting on June 9;

• the council adopted the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget in the amount of $2,301,678;

• Mather said that the city received an additional unexpected sum of money from the county in the amount of $10,000. She asked the council what they would like to do with it. The council voted to put the money toward the purchase of a new fire truck;

• the council discussed a letter from the Oregon Department of Transportation that was written in response to council member Brent Drury’s plea that something be done about the pedestrian crossing at Barnes and Highway 20.

Mayor Ruth Schultz said that more often then not, motorists speed by paying no attention to the blinking pedestrian light.
The letter said that the city basically had four options:

1. do nothing.

2. remove the timer on the flashing light so that it flashes all the time rather than just during school hours.

3. remove the flashing light and install a rapid flashing light on the pedestrian signs on the side of the road;

4. prohibit left turns  from the north and install a pedestrian island in the middle of the road.

Council members weren’t particularly fond of any of those options.

Drury wrote back and wanted to know why a red flashing light, to indicate a four-way stop, couldn’t be installed. The light wouldn’t have to flash all the time, just when a pedestrian was present to press the button.

The city awaits ODOT’s response.

• the council approved  business licenses for Robert Johnson Construction and Nicole Harris, who is starting up a business that will include sewing, mending, alterations, personal organizing and decorating;

• the council approved two donations, one to the Burns-Hines Kiwanis in the amount of $100 for the July 4 fireworks display and one to the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center for the senior lunch program.

The next Hines City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 9 at Hines City Hall.