By Dylan Thompson
Burns Times-Herald

The Hines Common Council met Tuesday, July 13, to continue the discussion over the Crack Seal Project.

At last month’s meeting, the council agreed to look over the streets of Hines to decide which streets were in the most need of repair.

After the inspection, the council reported that the 200, 300 and 400 blocks of North Saginaw, the first block from the highway of West Conley, and the section of Hilltop behind Hines Middle School were the most problematic streets.

Ron Williams of TopLoc stated that with the $40,000 budgeted toward the project, all of the streets considered a priority, as well as most of the streets in the original report, including East Barnes and Hanley, can be repaired.

The meeting’s new business was piloted by Yummy Meats and their request for a business license within the city of Hines. Yummy Meats home delivers meat and seafood that is USDA approved.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Yummy Meats claims that if a customer has any problem with packaging, they can call and get free exchange of meats. A representative of Yummy Meats stated that the company guarantees freshness, stating that all of the seafood originates from the northwest.

Police Chief Randy Cook gave his report, stating that his department has to reapply for a grant that would pay to add another officer, because there were mistakes in the original application.

Hines Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Spence also gave a report continuing to ask for the public’s vote to grant the Hines VFD a new truck. Citizens can vote at www.E-one.com.

Earl Hofman reported that his department had to clean a dead skunk out of the pipes around the sewer ponds, and that there were some problems with broken sprinklers at the parks.

In other business:

• the council received and filed Crimson Presley’s petition to keep chickens within city limits;

• the City of Hines agreed once again to sponsor the Red S Memorial Race during the Harney County Fair, Rodeo and Race Meet;

• the City of Hines would also like to remind the public to push the crosswalk button just outside City Hall before crossing Highway 20;

• Becky Cunningham of Rimrock Recycling issued a letter of intent to provide recycling bins for merchants;

• West Bank Church donated $100 to the new gazebo as a thank you for letting their band use Hines Park. The concert was a success;

• councilors Presley, Ray Breshears and Tom Choate were all notified that they would be up for re-election soon and that they needed to turn in their applications to be eligible.

The next Hines Common Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at city hall.