Public urged to stop visiting refuge

The armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was a major topic of discussion during the regular meeting of the Harney County Court on Jan. 20.

Following a peaceful rally and march on Saturday, Jan. 2, a splinter group of militia members, including Ammon Bundy, occupied refuge headquarters south of Burns. The occupation is part of a protest by Bundy and others regarding the resentencing in October 2015 for Harney County ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. Bundy is now calling for federal lands to be given to the people of Harney County.

During the public comment period, Melodi Molt addressed the court regarding the Harney County Committee of Safety.

She explained that Bundy suggested formation of the committee during the meeting that he called at the Harney County Fairgrounds Dec. 15, 2015.

The committee has put forward a resolution supporting the development of a plan “to provide the expedient, systematic and harmonious transfer of all currently managed federal lands within Harney County to the jurisdiction of the people of Harney County.”

However, Harney County Commissioner Dan Nichols asserted that the county cannot afford to manage federal lands, and he provided examples of costs that the county would incur.

According to its founding principles, the committee supports the Hammond family in its legal battle with the federal government, but it does not speak for the Hammonds. The principles also state that the group does not speak for Bundy, his associates, or any other advocacy group. Additionally, the committee stated that it wasn’t involved with the planned protest in Burns or the convoy from Bend to Burns on Jan. 2.

Additionally, the principles state that the committee would like to work with, not against, the county sheriff and his officers, and it does not want to create a violent confrontation between any groups.

“We, the Committee of Safety, are community members,” Molt said. “We’ve never threatened anybody, and we don’t plan on doing it with threats.”

The committee’s principles also express a desire to unify and involve county residents in economic and land use issues, and to be “the consensual voice of the county.”

“We feel the federal agencies are overreaching their authority in many jurisdictional directions within our county and also specifically with the Hammonds,” the principles state. “We think there may be a systematic, statutory solution to the jurisdictional issues which give rise to situations like the Hammonds.”

According to Molt, Dwight Hammond’s wife said she hasn’t been contacted by any of the legislators or anyone else who could help get her husband out of prison.

Karen Wagner, a representative from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s office, said legislators are not allowed to get involved in court matters. However, she said legislators, including Merkley, are hearing citizens’ concerns regarding government overreach.

But Nichols said the problems is “not so much the federal government as ‘we the people’ through the conservation groups.”

For example, he explained that one organization filed 450 petitions for listing 450 individual species under the Endangered Species Act in one day.

“Once someone does that, the government is obliged to go through the system,” he said.

Molt said the committee has reached out to Harney County Judge Steve Grasty and Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, but it has “basically been pushed away.”

She said, “We want you to work with us because we all have a common goal of helping this economy. Work with us and not against us. We aren’t going away. We don’t want to be a thorn in your side.”

Grasty replied that some of the committee’s language makes him nervous.

However, he said, “We can talk about that.”

He added that the court and the committee can work together, but said he hasn’t seen any of the committee members engage in the county’s current efforts.

Nichols and Harney County Commissioner Pete Runnels explained that the court has participated in numerous efforts to improve land management practices and boost the local economy.

Vanessa Leathers said the Harney County Committee of Safety is also trying to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing laws and fighting the Owyhee Canyonlands Conservation Proposal.

Also known as the Owyhee Canyonlands  Monument, the proposal seeks to protect 2.5 million acres of public land in Malheur County through a combination of national conservation area, wilderness, and wild and scenic river designations.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 16, 2015, the Harney County Court unanimously approved Resolution 2015-11, opposing the Owyhee Canyonlands Conservation Proposal, as well as the establishment or designation of any additional national monument, national conservation area, scenic river, or wilderness area on public lands within Southeastern Oregon, including Harney County.

Leathers also proposed that the county join with other Eastern Oregon counties that are “on the same page.”

Runnels replied that Harney County has been part of the Eastern Oregon Counties Association, which brings Eastern Oregon Counties together to address land use issues.

Indicating the commissioners, Grasty said, “The most criticism I have of the guys at this table is we’ve done the worst job of telling you what we do. No county in the state of Oregon ever did what we have done in coordination.”

Grasty added that he plans to take a trip to Washington, D.C. to discuss the issues that Harney County is facing, and he asked for community input regarding what the message should be.

Mark Owens said he believes the community should identify its common goals so that it can show a united front.

Nichols suggested that the community come together in an “organized fashion” to “develop talking points of issues that need [to be] addressed that are relevant and fruitful.”

He said, “It’s going to take a whole lot of work. It’s going to take people stepping up and helping, too. I don’t know if we are going to get anywhere. But if anyone can, this community is the driving force. We’ve got credibility from all over the country.”

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Forrest Keady complimented Grasty for how he handled the community meeting that was held Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Burns High School.

“It got a little dicey with some of the things that were said and some of the people who attended it,” Keady said. “You did a commendable job of addressing everyone who was there and taking it head on.”

Keady was referring to the unexpected appearance of Bundy and a number of other individuals who have been occupying the refuge.

John Lamborn said, “For the record, I cannot even begin to say how angry I am at what happened last night. These guys, the  Bundy people, came to the Burns High School gymnasium during a public meeting. They have committed federal crimes, and they came to our gymnasium with guns. They walked into our high school and silently raise hell, and I am pissed!”

Lamborn explained that his anger was directed toward the federal law enforcement officers for failing to arrest the occupiers.

Nichols replied, “Everyone feels the same anger there John, absolutely.”

However, he encouraged everyone to support all levels of law enforcement.

“They have experience with these types of situations,” he said. “A key component is how to handles these guys safely.”

Leathers said she appreciated that the FBI didn’t make the arrests at the meeting, explaining that children and elderly people were present.

“The town shouldn’t be caught in the crossfire, and I tell everyone I know who is going to the refuge to stop because you don’t know what is going to happen,” she said.

“I think the whole community needs to understand that,” Nichols said, adding that he and a lot of other people had good intentions for visiting the refuge, but it’d be best not to go out there anymore.

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Shana Withee, Melissa Woodbury, Dustin Johnson, Willie Riggs and David Bohnert attended the meeting to present an annual review of the Oregon State University Extension Service.

The extension service offers programs and resources in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H/Youth Development, and Family and Community Health.

Nichols said, “Thank you to all you guys for what you do and the various segments you represent. We are so fortunate in this community to have the [Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center] and the strong extension component.”

Grasty said, “You guys are one of the huge success stories.”

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In other business, the court:

• received a letter from residents of Steens View Lane requesting that a 25 mph speed limit sign be posted.

Grasty explained that a speed analysis will have to be conducted before a speed limit sign can be placed.

The court agreed to direct Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella to move forward with the analysis, as required by Oregon Department of Transportation;

• received an update from Ron Copeland regarding the American Legion Veterans Assistance Fund;

• approved the 2015-2016 Contract Out of District Service Delivery Agreement between Treasure Valley Community College and Harney County in the amount of $13,098.80. Grasty explained that the court commits this funding to ensure that students have access to higher education within the community;

• was addressed by Ron Estep and Veterans Service Officer Guy McKay regarding housing the Disabled American Veterans van and building an awning for cover.

Drushella said the van can be housed at the Harney County Road Department, and he will work with McKay and Estep to find a solution for cover;

• received a letter from Ted Marshall requesting to be appointed to the Harney County Fair Board. The court will determine whether a position is available on the board. If available, the position will be advertised;

• received the Malheur National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions for Winter 2016;

• received a letter from the Northwest Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs stating that the Burns Paiute Tribe’s request to acquire the  Kassler Property into trust has been approved;

• received a letter stating that Vale District Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to expand and update its Integrated Invasive Plant program and has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI);

• received a letter from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names stating that the board approved name changes for several features in Harney County that contained the word “squaw.” The new names, which are of Paiute origin, can be found in the Geographic Names Information System;

• received a letter stating that the Burns District of the BLM has prepared an EA and unsigned FONSI analyzing the effects of conducting research studies investigating the safety and effectiveness of three separate methods of surgical sterilization of wild horse mares, as well as a no action alternative;

• received a $300 donation from Charlie Grant III of Walla Walla, Wash. for Harney County Search and Rescue. In a letter written to Sheriff Ward, Grant explained that he wanted to do something to support law enforcement;

• accepted Chris Briels’ resignation from his position as county fire chief.

The next regular meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.