BLM proposing rule to improve planning process

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Harney County Court met Tuesday, March 1. A summary of the meeting minutes and supplemental information is as follows: 

(Please note that these minutes have yet to be approved by the court.)

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty and Harney County Commissioner Pete Runnels discussed the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference that they attended in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20-24.

Grasty was able to get a few minutes with Gov. Kate Brown during the flight to the conference.

He and Runnels also met with Sen. Ted Ferrioli and Rep. Cliff Bentz to discuss issues such as funding for groundwater studies, funding for an Oregon Department of Transportation paving project between Slater Elementary School and the courthouse, and the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (a frequent topic of discussion). Grasty and Runnels also requested a 60-day extension from the Department of Energy for a tax credit on the biomass project.

Grasty and Runnels reported that Saturday was full of meetings with committees and subcommittees to discuss public lands issues in the Western Interstate Region. A presentation was given by the Endangered Species Coalition, a group that is trying to make changes to the Endangered Species Act. Another presentation was from the executive director of the Western Governors Association, who discussed the association’s goals. These goals are very much aligned with NACo’s goals.

In the afternoon, three subcommittees met, including Resolutions, Public Land Payments, and Federal Land Management. One message that seemed to be universal was that cooperation, collaboration, and coordination is beginning to work and make a difference in other counties.

Sunday was the Public Lands Steering Committee. Although they were scheduled to speak for 20 minutes, Grasty and Runnels spoke for an hour. Additionally, representatives from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service discussed the fire budget.

On Monday, Grasty and Runnels met with Robert Bonnie, under secretary, and Tom Vilsack, secretary of the Department of Agriculture. They also met with Sally Jewell, secretary of the Department of the Interior. Grasty showed a PowerPoint presentation, titled The Harney County Story, which was a handout given to all of the congressional offices, secretaries and under secretaries.

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Emily Erwin and Jeff Rose presented the court with a fact sheet and discussed BLM’s proposed rule to improve the resource management planning process.

Highlights of the proposed rule include early public involvement, planning assessment, high quality information and best available science, landscape-level planning, planning framework, protest, and reaffirmation of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).

Additional information can be found online at: www.blm.gov/plan2

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Donna Schnitker attended to provide an update on the Frontier Early Learning Hub.

According to the Oregon Early Learning Division’s website, the mission of the Frontier Hub is “to coordinate access to quality early childcare education programs that meet the needs of children and families in the hub region.”

The Frontier Hub serves Grant and Harney counties.

Schnitker presented the court with a review of the outcomes, metrics, baselines and targets that the hub and the county will be held accountable for, which include:

• Outcome 1: The early childhood system is aligned, coordinated and family-centered;

• Outcome 2: Children are supported to enter school ready to succeed; and

• Outcome 3: Families are healthy, stable and attached.

Schnitker said that, because the Frontier Hub is small and already has fairly substantial early learning programs in both counties, she felt huge gains would not be possible, as the majority of children are already being served by early childhood programs. She said the Early Learning Division agreed, and she believes the metrics are very reasonable, but data tracking will be very important to demonstrate efforts toward them.

The court thanked Schnitker for all her hard work and dedication to the Early Childhood Center and children of Harney County.

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During the public comment period, Mary Ausmus discussed a recent Oregonian article, stating that Laura Cleland, interim public information officer for Harney County, was paid $6,400 per month. Grasty replied that the amount cited in the article was incorrect, explaining that Cleland was paid $400 per day, and she didn’t work every day.

Ausmus also inquired as to which agency asked the FBI to come to Harney County during the refuge occupation. Grasty explained that the FBI came to Harney County because the incident took place on federal property.

Ausmus also asked whether the court knew about any civil rights lawsuits against Harney County, and Grasty replied that he was not aware of any pending lawsuits.

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In other business, the court:

• was addressed by Charmaign Edwards who discussed Wilderness Study Areas and the rights of ranchers and property owners. Grasty replied that the court has always stood up for private property owners’ rights;

• was addressed by Grasty and Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella regarding the Juntura Cut-Off Road. They discussed the cost of the project, funding, and partnership with Malheur County.

The court agreed by consensus to fund 50 percent of the project, which is scheduled for 2018. The county is expecting a check from Secure Rural Schools for $1.2 million, which will be going into the Road Department fund;

• agreed to sign Resolution 2016-01 in the matter of adopting a supplemental budget and making appropriations;

• received a copy of the budget board meeting schedule for 2016 from Grasty. The schedule will be posted to the county’s website;

• will discuss the heating district during its next meeting;

• agreed to sign the 2015-2017 Technical Assistance Grant Agreement. The grant will be used for  Goal 5 planning;

• reviewed water use requests;

• received a copy of Grant County Resolution 16-06, in the matter of resolution of the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Dated Feb. 24, the resolution states that the Grant County Court is pleased that the last armed occupants chose to leave the refuge and that there was no further violence.

It also states that local collaboration is a long-held tenet of Oregon counties, and Grant County Court would like to encourage any out-of-state and out-of-county militants remaining in Harney County to go home to their families and let local citizens speak for themselves.

Additionally, the resolution states that the issue of federal land management has been a priority for years, and the Grant County Court will continue working with the Oregon Congressional Delegation as well as federal and state agencies to give Oregon’s rural communities a voice in decisions that impact their livelihoods and way of life.

Finally, the resolution states that the Grant County Court supports the laws of the state of Oregon and all United States federal laws, and the enforcement of these laws by local, county, state and federal law enforcement officers;

• received a letter of resignation from Harney County Surveyor Kenneth H. Delano Jr., effective May 1. Delano explained that he’s decided to become more involved in Grant County politics, and it would be a conflict of interest to hold multiple positions.

With the court’s approval, Grasty will advertise for a new county surveyor. This is a court-appointed position;

• received a letter from Jerry Grondin, Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) hydrogeologist, stating that OWRD is expanding its data collection effort in the Harney Basin, particularly in the Greater Harney Valley Area, due to concern for declining groundwater levels;

• received a copy of the letter that Grasty wrote to the members of the Joint South East Area Commissions on Transportation/North East Area Commissions on Transportation regarding a request for $165,000 of enhancement funding for a paving project in Burns. The paving is a result of trenching work for the burial of hot water pipes for a heating district recently formed in Harney County;

• held an executive session at 1:30 p.m. No action was taken.

The next meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.