ODOT projects discussed

During its regular meeting on April 6, the Harney County Court provided an overview of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell’s and U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor’s visit to Harney County on March 21.

A member of the president’s cabinet, Jewell heads the Department of Interior, which encompasses the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Land Management (BLM); Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; Bureau of Reclamation; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; National Park Service; Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; U.S. Fish and Wildlife  Service (USFWS); and U.S. Geological Survey.

When asked how department staff will follow up on the visit, Harney County Judge Steve Grasty replied that Connor will be available for phone calls every third or fourth week. The calls, which will be put on speaker phone, will be announced to the public ahead of time.

Noting that more people are getting involved, Harney County Commissioner Dan Nichols commended Harney County residents for stepping up and identifying the issues that are causing angst.

Nichols also discussed the success of collaborative efforts and the benefits that they’ve had in the local community.

•••

Mike Barry, local agency liaison for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), attended the meeting to discuss upcoming projects.

The court agreed to sign the Local Agency Agreement for a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project to construct sign upgrades along Crane-Buchanan and South Egan roads. The project — which consists of installing, upgrading, maintaining, removing or reinstalling signs — will cost an estimated $19,300 and will be financed with HSIP funds at the maximum allowable federal participating amount. The state will be responsible for the difference between the estimated project cost and available HSIP funds, and any additional costs above the estimate. A match from the local jurisdiction is not required.

Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella said this effort has been under way for years, as these areas are considered safety risks.

The court also agreed to commit match funding for the Juntura Cut-off Road project. The $7 million project requires a $250,000 match, which will be split between Harney and Malheur counties, with each contributing $125,000.

Barry said the Juntura Cut-off Road project was a high priority for him because he could see how it would benefit the nearby communities. Since it lacks a base, the road will have to be rebuilt from the ground up.

•••

Grasty reported that he received an offer to lease the archive center to a business that would create three jobs, and he thanked Harney County Economic Development Executive Director Randy Fulton for his role in recruiting the business.

The court appointed Grasty to negotiate the lease, and an executive session was held to conduct deliberations to negotiate real property transactions.

•••

The court agreed to sign and send a letter to Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Greg Walden, expressing support for the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS’s) research on Great Basin sagebrush systems at the ARS Burns Station.

“Strengthening funding for this agency in FY2017 [fiscal year 2017] would ensure critical science and decision making tools for rural land managers and communities is sustained into the future,” the letter states. “The work of the ARS Burns Station is playing a critical role, particularly in light of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision not to list the greater sage grouse on the Endangered Species Act. Together with Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, a public-private partnership with federal, state academic, and private stakeholders, the ARS has been providing research and science that is a vital resource for managers on both public and private lands in the region. Through a collaborative approach, ARS has been a stabilizing and positive force in problem solving around very difficult land management issues.”

•••

In other business, the court:

• was addressed by Herb Vloedman regarding the county’s budget.

Grasty encouraged Vloedman to attend the Harney County  Budget Committee meetings, which will be held April 13, 14 and 27 and May 11. If necessary, an additional meeting may be held May 25. All budget committee meetings are public, and anyone can attend to participate in the discussion. More information can be found on the county’s website at: www.co.harney.or.us

• approved an application from Paul Davis of Tom Davis Livestock to install an irrigation mainline across East Steens Road;

• discussed a memorandum of understanding between Harney County and the BLM for cooperating agency status for development of the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed sagebrush focal areas withdrawal. The EIS will analyze and disclose the potential effects of withdrawing approximately 10 million acres of public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights;

• received a list of the BLM’s current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects from BLM Planning and Environmental Coordinator Emily Erwin. The court will work with BLM staff to narrow the list down to projects that are relevant to Harney County;

• agreed to appoint members to the Harney County Local Community Advisory Committee (LCAC), as listed. LCACs help ensure that the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO) is responsive to member and community health needs;

• discussed the recent meeting of the Taylor Grazing Committee. Grasty said a permittee from the “south end” is being sought to fill a vacancy on the committee;

• received an update on the revision of the Blue Mountains Forest Plans, which will guide the management of approximately 5 million acres of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests.

Two new alternatives are currently being crafted. Both emphasize forest restoration, but the second alternative would considerably increase the pace by moving a larger portion of the forested landscape toward desired conditions (such as thinning densely forested stands, reducing fire severity, and decreasing the risks posed by insects and diseases). The public will be provided with updates as the new alternatives are developed and the other alternatives continue to be analyzed within the EIS;

• received a news release from the BLM regarding a meeting of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, which is scheduled for April 13-14 at the Deschutes Fair & Expo in Redmond.

Harney County Commissioner Pete Runnels encouraged the public to attend, stating that he doesn’t believe the board has ever held a meeting in the West before. He added that he expects the meeting to be “a real eyeopener” for those who are unfamiliar with the push back that the BLM receives from wild horse advocacy groups.

The meeting will be live-streamed at http://www.blm.gov/live/

• received a letter from Mary M. Wilson of Mann Lake Ranch requesting that the Harney County Road Department prioritize finishing the paving project on East Steens Road.

“I know that a tax increase will be required to pay for the improvement, and I approve the increase in order to pay for the project,” she wrote;

• received a letter from Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative regarding the costs associated with the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Grasty said the invoice is made out to the FBI, not the county;

• discussed the budget for predatory animal control. Grasty explained that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) switched its billing process sometime in the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which created timing issues for the county. Grasty added that he’s spoken with APHIS a number of times regarding this issue, and solution is still being sought;

• discussed a revolving loan fund grant opportunity. Grasty said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a pot of money to establish a local loan fund for business. After discussing some of the pros and cons of the loan opportunity, the court decided to revisit the conversation during its next meeting;

• reviewed water use requests;

• received a letter stating that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) approved the cessation of ongoing corrective actions at the former Tim’s Time Saver Market site, located at 306 Hwy. 20 N. in Hines. Grasty explained that there was a fuel leak on the property, which came into county ownership through tax foreclosure. He added that he’d like DEQ to declare that no further action will be required.

“I want to be absolutely certain,” he said;

• was invited by the BLM, U.S. Geological Survey, and partner agencies to attend monitoring demonstrations on April 7 and 14, which will show how different monitoring techniques will be used to determine the success of the vegetative treatments proposed within the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation plan for the Soda Fire. The fire was ignited eight miles northeast of Jordan Valley on Aug. 10, 2015;

• discussed an $8,000 grant opportunity for rural cemetery repairs. Grasty said the grant would require a 50/50 match from the county, but the match can be contributed in-kind through labor. Grasty will apply for the grant, and, if received, funding will be distributed among the county’s rural cemeteries on a first-come, first-served basis.

The next regular meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, April 20, at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.