Court recognizes John Copenhaver’s retirement

During its regular meeting on July 6, the Harney County Court discussed a funding request from Harney County Opportunity Team (HCOT) for the Arrowhead Plaza project.

HCOT has been working to transform the lot, which is located across the street from the Harney County Chamber of Commerce in downtown Burns, into a plaza that would serve as an attractive respite for residents and visitors, as well as a venue for community events.

In a letter addressed to the court, HCOT President Bill Wilber explained that the organization raised a total of $148,849 for the plaza project, including a $75,000 grant from The Ford Family Foundation. However, in order to receive the grant funds, HCOT must have the total amount needed to finish the project in hand, and an additional $15,000 is needed for the public restroom.

“The Ford Family Foundation has requested the financials showing we have raised all the required funds by Tuesday, July 12,” Wilber stated. “If the court approves the requested funding, a letter of commitment with expected date of payment would be greatly appreciated.”

Two years ago, the court awarded $25,000 to HCOT toward completion of the plaza’s historic rock wall. Water and sewer lines and electricity have been extended, and construction of the amphitheater is expected to begin soon.

After some discussion, the court agreed to approve a letter of commitment in the amount of $15,000 to HCOT for the Arrowhead Plaza project. The county funding source will be identified during the next court meeting.

Harney County Commissioner Pete Runnels abstained from the vote because he volunteers on the HCOT board of directors.

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John Copenhaver, who recently retired from his position as Harney County juvenile director, was recognized and presented with a plaque for his years of service and commitment to the county.

“We had, in my mind, one of the best juvenile directors in the state of Oregon,” Harney County Judge Steve Grasty said regarding Copenhaver.

“I can’t recall a day that I ever came to work that I wasn’t really excited to be here,” Copenhaver replied. “I think that one of the reasons was the undying support I had from the county court. Every day, I felt it, and it made my job easy.”

He added, “I’m excited about retirement. I have all these wonderful grandkids to chase around Harney County and show them what a privileged it is to live here.”

Addressing Copenhaver, Harney County Commissioner Dan Nichols said, “Your knowledge, and your common sense, and your passion for doing the right thing for the kids is going to be missed.”

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The court continued its discussion concerning a court order in the matter of canceling personal property taxes (totaling $179.54) for two mobile homes that have been destroyed.

A total of $70.81 is owed on Account 76192, which was abandoned on site at Broadway Trailer Park. The bottom frame is all that remains of the structure.

A total of $108.73 is owned on Account 70549, which was severely damaged during a windstorm in the fall of 2014, rendering it uninhabitable. The mobile home was abandoned on site, and the real property was sold July 10, 2015. The new owner is in the process of destroying what remains of the structure.

During the county court meeting on June 22, Harney County Assessor and Tax Collector Ted Tiller explained that, although both properties have been taken off the tax roll, the taxes that have already been imposed can’t be removed from the books without a court order.

According to Oregon Revised Statute 311.790, “If the tax collector and the district attorney for any county determine that taxes on personal property that are delinquent are for any reason wholly uncollectible, [they] may request, in writing, the county court for an order directing that the taxes be canceled. The court, when so requested, may in its discretion order and direct the tax collector to cancel such uncollectible personal property taxes.”

After receiving a written request from Tiller and Harney County District Attorney Tim Colahan, the court approved the order.

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Harney County Clerk Dag Robinson attended the meeting to discuss e-recording, which allows individuals and national title companies to record documents electronically.

Robinson explained the details of the process, asserting that it will save time and improve accuracy. He added that the County Clerk’s Office needed the court’s approval to move forward.

After some discussion, the court agreed to allow Robinson to proceed with the e-recording process.

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The court reviewed an application by Brandon Baron of The Tree Service to install a culvert and/or approach off Lottery Lane.

Grasty explained that this is a unique situation because the proposed approach is located on a county road within the city of Hines, and he suggested postponing the decision so that the court can discuss the application with the city.

Grasty also noted that Baron doesn’t own the property where the approach will be located. Thus, Baron will be asked to secure the proper documentation and approval.

The court plans to revisit the application during its next meeting.

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The court received correspondence from the:

• Vale District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding emergency stabilization and rehabilitation actions on BLM-administered lands  affected by the Owyhee Canyon Fire. Ignited by lightning June 5, the fire burned 21,776 acres southwest of Rome;

• Vale District of the BLM regarding the partial gather of wild horses from land within and adjacent to the Three Fingers Herd Management Area;

• Burns District of the BLM regarding  the Mare Sterilization Research Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Decision Record.

The proposed action will investigate the safety and effectiveness of three separate methods of surgical sterilization of wild horse mares;

• Burns District of the BLM regarding the Determination of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Adequacy for modification of livestock grazing permit 3602582;

• Department of the Interior, stating that a $1,079,562 Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payment was issued to the county on June 22.

The PILT program compensates local jurisdictions for federal lands administered by agencies within the department and on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since counties and other local jurisdictions cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help defray costs associated with maintaining services that support these lands within their boundaries.

In other business, the court:

• agreed to appoint Brandon Haslick to the Oregon Water Resources Department Technical Advisory Council. Haslick is a fish and wildlife biologist for the Burns Paiute Natural Resources Department;

• learned from Mark Owens that the next Goal 5 meeting will be held in Drewsey July 18.

The objective of the  Goal 5 meetings is to garner input from community members regarding the natural resources that they consider important to the county and how they’d like to prioritize and sustain them;

• reviewed an agreement between Harney County and the Oregon Department of Transportation Rail and Public Transit Division to provide financial support for special transportation services benefiting seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The $127,026 grant will be used to purchase and install dispatch tablets in the public transportation vehicles.

Grasty explained that drivers will use the tablets to navigate their routes, saving gas and mileage.

The grant will also be used to purchase an additional public transportation vehicle.

The court approved Resolution 2016-09 in the matter of appropriating the unexpected grant funding;

• discussed typographical errors in Resolution 2016-06 and Resolution 2016-08. The court approved Amended Resolution 2016-06, in the matter of expenditure of the contingency held in Fund 241 General Operating Reserve, and Amended Resolution 2016-08, in the matter of appropriating funds due to unexpected occurrence or condition;

• reviewed water use requests;

• received a bid notice from Steve Beverlin, forest supervisor for the Malheur National Forest, regarding a timber sale (Gibb DxPre sale);

• received an update from Grasty regarding the biomass project, including funding, removal of the old courthouse boiler, and removal of an existing oil heating tank;

• reviewed a list of NEPA projects for June 2016 with BLM Public Affairs Specialist Tara Thissell;

• learned from Grasty that the draft Harney County Employee Handbook is complete. The handbook, which has been reviewed by Grasty, Colahan, and Citycounty Insurance Services, will be reviewed by county department heads before its presented to the court for final approval;

• held an executive session at 1 p.m. to consult with legal counsel. There being no further business, the court adjourned at 1:55 p.m.

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