Due to Independence Day, the Harney County Court rescheduled its regular meeting for Thursday, July 5.

During the meeting, the court agreed to approve and submit its comments on the Malheur Lakes Redband Trout Conservation Plan.

According to a press release published in the May 2 edition of the Burns Times-Herald, the plan intends “to protect, conserve, and manage redband trout in the Blitzen and Silvies rivers, Silver Creek, and other streams surrounding Malheur and Harney lakes in Southeast Oregon with the voluntary help of local groups and landowners.”

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) postponed presenting the plan to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and canceled two public meetings to allow more time to work with key stakeholders and local partners.

“Based on early comments received on the Public Draft, we recognized that there was an opportunity to better describe the current situation with redband trout,” Dave Banks, ODFW district fisheries biologist in Hines, stated in the press release. “We decided that it made sense to hold off on bringing the conservation plan to the commission so there would be time to improve it.”

After reviewing the plan, Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens stated that it’s more of an assessment.

“The plan actually had nothing in it to state any corrective actions that should be taking place in order to address the situation,” he said, adding, “We know it’s not a complete assessment of the current situation.”

In its introductory comments, the court states that it recognizes the importance of healthy and stable redband trout populations, but “has several concerns with various aspects” of the public draft of the conservation plan, including “the insufficiency of the data” upon which the plan is based. The court also raises concerns about several of the proposed actions, stating that they are “vague and ambiguous” and “could potentially result in negative impacts to local rural communities and private landowners.”

Owens said, “We’re not trying to derail the whole thing. We’re asking them to go back through, reassess the situation, [and] come back and tell us what they believe that the current situation is [so] we can sit down and work with them on volunteer agreements in order to develop a plan.”

He noted that the current plan discusses the threat of farming, grazing, and timber to redband trout and said, “A lot of those have legacy issues that probably did affect the redband, but we’ve moved past that, and we have a whole different model of management now than we did previously. So we’re asking them to assess the current management of those activities and then tell us how they affect the redband. If there’s still change to be made, that’s fine. We’ll work with them and try to address those issues.”

In its comments, the court also formally requested that ODFW delay any discussion on the conservation plan until other “water conversations” occurring in the Harney Basin are complete.

“Our county is currently ongoing several concurrent studies relating to water in the Harney Basin, several of which could have regulatory implications to our community,” the county’s comments state. “We will be working with the community on volunteer agreements to avoid regulatory actions. Potential overload of studies and volunteer agreements could lead to all efforts being unsuccessful.”

Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh said, “I’m hoping that when they get this letter they’ll see what we’re talking about.”

“I think they will,” Owens replied. “ODFW said they will sit down with us once we put our comments in, and we can start the discussion together.”

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The court approved Resolution 2018-11, amending the county’s fair housing policy.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels explained that the county needs the resolution for its 2018 Community Development Block Grant application.

If secured, the grant will be used to rehabilitate owner-occupied homes for low- and moderate-income individuals in Burns, Hines, and Harney County. Grant funds could be used for foundation, siding, dry rot, electrical, plumbing, roof/gutter, septic/sanitation, insulation, door/window, special needs, painting, structural, flooring, siding/paint, porch/step, heating/cooling, and other home repairs.

The county is currently accepting wait list applications, which will help demonstrate the community’s interest and need. Submitting a wait list application does not guarantee funding. However, it will allow the county to move forward with the application process.

Wait list applications are available at the courthouse, Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, and online at www.facebook.com/harneycounty/

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In other business, the court:

• received comments from Paul Hyland and Darlene Wingfield regarding the replacement bridge on Embree Lane. Wingfield shared her concerns about safety and noted that materials were left behind. Hyland said he still can’t get water to his pasture, and the fence needs to be repaired.

Runnels said he will follow up with Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella;

• appointed Arthel Kline and Douglas Furr to fill vacant positions on the Harney County Library Advisory Board. Their terms will run until June 30, 2022, with the option to renew for four years.

Harney County Library Director Cheryl Hancock reported that Kate Cunningham also expressed interest in a position, and she will serve as a member-at-large;

• approved 16 liquor licenses for 10 Harney County businesses, pending approval by Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward.

These licenses, which are due to expire Sept. 30, are for Harney County businesses outside the cities of Burns and Hines. Some businesses have dual licenses for on- and off-premise sales;

• discussed water use requests;

• received correspondence from U.S. Forest Service Contracting Officer Arnie J. Cole regarding the Byars DxPre timber sale;

• received correspondence from the Vale Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding emergency stabilization and rehabilitation actions that may occur on BLM-administered lands affected by the Jackies Butte fire, which was ignited by lightning on June 15, 2018, and contained the same day;

• received correspondence from the Burns BLM regarding an environmental assessment and unsigned finding of no significant impact analyzing the effects of the Spay Feasibility and On-Range Behavioral Outcomes Assessment and Population Management Plan for Warm Springs Herd Management Area;

• received an update from Owens regarding flood issues in Harney County;

• learned that Dorroh attended her first meeting of the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.

“I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for our local contractors and subcontractors to communicate with me on issues that they have around rules, regulations, and licensing,” Dorroh said;

• learned from Owens that the quarterly Community-Based Water Planning full collaborative meeting will be held July 18, from 4-7 p.m. in the Memorial Building at the Harney County Fairgrounds. The Harney County Watershed Council will hold its annual barbecue after the meeting. Owens and Marjorie Thelen encouraged local stakeholders to attend and provide input;

• learned from Runnels that a work session with the Oregon Farm Bureau and Harney County Farm Bureau will be held during the Aug. 1 county court meeting at 1:30 p.m.;

• held an executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations.

Following the executive session, the court approved the bargaining agreement for the 911 dispatchers for July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.

The next meeting of the Harney County Court will be held Wednesday, July 18, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse.