During its meeting on July 17, the Harney County Court approved Resolution 2019-23 in the matter of establishing the Harney County Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC). The court also adopted the committee’s bylaws.

NRAC will advise the court on the needs and priorities of the county’s natural resources; provide substantial comments for the National Environmental Policy Act process; and work through implementation of the county’s land use plan.

The committee will consist of a maximum of nine members who must live in Harney County and identify two areas of interest from the following selection:

• agriculture and livestock production;

• timber and wood products production;

• recreation;

• hunting and fishing;

• the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center;

• cultural resources; and

• natural resources stewardship through the continuation of the customs, culture, health, safety, and economic stability of Harney County.

Committee meetings will be open to the public, and representatives from public land agencies will be encouraged to attend and answer questions.

Anyone who is interested in serving on the NRAC can submit a letter of interest by 5 p.m. on Aug. 5 to the Harney County Court at 450 N. Buena Vista Ave., Burns, Oregon 97720. Letters can also be emailed to mark.owens@co.harney.or.us.

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The court approved an order in the matter of vacating portions of Crane’s Main Avenue, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Donaldson Avenue, and Leland Street (as described in Court Document 2019-12).

Area school districts asked the county to vacate right of ways that go through school grounds, and a public hearing was held July 3.

Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella recommended the vacation, explaining that the roads serve no useful purpose. Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens noted that the vacation will address a public safety issue, as the schools can’t conduct a lockdown with the right of ways in place.

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In other business, the court:

• upon recommendation by Harney County Senior and Community Services Center Executive Director Angela Lamborn, approved a bid from Phillip Sitz Construction Inc. to extend the center’s bus barn.

Funding for the extension comes from federal transportation grant dollars that were set aside within the state for capital projects;

• was addressed by Lynn McClintock regarding dirty syringes that were found at the end of the nature trail near Lottery Lane.

Law enforcement officers advised the public not to pick up syringes. The Harney County Health Department has a syringe exchange program in place.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels suggested prohibiting vehicles from entering the area. The court will work with High Desert Park and Recreation to tackle the issue;

• was addressed by Jim Campbell regarding high speeds and noise from truck compression breaks near Airport Lane.

Runnels said signs prohibiting compression breaks will be posted. However, the state has to conduct a study before it can change the speed limit. Runnels will talk to Drushella about ordering a study;

• received an update from Becky Cunningham regarding Rimrock Recycling.

She reported that the recycling center has two months of operating capital, a truck is needed to haul two loads of material, and Rimrock will apply for a Department of Environmental Quality grant.

Cunningham added that recycling plastic has been an issue. However, twine and electronics are selling, and buyers will pick them up.

Owens will contact the road department about equipment maintenance, and Runnels will ask parole and probation to assist the elderly with appliance removal;

• approved Resolution 2019-24 in the matter of transferring appropriations within Public Health/RHC Fund 245. The resolution transfers $500 from the stationary and office supplies line to the printing and publications line. Overall expenditures won’t change;

• approved Resolution 2019-21 in the matter of correcting a clerical line in Home Health/Hospice Fund 251;

• approved Resolution 2019-22 in the matter of appropriating funds due to unexpected occurrence or condition. The resolution appropriates the $42,150 grant that Harney County received from Business Oregon for the Greater Harney Valley Area Water Feasibility Study;

• discussed the Harney County Investment Policy.

“I don’t have any intentions of investing at the current time, but I thought it was a good idea to just get [the policy] updated since it’s been a long time,” Harney County Treasurer Bobbi Jo Heany said.

“It’s good to have it in place,” Runnels replied.

The court was unsure how to formally acknowledge the policy, so it was tabled until the next meeting;

• will discuss liquor license renewals with Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward;

• recommended appointing Carey Goss to the Harney County Groundwater Study Advisory Committee.

Owens noted that the court’s recommendation is one-third of the process. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and advisory committee must also approve the appointment;

• discussed Public Notices of Water Use Requests.

Owens noted that the OWRD is starting to be more restrictive on transfer applications;

• received the Malheur National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions for summer 2019;

• will have a work session with Malheur National Forest Supervisor Craig Trulock;

• discussed a meeting that Harney County Economic Development organized for a commercial developer who is interested in doing a project in Harney County. Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh said various county and city personnel participated in the meeting to provide information about what to expect;

• noted that the county paid $7,000 a month for economic development services last year, but only budgeted $3,500 a month for this year. However, Gregory Smith and Company LLC is donating the other $3,500, so services won’t change.

“They’re doing that because they like Harney County; they want to stay actively engaged in Harney County; and they want to be a partner with us,” Owens said. “I think we need to make sure that people are aware that Greg Smith is donating all his own personal time and a lot of his staff resources;”

• learned from Dorroh that she will attend a public-safety summit regarding incarceration, mental health, medical services, reentry into the community, and prevention;

• learned from Owens that the National Association of Counties supports amending Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act (PILT) funding. The next step will be to garner support from senators.

The next county court meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 10 a.m. in Runnels’ office at the courthouse. The following meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20.