Photo by BRANDON MCMULLEN

From L-R: Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh, Harney County Judge Bill Hart, and Harney County Commissioner Kristen Shelman.

The following are the unapproved minutes from the Harney County Court meeting held Oct. 4. These minutes were edited for clarity and length.

Harney County Commissioner Kristen Shelman, liaison to the Fair Board, shared information about the Fairgrounds Capital Project. She said the Fair Board will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the whole fairgrounds project.

The Fair Board suggests delaying any major projects until after this winter, as the forecast calls for inclement weather. They might not be able to start anything major until after the 2024 Fair. The only thing that may come down before then is the Exhibit Building, which is no longer in use. The board contacted two companies that will either charge for demolition or pay for the buildings so they can salvage the tin on the outside.

After some discussion, Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh suggested inviting Rural Prosperity Partners (Harney County broadband contractors) to discuss the various county needs. Dorroh said she’s not trying to push this contractor, but she’s been very pleased with their expertise, and they might be able to offer other types of funding.

Harney County Judge Bill Hart said the Fair Board didn’t allow the County Court to be as engaged in the process — from planning to design — as they should have been. He said the fairgrounds belongs to the county, is county/public property, and the court is responsible for it.

Hart noted that Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 565 gives the Fair Board authority to manage the grounds and do these types of projects, but there’s also a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) specifically stating that capital improvement projects will be planned cooperatively between the Harney County Court and the Fair Board.

Hart continued that he doesn’t believe the court has had any say in the planning process in the last nine months. He said he isn’t opposed to the event facility or its potential for Harney County in any way, shape, or form, but he said the planning process has not been inclusive of the county.

Shelman disagreed. She said the Fair Board held a lot of work sessions and public meetings, which the court attended in person or via Zoom. She said she doesn’t know what more they want.

Hart said if he hadn’t gone to the Fair Board meetings, he wouldn’t have been included in any way.

Dorroh said having a presence at a Fair Board meeting is not the same.

After some additional discussion, Shelman asked the court what other forms of communication they would like.

Dorroh said they would like to have a conversation.

Hart said people are resistant to change, and he encouraged the public to attend the Fair Board meetings. He added that he’s heard from people who are concerned about the loss of our culture at the fairgrounds.

After a lengthy discussion, Hart reiterated that the planning process has not been cooperative with the court.

Shelman said that’s his opinion. She added that they walked the grounds multiple times with the court, and some decisions were made before Hart took office. She noted that many work sessions were held in the planning phase that were open to the public, and multiple community members attended them and provided input.

According to Hart, the Fair Board just told people what they were doing, and didn’t ask for the court’s input on anything. He added that it’s not incumbent on the court to attend the meetings, but for the Fair Board to come and talk to the governing body.

Shelman said the court appoints the Fair Board to take on these roles and responsibilities. She said the court interacts with volunteer boards in many different capacities, and if we’re going to give them zero authority to work on projects, why should they stay?

She added that dollars came directly to the fairgrounds, and they are authorized through statutes. The Fair Board is responsible for taking that money and making it work for the fair and any event held at the fairgrounds.

Dorroh said she would like to have boards provide updates during County Court meetings.

After a lengthy discussion, Hart said the County Court is ultimately responsible for the fairgrounds. Dorroh agreed, and Shelman said the board is more than aware of that.

The discussion ended with Hart saying they might be aware of it, but he doesn’t feel the cooperation level reflects that. Shelman responding by saying it is a two-way street.

The Harney County Fair Board wrote a letter to the editor in response to the county court meeting. You can find it here.

•••
In other business:

• Rick Paul visited with Ken Patterson who manages Region 5 of the Southeast Area Commission on Transportation (SEACT).

Patterson informed Paul that Hines City Administrator Kirby Letham will receive a planning grant for Safe Schools that includes Slater Elementary, Hines Middle School, and Burns High School;

• Sheriff Dan Jenkins reported that the jail’s age and condition have created challenges and liability issues in the past. However, they just passed their jail inspection from the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association. He credited Lt. Roxane Worley and her staff, noting that they worked very hard to prepare for these inspections.

Worley shared that, at the end of the day on Sept. 3, they were at a 98 percent on their inspection. They hope to be at 99 percent by the Oct. 21 deadline. They received a lot of praise from the inspectors, and they were excited to see the jail now vs how it was before.

Dorroh said she would like to get the front-door overhang fixed before winter, and Hart said he would have the Facilities Operation Manager look at it;

• Karen Moon from the Harney County Watershed Council shared the 2022 annul update packet with the court.

A discussion ensued regarding AgriMet (weather) stations at Owens Hay and Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center.

There was also discussion regarding ownership of the Five Mile Dam. Moon said the dam needs replaced, and she hopes grant money can be used, so landowners don’t have to cover the cost.

Moon also noted that the High Desert Youth Range Camp was canceled this year because it was too snowy and muddy.

She also reported that there are four open position on the board and council, and she struggles to get volunteers for the citizen positions;

• Harney County Chief Deputy Clerk Tammy Attleberger said the Board of Property Tax Appeal will be changing its name to the Property Value Appeals Board.

Hart made a motion to approve the appointment of himself, Shelman, Julie Svejcar, and Mardi Stewart to the board. Dorroh seconded the motion, and it passed.