The following are the unapproved minutes from the Harney County Court meeting held Dec. 21. These minutes were edited for clarity and length.

Rick Paul of Rimrock Recycling discussed five topics with the court:

1. First on the agenda was the lease agreement. Harney County Judge Pete Runnels explained that a 10-year lease was in place, which ran from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2022. It was suggested that the new lease be for a shorter term, as new Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rules will be effective soon.

2. Secondly, Paul asked that an awning be installed over the roll-up and main doors. He explained that snow slides off the metal roof, creating a hazard for employees and the public. Paul requested that someone come look at the property, recommend how to install an effective awning, and estimate the cost. Runnels reminded the court that Industrial Building Fund 215 should be used for this project.

3. Paul also noted that safety rails need to be welded onto the baler/hopper. This equipment belongs to the county, so the county is responsible for repairing and maintaining it. Harney County Roads Supervisor Eric Drushella said the Road Department has a skilled welder who can take care of this.

4. The roof is leaking. Paul was told that any repairs will have to wait until the snow is off the roof, so somebody can get up there to take a look.

5. Lastly, the heat doesn’t work in the building. Runnels said he talked to a heating contractor out of Bend. The contractor will come after the holidays to see what can be done.

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In other business:

• Patty McNeil and Ramona Hofman asked the court to donate from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help Harney County Opportunity Team (HCOT) with operating and maintenance expenses.

They explained that HCOT funds are low due to COVID-19, as most of the organization’s revenue comes from renting out the Community Center and Arrowhead Plaza for events.

Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh said she feels HCOT provides a valuable resource to the county. The court will determine how much it can contribute and follow up with HCOT during the January meeting.

Harney County Commissioner Kristen Shelman suggested that HCOT also ask the cities of Burns and Hines for donations;

• Interim Public Health Directors Kelly Singhose and Vicki Lopez provided an update.

Singhose said they met with each staff member regarding their projects. Each project was examined individually, as they all have their own operating budgets.

During this process, they identified some problems with how revenues and expenses were recorded, and they’re working to resolve them.

Dorroh asked which projects were impacted. Singhose said some impacted projects include WIC, Emergency Preparedness, Tobacco Prevention/Cession, and Disease Investigation Specialist (DIS).

The interim directors would like to continue the discussion in a couple of months, so they can review how their solutions are working.

They also announced that they made an offer to an applicant for the nurse practitioner position;

• Harney Hub Director Angela Lamborn presented the final draft of the Harney County Coordinated Transit Plan. She needs the court’s final approval, so she can submit it to the state.

Runnels moved to approve the plan, as presented. Shelman seconded the motion, and it passed;

• the court discussed Resolution 2022-30. The resolution corrects the names of two departments in Treatment Court Fund 207, so they correlate with the revenue lines.

Shelman moved to approve the resolution. Dorroh seconded the motion, and it passed.