Superintendent asks Harney County Court for property extension
By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald
In a county full of wide open spaces, sometimes it’s the smaller distances that cause concern.
On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Crane Schools Superintendent Pat Sharp approached the Harney County Court to request an extension of the schools’ existing property on the west side of the school track on to the county easement.
Sharp said the school wants to place a rail fence on the west side of the track to prevent livestock and vehicles from damaging the new track.
Because the new track is larger than the one it was built on top of, for approximately 600 feet along the west side of the track and adjacent to Clyde Avenue, the track is located approximately two feet from from the school district’s property line, leaving no space for spectators. She added that it could be a potential danger for runners having to run so close to the fence.
Sharp told the court that if they could go out 20 feet on to the easement, and build the fence there, that would allow room for spectators and possibly a set of bleachers. Several residents of Crane were in attendance to express concern that if the fence were built 20 feet out from the track, it would compromise Clyde Avenue.
“You would be making a narrow street, and possibly creating parking issues,” Don Lindner said. The court agreed that a fence was needed to protect the integrity of the track, but were reluctant to grant Sharp’s request.
“I want to help the school out, but I can’t support the full 20 feet,” commissioner Dan Nichols said. Harney County Judge Steve Grasty suggested the court make a trip to Crane on Aug. 20 and look at the property.
“If we go out and look, we can figure out what’s the minimum you can deal with out there,” Grasty said.
The court reviewed six letters of interest they had received regarding the three vacancies on the county planning commission. After some discussion, the court appointed Jeff Dorroh, Vern Brown and Lindner to the commission.
Nick Miller and Joan Suther from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gave a presentation on the Slickear Creek/Claw Creek forest restoration project. Miller said the project would include both commercial and non-commercial thinning, with a harvest of possibly up to one million board feet.Grasty expressed some concern that the project was being done as a stewardship contract, meaning the county wouldn’t receive 25 percent of the timber receipts. Suther said the stewardship contracts mean less out-of-pocket costs for the BLM, while still creating jobs in the community. Grasty also brought up the possibility of a biomass company having interest in the area. “If there’s no commercial value, biomass is an option,” Suther said. If there’s any interest, we would do our best to make it available.”
In other business:
• because of ongoing disputes among neighbors on Penland Road, the court decided to go ahead with an order to legalize the road;
• Karla Bird told the court that the Saturday morning farmers’ markets are growing in popularity and are planned to be held through mid-September at Hines Park;
• Patty Dorroh, Harney County Commission on Children and Families Director, asked the court to sign an agreement with the Training and Employment Consortium for Childcare Resource and Referral for an early childhood educational and enhancement program. Dorroh explained that the program was funded by the state, and would help to improve the quality of childcare in the county, including training for the providers. The court voted to sign the agreement; • the court reviewed a list of surplus items to be sold, including two automobiles, a pickup, a fork lift and a cardboard baler. It was agreed that the items would be advertised and sold by the sealed bid process;
• the court signed the deed notice regarding the closed Sodhouse landfill;
• the court reviewed a letter from 4R Recycling requesting more space; • the court appointed Bob Greisen to fill the at-large position on the Weed Board.
The next county court meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20.
