Paperwork goof puts Len Vohs back in the race for mayor

By Lauren Brown
Burns Times-Herald

At the Sept. 17 Harney County Court meeting, new information came to light regarding the Burns mayoral race set to take place in November.

While two candidates had officially filed, Yvonne Warden and Loretta Carter, a third, Len Vohs, had withdrawn his name from consideration when he resigned from the Burns City Council in August.

County Clerk Maria Iturriaga stated that her office received an e-mail from John Lindback, Director of the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office Elections Division. The e-mail stated that because a “Withdrawal of Candidacy or Nomination” form was never filled out for Vohs, his name must appear on the November ballot.

Iturriaga said that because the ballots have already been printed, they will have to be reprinted at a cost of about $800 to the City of Burns.

Vohs, who had withdrawn his name from the race in August, subsequently decided to run as a write-in candidate in September. Now, his name will appear on the November ballot.

In other business:

• the court heard a report from Weed Coordinator Chris Gregg on the appearance of a new noxious weed in Harney County. It is called African rue. It is a multi-branched and bushy perennial. Gregg stated that it is toxic to cattle. The plant has been found off Hutchison Lane near Lawen.

Gregg said the Oregon Department of Agriculture is working on a grant to treat the weed, and he recommended to the Weed Board that the plant be put on the A-list of noxious weeds.

Gregg stated that he couldn’t say for sure how the noxious plant ended up in Harney County, but that it has been a problem for the last 12 years in Crook County;

• Representatives from Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) Karen Hendrickson and George Wynn were present to explain why the TVCC budget includes an $8,000 match from the county to run the distance education program in Burns.

Judge Steve Grasty said the court would refrain from making a decision until the October meeting when another TVCC official, Linda Simmons, could be present;

• the court appointed Len Vohs and Pat Howes to the Harney Malheur Community Action Agency Advisory Board;

• the court met with County Planning Director Brandon McMullen and consultant Brent Lakes concerning the wind facilities siting;

• the court met with Planning Director McMullen and Stan Foster, a public affairs research consultant, concerning a technical assistance grant that the county has received. The grant pays for  a company to go through county ordinances and update outdated references as well as fix typos. The company will also assist the county with any new language changes that it might want to add.

• County Health Director Cheryl Keniston and LaDene Hurd addressed the court about the possibility of having the county pay for employees to have flu shots and health screenings.

The court declined to pay for the flu shots, but asked Keniston to come back with more specific numbers on how many employees would take advantage of a health screening;

• the court reviewed the solid waste disposal site closure permit for the Sod House Landfill.

The next Harney County Court meeting will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 8  in Judge Steve Grasty’s office.