District Attorney (DA) Tim Colahan attended the regular meeting of the Harney County Court (held April 3) to discuss House Bill (HB) 3194. 

 

In a memorandum addressed to the court, Colahan wrote (in part) that HB 3194 is “a bill that would purportedly ‘reward’ counties with money in exchange for wholesale prison sentence reductions and other sentence reform.”

 

During the meeting, Colahan said the bill “encapsulates policy proposals” that were put forward by Gov. John Kitzhaber’s Commission on Public Safety.

 

According to an article published by Willamette Week entitled, “The Hard Truth About Oregon’s Prisons: They Work,” Kitzhaber’s plan is to “promote alternatives to incarceration and effectively cap the number of inmates in Oregon’s 14 prisons around the current number — 14,308.”

 

Colahan said the Commission on Public Safety, which was reconstituted in 2012, “came in and did what they referred to as an exhaustive study of Oregon’s criminal justice system.” He said the commission operated under the premise that Oregon’s prison system is “growing at an explosive rate,” and, if changes are not made, a new prison will be needed to support the rapidly increasing inmate population. 

 

But Colahan said the prison inmate forecast is “inflated.” He added, “This is based on the false premise that the prisons are out of control, and we are sending people to prison for low-level offenses.” He said the projected number of inmates is actually within 373 of where the governor wants it to be. “If we can keep 373 people from going to prison, we won’t need sweeping changes,” he said. Colahan added that he believes there will be enough space for inmates in the state’s existing prisons. 

 

If HB 3194 is passed into law, there will be monetary incentives to reward counties that reduce sentences.

 

“The governor’s office is trying to buy off counties with small amounts of money,” Colahan said. He added that, as a result, counties would take over the responsibility of inmates who would have otherwise gone to prison. “If we buy into this incentive plan, we are taking a huge risk that we are going to take on a huge responsibility,” he said.

 

Colahan added that the bill proposes an end to mandatory minimum sentences for second-degree robbery, second-degree assault and first-degree sex abuse. “Those three offenses comprise 42 percent of Measure 11 sentences,” he said. He added that HB 3194 would result in a “major change” to Measure 11.

 

Approved by voters in 1994, Measure 11 established mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes. 

 

However, in his memorandum, Colahan wrote that Oregon’s prison incarceration rate is near the bottom third of the U.S. and 25 percent below the national average (even though the state’s crime rate and need for prison space are not.) He wrote that Oregon incarcerates the lowest percentage of non-violent offenders and second-lowest percentage of drug offenders in the U.S. He added that 70 percent of Oregon felony crimes result in sentences of local probation instead of prison, and the Oregon Department of Corrections budget is using a smaller percentage of the general fund than it did in 2004 and 2005. He wrote that, since the introduction of Measure 11, Oregon has moved from one of the 10 most violent states to one of the 10 least violent states, and its actual growth in prison population has been consistently well below the official projected growth for most of the last 20 years.

 

But despite a lower rate of incarceration, Oregon’s prisons have the seventh highest operating costs in the nation. Colahan said many of the operating costs are for labor, but he is “certainly not suggesting” that public employees should not be adequately funded.

 

Colahan also said it costs less to incarcerate Measure 11 offenders than it does to prevent them from going to prison, explaining that offenders who are not sent to prison could commit additional crimes, incurring costs for victims and police officers.

 

Colahan added that money should not be the only deciding factor. 

 

“We all know money drives policy, but I really question whether judges should have money in the back of their minds when they are sentencing. At some point, justice needs to be served,” he said.

 

Colahan said a lot of pressure has been put on the Oregon Juvenile Department and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) to support the bill.

 

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty said the AOC would be voting to determine whether it supports the bill during its April 8 meeting. He added that the AOC has been “accepted as a political group,” explaining that Harney County has more pull as part of the association than it would as an individual county.

 

“I’m going to go to that meeting,” Grasty said. He added, “We are not just going to go in and vote in opposition of our DA and law enforcement,” stating that these are the “folks that are most knowledgeable” about the issue. 

 

Grasty said the bill has two parts: incentives and reduction in sentencing. 

 

“I think the conversation will break into two areas — will the county support the incentive side, and what do we do about sentencing? Justifiably, we need money for community corrections,” Grasty said, but he asked what the sentencing options would be. 

 

“Quite honestly, I think the bill will continue regardless of AOC’s position, but it may slow down a bit if the AOC opposes it,” Colahan said.

 

Harney County Commissioner Dan Nichols asked Colahan what his “dream resolution” would be.

 

Colahan replied that some changes should be made, but not to Measure 11. 

 

“We can be where the governor wants to be without 3194,” he said. He added that HB 3194 put all the proposals that were made by the Commission on Public Safety together into one group. “When packaged together with all these other things, it becomes a poison pill,” he said.

 

Colahan said HB 3195 could be an alternative to HB 3194, but it has received “very little attention because all of the attention is on 3194.”

 

Grasty said HB 3195 is “not even on the radar of the AOC.”

 

Nichols asked, “How much of an answer is 3195?”

 

Colahan replied that additions would need to be made to HB 3195 in order to “get to where it would need to be to prevent a new prison from being built.” He added that the bill “scares the the governor’s staff because it’s too simple, and it takes the wind out of its sails.”

 

Colahan added that the issue is a “constantly changing picture,” but “what we are trying to say is, ‘Slow down, look at these numbers, and don’t go to the extreme that 3194 is.’”

 

•••

Veterans Service Officer Guy McKay attended the meeting to provide a quarterly update regarding veterans services in Harney County. 

 

McKay said he appreciates the local radio station for airing a veterans outreach radio show.

 

McKay added that he has been talking with local veterans groups about establishing an Oregon Band of Brothers group in Harney County. According to its website, the Oregon Band of Brothers originated in Bend and expanded to other Oregon cities. The group is comprised of veterans from every conflict since World War II and includes every rank and service. 

 

McKay said he partnered with Teri Cain and other community members to organize an event for military families. He said on Friday, April 26, a “wishing tree” will be planted at the Burns Armory. He explained that the tree planting was inspired by “The Wishing Tree,” a children’s book that was written by Mary Redman and illustrated by Christina Rodriguez. In this book, a young girl writes her hopes and prayers for her father, who was deployed, on yellow ribbons that she ties to the branches of a tree. 

 

Nichols said, “It’s a good thing you are planting a tree at the armory. It could use a tree.”

 

McKay said he is also working to organize a symposium at the Burns Armory on May 17 that would help teach the public to recognize the signs and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

 

McKay and the court also discussed the possibility of organizing a barbecue for a battalion that will be staying at the Harney County Fairgrounds on its way back from a training in Idaho.

 

McKay said, “I’m going to keep doing events … and pretty soon people will become aware of [veteran’s services].”

 

Grasty told McKay, “I heard a lot of people compliment you and saw a lot of people shake your hand in thanks. I think we have as good of a county vets service program as we’ve had, and that’s to your credit.”

 

McKay replied, “I appreciate [the court] for giving me the opportunity to be what I can be.”

 

•••

Compliments were also given to Harney County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jen Hoke who attended the meeting to update the court regarding chamber activities and inform the court that she will be resigning from her chamber position.

 

“Without a doubt, you have been the best director that the chamber has ever had,” Grasty said.

 

Hoke informed the court that the Eastern Oregon Visitor’s Association issued its guide for 2013. She said the guide is used by Travel Oregon to promote tourism in the 11 Eastern Oregon Counties, including Harney County.

 

She presented the court with a flyer for the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival, which will take place from April 11-14, and briefed the court about festival activities.

 

Hoke reminded the court that Cycle Oregon will be coming through the area in September. She said more than 2,000 cyclers will be staying a total of four nights in various locations throughout the county, which is enough people to almost double the population of Burns. She said 20 local groups and organizations have “stepped up” to help host the cyclers. She added that this will be a good fundraising opportunity for the groups, as Cycle Oregon will pay them a minimum of $500. She said Cycle Oregon contracts with each of the groups, and they are paid individually.

 

Hoke then presented the court with a framed print of a watercolor by Mary Lou Wilhelm.

 

•••

In other business, the court:

 

• appointed Harney County Clerk Derrin Robinson as its probate commissioner;

 

• discussed federal sequestration;

 

• received an update from Grasty regarding the Sage Grouse Conservation Partnership (SageCon);

 

• was addressed by Herb Vloedman during the public comment period. Vloedman requested a list of all the vendors that the court has done business with this fiscal year;

 

• scheduled its first budget meeting for April 24 at 10 a.m.

 

The next regular meeting of the county court will be held Wednesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. in Judge Grasty’s office at the courthouse. 

 

 

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) crews will be performing highway grinding and paving activities along Broadway Avenue (U.S. Highway 20) through downtown Burns for two days in April and about one day in early May. 

 

The work will be done along Broadway Avenue between North Alder Avenue (near Triangle Park) to Monroe Street at the south end of town. Travelers can expect lane closures, flaggers and delays of up to 20 minutes. In addition, curbside parking along Broadway will not be allowed through the work zone during the scheduled days of grinding and paving.  

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9-10, the existing pavement will be ground down to remove the top layer of the old asphalt surface that is deteriorating. Work will begin early in the morning and be completed by evening. Curbside parking along Broadway Avenue will not be allowed between 5 a.m. April 9 and 8 p.m. April 10. 

 

Crews will return Sunday, May 5, to lay new asphalt. Work will begin early in the morning and is scheduled to be completed by evening. If necessary, crews may return Monday morning to finish paving activities. Curbside parking along Broadway Avenue will not be allowed between 5 a.m. May 5 until paving work is complete. 

 

The scheduled work dates are weather dependent and may change. To help remind businesses and travelers, flyers will be distributed to local shops in the area. 

 

“We understand this paving project will be an inconvenience for businesses and travelers and appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation,” said ODOT Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg. “The project will help extend the useful life of the highway and create a nice clean look for downtown Burns’ main street.”

 

For more information, contact ODOT Region 5 Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg at 541-963-1330 or by email at Thomas.m.strandberg@odot.state.or.us.

Mark your calendars — the bird festival will soon be here. This year there are even more activities — many of them at no cost — for the community that begin on April 11 and continue through April 14.

The 32nd year of the John Scharff Migratory Bird Festival begins on Thursday, April 11, with the viewing of a new video, “Raising Kid Colt — A Story of a Young Sandhill Crane” at 7 p.m. at the Harney County Community Center. This 35-minute video follows a crane pair from their arrival in Homer, Ala., as they nest, raise their young, depart in the fall and then return in the spring. It offers unique insight into sandhill crane behavior and contains footage never before filmed. Gary Ivey of the International Crane Foundation will be available to answer any questions about cranes. Come learn about the life of sandhill cranes at this free event.

The Historic Desert Theatre is also offering showings of two unique movies during the festival weekend. “Meeks Cut-Off,” which was filmed in Harney County, will be shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday. The year is 1845, the earliest days of the Oregon Trail, and a wagon team of three families has hired mountain man Stephen Meek to guide them over the Cascade Mountains. Claiming to know a short cut, Meek leads the group on an unmarked path across the high plain desert, only to become lost in the dry rock and sage. Over the coming days, the emigrants must face the scourges of hunger, thirst and their own lack of faith in each other’s instincts for survival. The theatre shifts reels on Friday with a 7 p.m. showing of the documentary “Winged Migration.” This documentary follows several species of migratory birds over a four-year filming period. These birds travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles toward the equator in the autumn, and make the return journey to their higher latitude summer homes in the spring, always taking the same route, using the natural compasses of the universe, the stars, to find their way. A second showing of the film will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The festival wings into full gear on Friday, April 12, with displays of the entries for the Youth Art Contest in Burns and Hines businesses throughout the weekend.

Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist Scott Thomas will be available Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the high school cafeteria to answer questions after he presents the latest information about evidence of Clovis culture in southeastern Oregon, Edible Spring Plants in the Harney Basin, a World War II B24 Crash in the Pueblo Mountains, and the Gap Ranch Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. These interesting and detailed discussions give listeners a visual opportunity to experience the history, archaeology and cultural botany in the Harney Basin. The relaxed atmosphere of this presentation will allow for plenty of question and answer time and casual stretch breaks. Come and go as you please!

The finalists in the Youth Art Contest will be on display in the Art Show at the high school beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday. This year’s Art Show will feature artists from around the Northwest, as well as some of the local artists. You don’t want to miss this fantastic display of wildlife art. The Harney County CattleWomen will also be offering a tri-tip tasting on Friday at the high school from 5 to 7:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to learn more about this important Harney County agricultural industry while sampling some delicious food. You may also want to try your hand at calf roping while you’re visiting with members of the HC CattleWomen.

After you’ve sampled some tri-tip and looked at the Art Show offerings, you’ll want to stay around for a performance by the Veritas School Concert Choir from Newberg. The choir is coming to Harney County as part of their five-day Eastern Oregon Concert Tour. They are the two-time High School State Choir Champions, in the 2A/1A division. They will sing a wide variety of a capella music from around the world. Their concert begins at 6:15 p.m. in the Burns High School cafeteria and is offered at no cost to the community.

But the evening doesn’t end there. Back by popular demand is Trish Nixon from the Boise Center for Birds of Prey at 7:30 p.m. Nixon’s free presentation is “OWL Be Darned……Amazing Facts about Owls of all Types.” You’ll learn about some little known traits and habits of all types of owls, and she’s going to bring two owls with her, large and small, for the audience to meet, photograph, and learn more about. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to meet these amazing night predators.

Saturday begins with a variety of activities for the entire family. The Burns Lions Club and Martinak Ventures will hold a Building Bird Houses Workshop at noon in the high school wood shop that is geared for youngsters, but all ages are invited to join in the fun. Instructors will be available to help participants build a basic bird house. Materials and tools are provided, and participants get to take their free bird house home! Be sure to come early, as the workshop ends when the materials run out.

The Harney Basin Heritage and Kids Fun Fair will be held on Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Participants of all ages can learn about the prehistory, history, culture and wildlife of the area. There will be free wildlife art projects, heritage activities, exhibits, balloon animals, free face painting and much more. You may even want to paint your newly constructed bird house at the Fun Fair. You don’t want to miss this free fun-filled family event sponsored by local agencies.

The festival is hosting a new free Saturday workshop — “Introduction to Bird Sketching: Quick and Easy Methods to Learn to Draw Birds.” This hands-on workshop is being presented by artist and biologist Christine Elder. Elder believes that “art and science can be gateways to each other, as each discipline can entice learners to become fascinated with the other.” Elder has a master’s degree in biology and a graduate certificate in scientific illustration. She has taught courses in both science and art for more than 15 years. She is teaching Drawing from Nature classes through June at The Art Station in Bend. Elder will hold two workshops: a youth workshop (ages 12 and under) from 11 a.m. until noon, and an adult workshop (ages 13 and older) from 1 until 3 p.m. If you’re interested in learning some techniques to illustrate wildlife, this is the workshop for you.

A highlight of the festival is the Saturday evening banquet at the Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a no-host beer and wine social hour and then a 6 p.m. dinner catered by Wendy Reid of KB Catering. The evening ends with an insightful presentation by Dr. Greg Butcher, Director of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society, about how climate change is influencing the distribution of birds in North America. Nearly 60 percent of the 305 species found in North America in winter are on the move, shifting their ranges northward by an average of 35 miles. Audubon scientists analyzed 40 years of citizen-science Christmas bird count data, and their findings provide new and powerful evidence that global warming is having a serious impact on natural systems. You do not want to miss this fascinating and timely presentation, especially if you have participated in the Harney County Christmas Bird Count. Tickets for the meal and presentation are $25 per person. Pre-purchase at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce or Bird Central at the high school is strongly encouraged. Tickets to attend the 7 p.m. presentation without dinner are $15.

The festival winds down on Sunday, and you’ll have one last chance to visit the Art Show before it closes at 2 p.m. Be sure to stop by the high school to view the finalists in the Youth Art Contest, view art and photography from around the northwest and to visit with old and new friends. See you at the Bird Festival!

 

 

On Feb. 13, the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA) notified Chad Karges, deputy manager of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and the directors of the High Desert Partnership they had been selected as one of two winners of the 2013 Oregon Mediation Association Mediator’s Choice Award.

 

The award recognizes people in Oregon who have made an extraordinary contribution toward collaboration and peacemaking in Oregon’s communities. Specifically, they look for individuals or groups that have made positive contributions by building understanding, healing communities, resolving complex problems, establishing trust and strengthening relationships.

 

Laurel Singer and Peter Harkema of Oregon Consensus, a program of the National Policy Consensus Center at Portland State, responded to OMA’s request for nominations with a description of the work by Karges and High Desert Partnership. Singer wrote, in part: “There had been a deep conflict in Malheur and Harney counties between ranchers, environmentalists, and state and federal agencies. Chad has been a force in helping approach the planning process in a collaborative way. He helped forge the High Desert Partnership to continue to collaborate on projects on an ongoing basis. In his quiet way, he used his role — demonstrating leadership, seeing a vision. He promoted problem-solving on the local level. This effort has been a huge success.”

 

The High Desert Partnership is a grassroots organization focused on bringing together landowners, conservationists, social advocates, agencies and other interested people to address the important challenges of today and tomorrow. The partnership recognizes that sustainability of people and the environment is dependent upon effectively addressing social, ecological and economic factors. The partnership’s goal is “Protecting the rural lifestyle and associated natural resources of Southeast Oregon for present and future generations through open communication and cooperation.” They strive to advance this goal through collaborative forums in which important issues are addressed before they become a crisis.

 

The award ceremony will be held Saturday, May 4, in Portland.

 

The OMA is a statewide nonprofit organization of mediators and supporters of mediation founded in 1986. OMA is committed to the development, support and advocacy of mediation in the state of Oregon.

 

 

 

A County Emergency Preparedness Stakeholder Conference was held Thursday, March 21, at Harney District Hospital (HDH). The conference featured “lightning round topics” in which representatives from various organizations involved in emergency preparedness outlined some of the projects they have been working on.

 

 

Michael Howard, project specialist for the Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR), discussed updating Harney County’s Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP).

 

Harney County is currently cooperating with OPDR, Resource Assistance to Rural Environments and Oregon Emergency Management to update its NHMP. 

 

According to a press release issued by Tom Sharp, Harney County emergency management and preparedness coordinator, “A natural hazards mitigation plan provides communities with a set of goals, action items, and resources designed to reduce risk from future natural disaster events.”

 

Howard said the three most prevalent natural disasters facing Harney County are flooding, wildfires and drought.

 

Harney County’s previous NHMP was developed in 2008 with funding from the  Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. The plan, which  must be updated every five years in order for the county to maintain eligibility for federal hazards mitigation funding, expired March 19.

 

A steering committee made up of representatives from city and county government, federal agencies, public health, public utilities and emergency management personnel is working to  update the plan in order to secure funding for future and ongoing natural hazards mitigation projects. In addition to Harney County, the NHMP affects the cities of Burns and Hines and Harney Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

 

Howard said one update to the NHMP could be to develop a reverse  9-1-1 system. He explained that the system would provide “proactive communication to people in harm’s way” by sending messages to their cellphones. Other projects could be to develop a county-wide flood insurance program and maintain the fuel breaks that prevent  wildfires from entering the cities of Burns and Hines. Howard said another project would be to spray coat the bases of Harney Electric’s power poles, helping to protect them from wildfires.

 

The steering committee is also putting together a community profile to help identify populations that are vulnerable or at risk during emergencies. 

 

Howard said comments and feedback from the steering committee and general public are needed before the updated NHMP is submitted to FEMA for approval.

 

A draft version of the updated NHMP will be available for formal public comment from March 25 until April 5 on the OPDR and Harney County websites. Anyone interested in commenting may visit:

csc.uoregon.edu/opdr/current/easternoregon/harney

 

 

Shannon Elia, who manages infection control and employee health at HDH,  and Barbara Rothgeb, Harney County Health Department director, presented information on the 2013 influenza response.

 

Elia said she tracked lab-confirmed cases of influenza and ensured that hospital staff who wanted the vaccine were able to receive it. She said Dec. 21 marked the first lab-confirmed case of influenza in the community. The hospital began restricting visitors due to influenza on Jan. 17. Visitors under the age of 13 were not allowed in the hospital until the restriction was lifted in late February. 

 

Rothgeb said she had been tracking the number of vaccines available, and it “quickly became apparent that there was a shortage in pediatric flu vaccines.” She explained that different manufacturers have different guidelines for the minimum age that a child must be in order to receive a vaccine. For example, she said some vaccines can be given to children as young as 6 months, while others set the minimum age at 9 years. 

 

From the experience, Rothgeb said she learned more about how vaccines can be accessed when supplies are low.

 

 

Matt Fine and Ron Copeland from Harney County Search and Rescue (SAR) discussed the rescue of four construction workers who became stuck in their snow cat at the Steens Mountain summit during a severe storm in December 2012.

 

They thanked the Harney County Snowmobile Club who they said did the “lion’s share of the work.”

 

They also mentioned that SAR rescued two hikers from Steens Mountain in June, in addition to locating lost hunters.

 

 

Sharp discussed ongoing efforts to keep the Harney County Fair, Rodeo & Race Meet fun and safe.

 

He said one way to reduce fair hazards is to focus on disease prevention, explaining that diseases can spread when people touch animals in the livestock area and then touch food.

 

“If there is bacteria in the environment, there is a lot of opportunity for that to go into people,” he said.

 

He added that “temporary setups” in buildings and  trailers are used to offer food at the fair, and vendors are often pushed to serve customers quickly, which can affect the cleanliness of food service.

 

He said some of these hazards can be mitigated by adding hand washing stations and posting signs that educate people about the importance of hand washing.

 

Sharp said focusing on fire prevention will also reduce hazards. He discussed the possibility of designating smoking areas and warned about the dangers of overloading circuits.

 

He also discussed the impact of having “people in uniform” present to provide security and mentioned the possibility of the health department providing a first aid station. He said having emergency medical services present and effective communication systems available are also important. 

 

The fair’s level of preparedness for severe thunder and lightening storms was also discussed. 

 

 

Perrilyn Wells, a HDH emergency medical technician, provided an overview of emergency preparedness at HDH. 

 

“We can’t ever be completely prepared for everything,” she said, “but we can think about the possibilities.”

 

For example, she said hospital staff is cross-trained in Incident Command System (ICS). According to FEMA’s website, ICS is a “standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach.”

 

Wells added that, in the event of a power outage, the hospital has a generator that can run the hospital for up to 96 hours. She said the generator is fueled by diesel, and there have been discussions regarding how fuel will be prioritized in the event of a prolonged outage. 

 

Wells said HDH has decontamination showers available, and a mass casualty incident trailer is “equipped and ready to go.” 

 

She added that HDH conducts emergency drills to keep staff prepared for possible incidents. For example, the hospital conducts 12 fire drills a year.

 

“I’m confident that if we had a fire in [the hospital] we would be prepared,” she said. 

 

Wells said if there was a massive earthquake or tsunami, people would come to this area in search of shelter and healthcare within 48 to 72, and the hospital needs to be prepared for that. 

 

Kenton Dick, a representative of the Burns Paiute Tribe, asked whether the tribe could participate in some of the hospital’s drills. Wells replied that when the hospital does a table top or functional drill, she would like to invite anyone in the community to come.

 

Dick also asked whether the hospital has enough personnel to deal with a major disaster.

 

Wells replied that, if a disaster is declared, HDH can pull healthcare providers from other hospitals, and patients can be sent to other hospitals.

 

 

Dana Ketcher, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for the Harney County Health Department, provided an update regarding the County Arsenic Awareness Initiative.

 

Ketcher said, while attending a conference in May 2012, she learned that Harney County has the highest on average levels of arsenic in the state of Oregon. She said this inspired her to help organize the testing of arsenic levels in private well water and inform the public about the potential health risks of arsenic exposure.

 

Ketcher explained that, unlike public drinking water, private well water is not regulated and tested. Drinking water containing unsafe levels of arsenic can cause long-term, cumulative health effects, such as skin lesions, Type 2 Diabetes and certain cancers. However, Ketcher said it’s hard to pin health concerns on arsenic specifically because people are exposed to low doses over long periods of time, and there are other factors that can be responsible.

 

Ketcher said a laboratory in Prineville sent 50 testing bottles to the health department, and 47 were used by private well owners to test their water. Ketcher said she received the results of the tests earlier that morning (March 21), and 12 of the 47 tests showed arsenic levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mandatory drinking water limit. 

 

Ketcher said Molly Kile, an assistant professor of environmental and occupational health and safety at Oregon State University, would be at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center to provide additional information about arsenic that evening (March 21). Kile, who received her doctorate from Harvard School of Public Health in environmental health, has been researching the relationship between arsenic and reproductive health in Bangladesh. 

 

Ketcher said local arsenic studies may be conducted in the future if the the public expresses interest in it.

 

“We can’t do this without community support,” she said. 

 

 

Jeff Dorroh was present to discuss Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA) in Harney County. He said there are six associations in Harney County, and each is comprised of volunteer landowners who provide their own fire protection with the support of the Oregon Department of Forestry. He said fire response vehicles are “strategically located” on ranches throughout RFPA boundaries. Membership in an RFPA is not mandatory, but under Oregon law, the association can bill non-member property owners, Dorroh said. He added that money collected by an RFPA is used to help fund the association.

 

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty expressed concern that some areas of the county still do not have fire protection. “Truth is, there’s a big gap from Burns to Buchanan,” he said.

 

“Anyone can form an association. It’s real easy to do,” Dorroh replied. “But nobody gets any compensation for it. It’s all volunteers,” he said, explaining that it can be difficult to find people who are willing to form an association and respond to fires. 

 

Burns Fire Chief Scott Williamson attended the conference to discuss the Burns Rural Fire Suppression Program, which provides fire suppression services to properties located outside  Burns’ incorporated limits for properties located within the program area.

 

Hines City Administrator Joan Davies said there is a similar program in place for  properties outside of Hines’ incorporated limits.

 

 

Grasty presented a letter proposing a joint emergency preparedness organization.

 

He wrote, “On several occasions, emergency preparedness / response folks have been briefed on the advantages and opportunities which could result from a single countywide organization… I would like to hold an organizational meeting sometime during the next three weeks.”

 

During the conference, Grasty added that there needs to be “a common organization to prevent oversight.” He said, “The county is willing to commit a huge pot of money into this. There are a ton of resources to fund this with, and its already available. I think we can get it done, and we can get it done fairly quickly.” 

 

 

Sharp ended the conference with “quick briefs,” providing updates regarding emergency preparedness exercises, trainings and grants. He also informed everyone in attendance about some of the smartphone applications that are available through the American Red Cross and discussed the Harney County Emergency Preparedness Facebook page. Sharp invited everyone to “like” the page so they can stay updated with news, citizen preparedness and information regarding public emergencies and disasters.

 

 

 

In September 2009, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) began the process of drafting a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) to govern the direction of the refuge management for the next 15 years.

 

The Refuge opted to use a collaborative process, and worked with the High Desert Partnership (HDP) and Oregon Consensus to bring all interested parties together to work toward common goals.

 

As part of the collaborative process, the Refuge invited scientists, agencies, conservation groups, Harney County residents, recreationists and elected officials to be involved in drafting the CCP.

 

After more than three years of planning, meetings, discussions and more than a little give-and-take, the final comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement (CCP/EIS) for the Refuge was completed. The draft included three alternatives for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years, and Alternative 2 was identified as the preferred alternative. In that alternative it was stated that the “principal focus for habitat management would be to improve the aquatic health of lakes and wetlands, primarily by controlling nonnative common carp.”

 

The alternative outlined methods of reducing the carp population, flexible management of wetlands and terrestrial habitats and new developments for improving the Refuge.

 

The final draft was filed with the Federal Register in December 2012, and on Thursday, March 21, many of the people who gave input on the CCP got together for a celebration at the Big Bear Lodge in Hines. The group included local ranchers, BLM and Refuge staff, representatives from Audubon Society, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, HDP, biologists and agency members.

 

Robyn Thorson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Northwest Regional Director, praised those in attendance for all their work and the manner in which it was done. “You all had a vision for a forward collaborative effort. You did it in a way that was respectful and honored both science and heritage. I’m here to honor you, and I’m proud of what you achieved,”  she said. “It was my privilege, as director, to sign the CCP, but I bow to those who made the CCP. You have provided a beacon that others can follow. I thank you for your work and say it’s a job well done.”

 

Peter Harkema of Oregon Consensus agreed that the CCP was a remarkable document and asked those seated around the “round-table” to share what accomplishment they were most proud of in the CCP process, and what are they most looking forward to?

 

Harney County Extension Agent Dustin Johnson stated that the process should, and hopefully will, set the standard for natural resource management.

 

Harney County rancher and county commissioner Dan Nichols said he was extremely gratified to see the community step up initially in the process, and the way the federal agency listened to the residents. He recognized the High Desert Partnership for their efforts, and noted that even though it was a long series of meetings, two years worth, friendships were made along the way. “It’s a win-win situation. The way land management should appear in the future,” he said. “We’ve identified goals, and people have invested their time and are willing to invest more. It’s an ongoing managerial effort with science behind it.”

 

Gary Marshall, a Harney County rancher and member of the HDP, said, “This was a real success. Congratulations to Fish and Wildlife for getting behind it. 

“There was anxiety, frustration, hope and a vision in the beginning, and I think we exceeded that vision.”

 

HDP member Bill Renwick pointed out that the partnership had prior success with a project on the Malheur National Forest. He said he has seen other collaborative efforts fail, but after the successes on the forest and the Refuge, he has become a “convert.” He added that the CCP was a result of “partnerships, relationships and friendships,” and thanked the Oregon Consensus for its involvement.

 

Several Refuge staff members expressed a willingness to move forward with the CCP now that it’s in place.

 

Jay Kerby with The Nature Conservancy said the process used was, “not a facade, it was real. When we agree it’s easy, but when we disagree, it (CCP) puts together a process to reach a consensus.”

 

Bob Sallinger of the Audubon Society stated that it was important to let the process go and allow it to flow. “Getting down to the basics and bringing in the experts gave us confidence. We saw so much movement from the staff after meetings  and could see changes starting to happen. It’s a good example of how the collaborative process worked.”

 

Chad Karges, deputy manager of the Refuge, said, “I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but I think the outcome is maybe better than what we expected. It’s a new way of doing business. We have the structure to learn together and find solutions.”

 

Region 1 Refuge Chief Robin West stated that he moved back to Oregon after living in Alaska for more than 30 years and noticed that people didn’t visit with each other as they had in the past. “They’ve lost the feeling of being neighbors. But you guys have recaptured some of that,” he said. “You put in an incredible amount of time and energy, and have a plan for the future.”

 

Refuge Manager Tim Bodeen announced that Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge received the 2013 Outstanding Invasive Species Volunteer Award and showed the plaque to those in attendance.

 

Bodeen called drafting the CCP an “amazing experience” and said he was intrigued by the amount of passion people have for the Refuge. “We brought back former Refuge biologists and managers, and I realized that as manager, I inherited a legacy. It really is a legacy,” he said.

 

Bodeen expressed excitement about implementing the CCP, working on the carp issue and “healing the refuge to  what it should be.”

 

Those interested may download a copy of the final CCP/EIS, or contact the Refuge to request a printed or CD-ROM copy of the document, as follows:

 

Agency Web Site:

Download the final CCP/EIS at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning

 

Email:

FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include “Malheur NWR CCP/EIS” in the subject line of your request for a printed or CD-ROM copy of the final CCP/EIS.

 

 

 

More than 600 people throughout Harney County completed a survey recently, which was used to help assess the health needs of the community.

 

During a meeting held Thursday, March 14, the Community Advisory Committee discussed the results of the survey and some of the actions that could be taken in response to it.

 

Toni Siegner, the health information services coordinator for Harney District Hospital (HDH), said she thought the survey produced a “well-rounded group of results.”

 

“We covered the community as much as we could,” HDH Outreach Coordinator Sonni Svejcar added.

 

Siegner said the first five questions addressed the survey takers’ demographic information. Individuals taking the survey were asked about their residence, race and ethnicity, age, sex and whether they or someone in their household received “food stamps.”

 

Survey questions six through 15 addressed the survey takers’ diet, exercise and mental, emotional and overall health. Those taking the survey were also asked how many parks, bicycle paths and pedestrian paths were in their neighborhood.

The remaining questions addressed the survey takers’ health care, including the frequency with which they visited a hospital, which hospital they visited, the type of services received and their overall satisfaction. Survey takers were also asked whether they visited a primary care (family) doctor, physician’s assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP). Those who did were asked to rate their level of satisfaction. People taking the survey were also asked whether they had health insurance and whether they had delayed health care due to lack of money or insurance. 

 

 

Dana Ketcher, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for the Harney County Health Department, said most people who took the survey were white women over the age of 50 who had health insurance, lived in Burns and did not receive “food stamps.”

 

Siegner said the survey was mostly “in line” with the county’s population demographics, except that men were under-represented, and the percentage of survey takers claiming to receive “food stamps” was lower than the county’s actual percentage.

 

Most of the people who took the survey said they exercised three or four times a week, and two of their meals or snacks included vegetables. Most said only one of their meals or snacks included fruit.

 

Siegner said most (44.8 percent) rated their overall health as “good,” and the second highest rating was “very good” (31.6 percent). Other options included “poor,” “fair” and “excellent.” 

 

Most (38.4 percent) ranked their overall mental and emotional health as “very good,” and the second highest rating was “good” (33 percent). 

 

On a scale of “much too many” to “much too few,” most said there were “much two few” bicycle and pedestrian paths in their neighborhood, but the second highest response was that there were “about the right number.” On a scale of “extremely satisfied” to “extremely dissatisfied,” most said they were “moderately satisfied” with the parks in their neighborhood, and most (34.6 percent) said they had a “moderately strong” sense of community in their neighborhood.

 

Most (77.8 percent) said they or someone in their household had used the services of a hospital in the last 24 months, and most (92.4 percent) said they received services at HDH. Of those who received healthcare services elsewhere, 50 percent said it was due to the availability of specialty care, and 35.7 percent said they were referred to another hospital by a physician. 

 

Most of the survey takers who went to HDH in the last two years said they were there for radiological imaging. On a scale of “extremely satisfied” to “extremely dissatisfied,” most (48.8 percent) ranked their overall level of satisfaction with HDH services as “extremely satisfied.”

 

Most (90.8 percent) said they used a family doctor, PA or NP for most of their routine health care, and most (90.5 percent) said the provider was in the local service area. Additionally, most (93.5 percent) said they were satisfied with the quality of care that they received, and 89.1 percent said they were able to get an appointment with a family doctor, PA or NP in the local service area.

 

Most of the survey takers who did not use a primary care doctor, PA or NP saw a specialist (32.3 percent) or received services from the health department (22.6 percent).

 

Most (67.7 percent) said neither they nor someone in their household delayed healthcare due to lack of money and/or insurance, but 29.1 percent said they did. The remainder said they didn’t know. Of those surveyed, 82.7 percent said they had some healthcare coverage, and 17.3 percent said they did not. 

 

Ketcher said most of the survey takers listed walking as their preferred form of exercise, but aerobics and cardiovascular activity, running or jogging, horseback riding, biking, and ranch or yard work were also popular responses. Ketcher said it was important to remember that activities such as ranch and yard work count as exercise. 

 

“It’s not just running,” she said. 

 

 

According to Ketcher, a few of the people who took the survey said, “I don’t think we need to make any changes. It’s all about personal choice.”

 

Ketcher said she wanted to address this line of thinking. 

 

“There are so many barriers sometimes,” she said. “The path of least resistance needs to be the healthy one,” she added, explaining her philosophy that it is easier for individuals to be healthy if they are part of a healthy community. “If we want to be healthier, we need to all be healthier,” she said.

 

 She added that it’s all about finding balance and determining what exercises people would be willing to do.

 

 “Exercise should not be something that you dread,” she said.

 

 

Feedback from the surveys identified some of the barriers to obtaining adequate levels of exercise, nutrition and health care in the community.

 

One of the barriers to exercise that was identified was cold weather. 

 

“Cold weather makes it harder to exercise,” Ketcher said, explaining that it limits the availability of outdoor activities.

 

Other people said they had limited opportunities to exercise because their job required them to sit all day. 

 

Safety was another concern. Some said lack of adequate lighting, as well as speeding vehicles and loose dogs, prevented them from going jogging.

 

The cost of vegetables and other healthy foods was listed as one of the barriers to adequate nutrition.

 

Some concerns regarding local access to health care included costs, billing and a lack of health insurance. Others who were surveyed said they were concerned about a lack of options in terms of the services that HDH provides, expressing that they had to travel in order to see specialists. Other concerns included doctor turnover and the financial stability of HDH over time.

 

 

Ketcher reported that many of the people surveyed requested an indoor pool or an affordable indoor gym with nice equipment. 

 

“That’s not surprising considering the winter here,” Siegner said.

 

Ketcher said better sidewalks and nature trails were the next most popular requests, and some requested a bowling alley. Others said they would like local restaurants to provide healthier menu options, and some requested classes that would teach them how to eat and prepare healthier foods. Exercise classes were also requested.

 

“A lot of people wanted a group of people to work out with,” Ketcher said.

 

There were also requests for bicycle paths, many of which came from people who lived in Crane, Svejcar said.

 

Those surveyed were also asked to provide feedback regarding the healthcare services that they would like to see HDH provide. Some said they would like the hospital to offer dialysis, as current dialysis patients have to travel to Bend. Others requested alternative forms of medicine, such as acupuncture, and preventative services, such as obesity management. Others requested assistance with tobacco cessation. One of the more humorous requests was for a clown that makes balloon animals. 

 

 

After receiving the survey results, the Community Advisory Committee discussed the steps that could be taken in response to it.

 

HDH Chief Executive Officer Jim Bishop said he was worried about comments regarding the cost of hospital services. He said concerns about cost equate to concerns about access to the hospital’s services. However, he said the cost increase at HDH is lower than any hospital in central or eastern Oregon. 

 

Amy Starbuck, the Harney County Health Department office manager, suggested that HDH provide more education about the options available to people who do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

 

“People wait until their problem is catastrophic and then they have high ER bills,” she said.

 

Siegner said, “There really are a lot of financial options. There are programs and ways to get around virtually anything.”

 

Harney County Clerk Derrin (Dag) Robinson said, “There are ways to present financial options [to patients] in a warm and fuzzy way.” He added that many patients are already stressed when they come to the hospital.

 

The Community Advisory Committee also discussed the importance of maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality. 

 

Additionally, Svejcar said she has been working on establishing an indoor space for exercising, but she was unable to provide many details. 

 

Regarding the indoor pool, she asked, “Who will run it? Who will pay for it?”

 

Svejcar said a bowling alley would cost thousands of dollars per lane, and the alley would need 20 lanes in order to accommodate competitions, which is how bowling alleys make money. But she stressed the importance of explaining why certain services cannot be provided to the community.

 

The Community Advisory Committee discussed how the public perceives the hospital and the services it provides.

 

“The awareness thing is huge,” Harney EMS Director Jeff Sceirine said. “People in this community don’t realize how lucky they are in terms of health care. Most communities of this size don’t have the services we have.”

 

The Community Advisory Committee also discussed the programs and services that are available in the community as a whole. 

 

Robinson said the Bountiful Baskets program provides fresh fruits and vegetables to the community at an affordable rate, but people might not know about it.

 

Svejcar suggested that the hospital “put more information out there” about Bountiful Baskets and other similar programs. She added, “A lot of different entities are trying to accomplish the same thing,” and she suggested that someone work to bring similar organizations together. 

 

Ketcher suggested that the hospital establish a “community wellness coordinator” who could bring similar programs together and keep people informed about them. She said the coordinator could also help develop new programs aimed at preventing illness.

 

Robinson added that the coordinator could help develop worksite wellness programs, which could be used to help people with sedentary jobs get the exercise they need.

 

Ketcher said she and Svejcar discussed creating a “wellness committee,” which could be used to help establish and maintain wellness programs.

 

Svejcar said she had been working on mapping out routes for a walking program, and Ketcher said the health department had been working on establishing a tobacco cessation program.

 

Robinson said he would like to see programs like the “Melt Down” continue.

 

Ketcher said another idea could be to ask senior citizens to volunteer to walk students to school, providing them a safe route. 

 

Verna Pettyjohn, who volunteers at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center, said she discussed the possibility of incorporating children into more center activities.

 

She added that, with the expansion of the center, more programs will be offered, and everyone is welcome to participate.

 

The Community Advisory Committee also discussed the possibility of having a wellness committee form a diabetes prevention and management program.

 

Harney County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jen Hoke said Slater Elementary School has a great physical education program through Alice Herauf. However, Svejcar said students’ physical education time is limited. Bureau of Land Management Administrative Officer Susie Hueckman added that all school time is limited due to the four-day school week.

 

“They are losing a whole day,” Hueckman said. 

 

HDH Development Coordinator Denise Rose asked about the availability of after-school activities. Hoke said High Desert Park & Recreation offers a lot of activities, but not a lot of people take advantage of them. Hueckman suggested that if a wellness committee is formed, it collaborate with Park & Recreation.

 

Ketcher said she would contact people who already expressed interest in being on a wellness committee and would continue to look for people who may be interested.

 

 

Responding to recent events surrounding the company’s Echanis Wind Energy Project, Columbia Energy Partners’ (CEP) President Chris Crowley said that CEP has every intention of moving forward with the project once litigation surrounding the project’s transmission line right of way is resolved.

 

“At this point, I am not able to speak in detail about our future plans, but it is safe to say that our project, which had met every requirement except a final approved right of way for our connection to the grid, will move forward once the last issue is resolved.”

 

Crowley noted that the project:

 

• Is located on private property, outside of any restricted area and received all necessary permits for the wind project;

 

• The contested transmission line on federal lands is outside any type of restricted area;

 

• Completed an exhaustive Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of more than 2,000 pages;

 

• The wind project is visible from only 0.4 percent of the nearby Steens Mountain Wilderness, at a distance of some eight miles;

 

• Completed detailed mitigation plans for sage grouse and golden eagles, all approved by state and federal agencies and included in the EIS;

 

• Enjoys overwhelming support in the local community. The groups suing to stall the project are located in Seattle, Wash., Portland and Bend.

 

Further, Crowley noted the complementary nature of the Echanis project’s production profile, which mirrors the wind resource patterns in the Columbia River Gorge area, as the chart (right) shows. This type of ‘balance’ is vitally important to making renewable energy cost effective and enhancing grid stability. 

 

 

 

Burns Postmaster George Sieveking attended the regular meeting of the Harney County Court (held March 6) to discuss postal services in Fields.

 

Sieveking said the area’s U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is currently housed in The Fields Station, which is owned by Tom and Sandra Downs.

 

Sieveking said the Downs asked for a “modest increase” in the rate they are paid each year for housing postal services in their business, and the post office declined to increase the rate.

 

As a result, Sieveking said the Downs opted to terminate their contract, which means that, starting April 30, postal services will no longer be offered at the Fields Station.

 

Sieveking and the court discussed the option of installing two cluster box units (CBUs). CBUs are multiple-compartment mailbox units, designed to allow postal carriers to deliver mail to a centralized location. Individuals or families using the CBUs would be given their own locking box and key. The units would also include parcel lockers.

 

He said Fields’ zip code would stay the same, and the mail carrier would be able to sell stamps to people in the area. Mail would continue to be delivered three times a week.

 

Harney County Judge Steve Grasty asked whether more people would be served by the CBUs.

 

Sieveking replied that the CBUs would “serve the folks who are currently getting mail” in the area.

 

In order to set up the CBUs, Sieveking said a concrete pad would need to be installed that is four feet wide and 10 feet long.

 

Sieveking and the court discussed where the CBUs could be placed.

 

“My concern is that we have these boxes located in an area where they won’t be vandalized or hit by traffic,” Sieveking said. He added that a drunk driver “took out” seven similar units in Redmond.

 

For security purposes, Sieveking said he thinks it would be best to put the units on Fields Drive.

 

Grasty said the area would need to be surveyed to determine which land is public and which is private.

 

“I don’t want push back because you, me or whatever put a pad on [private land],” Grasty said.

 

The court discussed having Road Supervisor Eric Drushella look at the area and make a recommendation.

 

However, Grasty said installing the CBUs would be “Plan B.” He said “Plan A” would be to find another building to house the postal service.

 

“We busted our tails to keep any post offices from being closed in this county,” Grasty said.

 

Sieveking replied that the owners of the Fields Station opted not to renew their contract, explaining that the decision did not come from the post office.

 

Harney County Commissioner Dan Nichols asked whether any action has been taken to determine whether anyone else wants to establish a post office in the area.

 

“It has been known in the community only a week that [the termination of postal services at the Fields Station] will happen,” Nichols said.

 

Sieveking replied that a few businesses could be called to determine whether they would be willing to house the postal service.

 

Nichols asked whether it would have to be a business. “I would like to have a physical building,” he added. “Rural America is going away,” he said, adding that it is “already hard enough” to conduct business in the Fields area.

 

“It’s not like the service is going away,” Sieveking replied. He added that people in the area will still get mail and stamps.

 

Sieveking said the CBUs would be available all the time, and people using the units would not be limited to receiving mail during store hours.

 

However, Nichols stated that if people lost their keys, they would not be able to receive a backup key at a local office.

 

“We just need to make available the opportunity to everybody and anybody that’s down there to keep a physical building in that area,” Nichols said. He suggested that a letter be sent to everyone in the community regarding the opportunity to house the postal service. Nichols expressed that the contract would be a good sum of money for someone.

 

“We are not making this decision. We can’t,” Grasty said. He explained that this is a situation between a contractor and the postal service, and the court’s only involvement would be to coordinate locations for the placement of CBUs, if they happen to be placed in county right of way. However, Grasty said the court would like to suggest that the USPS attempt to find a physical building to house the postal service before installing the CBUs.

 

Sieveking said he would contact the retail specialists with the Postal Service in Portland for more information regarding the options available.

 

•••

Grasty announced that Jean Cain will resign from the Harney County Budget Board due to health issues.

 

“Bless her heart. She worked her tail off for us,” Grasty said.

 

During its previous meeting (held Feb. 20), the court appointed Curt Blackburn to fill the position that became available when Herb Vloedman’s term expired.

 

The court received letters of interest from Blackburn, Vloedman, Terri Hellbusch, Bill Burstow and Barbara Cannady regarding the position. However, Cannady withdrew her letter of interest.

 

Grasty suggested that the court consider appointing Vloedman, Hellbusch or Burstow to fill Cain’s vacated position for the remaining duration of her term.

 

“I think we ought to do it today,” Grasty said.

 

Commissioner Pete Runnels made a motion to appoint Hellbusch to the position. Nichols seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

 

•••

Watershed Council Coordinator Karen Moon attended to request the appointment of two new members to the Harney County Watershed Council.

 

According to its website, The Harney County Watershed Council “recognizes that local ecological and economic prosperity is dependent upon the current and future availability and quality of water.”

 

Moon said the council recently accepted the resignation of Jason Fenton who was the Burns Paiute Tribe representative, and the tribe recommend Kyle Heinrick as Fenton’s replacement.

 

Heinrick received a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology from Colorado State University and works as the wildlife biologist for the Burns Paiute Tribe. He also manages the tribe’s 100-acre farm field, which is located on the reservation.

 

In a letter to the court, Moon wrote, “The council voted unanimously at our February meeting to recommend appointment for Kyle.”

 

She said the council also received a letter of interest from Kristen Munday, who is a range technician at the Eastern Oregon Agriculture Research Center, for the “concerned citizen–general” position on the council.

 

“The council voted unanimously at our February meeting to recommend Kristen be appointed to this position,” Moon wrote.

 

The court decided to appoint both Heinrick and Munday to the watershed council.

 

Moon said she would return in a couple of weeks to update the court regarding ground water projects.

 

•••

The court approved Resolution 2013-05 in the matter of retaining certain overpayments made to county departments.

 

Harney County Clerk Derrin (Dag) Robinson explained that county departments occasionally receive overpayments of small sums of money (less than $10). He said refunding these overpayments is both costly and time-consuming, especially considering that many of the refund checks are for $5 or $2, and many of the recipients do not cash the checks in a timely manner.

 

“We carry uncashed checks on the books for two years,” Robinson said. “The time spent dealing with paperwork is just ridiculous,” he added.

 

Grasty explained that these overpayments typically arise when departments are working with a title company or legal firm, not “Joe Blow.”

 

“Right,” Robinson replied, explaining that the majority of the overpayments come from national (not local) companies and firms.

 

Grasty said locals would most likely pay in person, which would reduce the likelihood of overpayments.

 

The resolution sets forth the policy that the county will “retain overpayments in the sum of $10 or less made to any county department. Overpayments in the excess of $10 shall be refunded to the payer accompanied by a letter explaining that $10 has been retained pursuant to this policy.”

 

“If the overpayment is more than $10, we absolutely do a refund check,” Robinson said. He said any money that is retained will be added to the county’s general fund.

 

•••

In other business, the court:

 

•received an update from Grasty regarding the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference that he recently attended in Washington D.C.;

 

• discussed letters that it received from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, which stated that, because of the sequestration, there will be a 5.1 percent reduction in the PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program;

 

• learned that candidates are being interviewed to fill the vacant water master position;

 

• was informed by Grasty that he will be “testifying on a couple of bills” in Salem at the request of Rep. Cliff Bentz;

 

• was addressed by Cannady regarding an H-brace that was removed from her property;

 

•met with Geographical Information Systems Coordinator Bryce Mertz who provided an update regarding a sign installation contract for replacing missing or damaged signs, as well as installing signs on newly-named roads;

 

• was addressed by Vloedman regarding county tax rates. Grasty later stated that tax rates are levied by the county court, and the court could invite the county assessor to come and talk at length about it.

 

The next regular meeting of the county court will be held Wednesday, March 20, at 10 a.m. in Judge Grasty’s office at the courthouse.

 

 

 

 

There’s a new bank in Harney County, and its currency is cattle.

 

After mulling over ways to help supply the Harney County Food Bank with a steady supply of protein, Harney County rancher Ron Schirm came up with the “Bank on Beef” program and started the wheels turning.

 

Schirm set up a website and visited with Angie Iturbide, executive director of the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center (where the food bank is located), to explain what he had in mind.

 

In June 2012, Schirm sent out letters to other ranchers in the county asking for donations of cows, which he would then transport to Nampa, Idaho, to be USDA inspected, processed and wrapped.

 

Schirm explained that the food bank received beef donations in the past that were processed locally, but the meat now has to be federally inspected.

 

The initial response to the letters was a little slow, so Schirm picked up the phone and called ranchers to outline the program and ask for donations. By the end of December, the locals had shown their generosity, and there was about 7,500 pounds of meat for the food bank.

 

Schirm said ranchers drop off their donations at his ranch on Island Ranch Lane, and receive a food bank donation receipt equal to the actual market value of the animals.

 

Once he gets eight or nine head, he loads them up for transport to the USDA inspecting plant. Once they’re processed, Schirm picks up the meat and brings it back to the food bank.

 

Schirm said his goal is to reach 20,000 to 25,000 pounds for the food bank each year. “If ranchers get into the habit of donating a cow every year, we’d reach the goal,” he said. “I know every rancher can’t participate, but there are a lot in a position to donate one cow.”

 

Schirm stated that he was more or less spurred to action after talking with people and realizing the amount of food the food bank gives out each month.

 

Iturbide reported that the food bank serves, on average, more than 360 people each month. Because protein, or meat, is more expensive than other commodities, there is often a shortage in the system. That shortage is alleviated with the Bank on Beef program.

 

As for the processing costs, the food bank receives a grant from the Emergency Food and Shelter program through United Way, as well as relying on local donations. “It is a strain on the budget, but we have had support locally,” Iturbide said. She added that Pioneer Presbyterian Church held a fundraiser to pay for the processing of one animal, and challenged other local churches to the same.

 

Having enough storage space for the additional meat was another hurdle to overcome. An 8’x8’ used walk-in freezer was purchased, and a new structure will be built to house the freezer. Iturbide said the new freezer will double their storage area. “I want to thank Buermann’s Ranch Meats, because they’ve been letting us store our meat in their lockers. We’ve got about 70 boxes of meat over there right now,” she said.

 

Iturbide also thanked the ranchers for their donations and others involved, especially Schirm. “Ron saw a need in the community and is addressing it,” she stated. “And he’s donating his time, feed and other costs.”

 

As the program continues to grow, there are some that would like to see it go statewide. Their reasoning is that other counties share their produce around the state, and Harney County could share its protein. “It’s a balancing act,” Schirm said. “We do get produce from the valley, and I don’t want to sound selfish, but I’m doing this for Harney County, to be able to satisfy the needs of people out here.”

 

After a little bit of a lull, Schirm is looking for the donations to start up again. As his initial letter stated, “The food bank needs beef, we ranchers have it to give, and the Bank on Beef program makes it easy for you to do so.”

 

To donate or for more information, contact Ron Schirm at 541-420-0771 or BankonBeef@gmail.com