[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6617931,"mediaKeyId","2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4","parentId",2838672,"title","Harney County court votes to waive building fees for county-funded entities after split vote","audioSeconds",861,"startMs",6153000,"endMs",7014000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4&start=6153&end=7014","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4/thumbnail_6153000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617931/Harney-County/Oregon/Harney-County-court-votes-to-waive-building-fees-for-county-funded-entities-after-split-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617931-4c8844b0f0214c6c5a8fafcb8cd861cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159373&Signature=Y2c9tap3oE27j5aip2yniC7SkwrxaMD8fSNA7HZrry2hZs0pXvEnygiTNyELcyXHxvT54R4DwqA8myIsMEBQeoLkwYgLltDc7SsCunAFS~EogZEv7dzLwnfeCEe~3-UZDWZPP1R6-DevA2EwNX1L2iLRnOhfuS7i5Dni5QIUz2FvezcDRktQpv0hSA5hqFQixv2t2paApD7GebC0pcc85lLoe2aqN1qtjjxwCtO1wPlMp5pdHeYEsEF~a05yFstJrCHk~8tL41oy-37Nludbkh7pJvRspqaXQ4Ts5j8TCItN0QQIqpSmYvluK4C4fLtIqUNwjq~xbUCJ1FNO5mMKlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harney County","date","2025-04-01T22:13:09.467Z","article","The Harney County Court voted on April 1 to waive commercial building permit fees for entities funded by Harney County tax dollars, including county departments, schools and special districts. The motion, described by its mover as a temporary policy to help county-funded entities, passed on a divided vote during the meeting.

The vote followed extended debate between the county’s three elected officials. County Commissioner Patty Dorril argued against a categorical discount, saying Harney County’s building department had recently been established as an enterprise fund and that it charges a state-aligned fee schedule required to sustain inspections, plan review and commercial permitting locally. Dorril said reducing or waiving fees would “derail our county’s ability to provide commercial building services” and could force the county to revert to using state services with longer delays.

Commissioner Rob Frank and another commissioner advocated a different view. Frank said he favored using county tax dollars for county-funded projects, contending \"if we get, for example, dollars 4,000,000 worth of tax dollars to put in an event center, I would like to see $4,000,000 worth of build, not $3,800,000 worth of build.\" Frank moved the motion to waive fees for county-funded entities; the motion was seconded and then carried by the court.

Officials said the building department had already made one-time concessions: the building official applied a 10% reduction on a single project. Members of the public also contested some widely circulated fee figures during public comment: a community member said a crane concession-stand structural permit was $1,548.31 and another permit (an “egg building”) was $3,156 — not the much larger figures that had been reported in social media posts.

County leaders acknowledged the tension between making public dollars stretch farther for construction and maintaining a self-sustaining building program. Dorril said the department’s fee revenue was designed to keep the program from drawing on the general fund and to maintain prompt, local commercial permitting rather than reverting to state review and the delays that can accompany that process.

The court also discussed establishing a structured approach to any future catastrophe-related fee relief and agreed staff should return with options, including time-limited waivers tied to declared emergencies. No formal countywide disaster-fee policy was adopted during the meeting.

What’s next: The waiver as approved applies to county-funded entities identified in the motion and county staff signaled they would draft procedures and consider time-limited emergency policies for future deliberation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Court Regular Session 04/01/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Harney County Court voted on April 1 to waive commercial building-permit fees for entities funded by Harney County tax dollars, including county departments, schools and special districts.","taxTitle","Harney County, Oregon","taxId",73536,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617936,"Harney County court focuses on flood response as dike, pumps and Corps assessments continue",2377,128000,2505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4&start=128&end=2505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6617936/Harney-County/Oregon/Harney-County-court-focuses-on-flood-response-as-dike-pumps-and-Corps-assessments-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617936-e8844d05d28f18ae5b424f529ac6de3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159373&Signature=K3sI2xASEVBIoE72q-S4lPiAcp5zEJ0ZTBDykPRwT4IVl3FYaCS4UhKBXTO-3pJwbgREkKWCx7MruwitSWcAZGRF5UNdwQ~0Qdgty060J1mVpVVyF0nIjl3YBH7QRawSoly~mvOHGVXdY2S6Ngj2rqk9vvy5f3gT-VQetlVAgyBK9qjReus2SrZssoqLnMCEctbs-qj0w7GzNhlLNDd6V4p5Zua4o27BONKOnVVwkgLbIGV3rcHnerttS59-kPwMblu8LVibqr9sMMAkTrfotz-J-GLGD9~uCEdxMdpBkLdODrGDTUP7HI7-tmGm3-3Omc-3JVbdPfm6q1a88fKQlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Judge William Hart opened Harney County Court on April 1, 2025, with a status update on the ongoing flooding response, saying the county and local partners were working \"as diligent as we can.\" The county described construction of an east–west dike being extended toward North Broadway and an extensive sandbagging effort; pumps in the southeast field area near Burns have been running for weeks to move water back into the river channel.

The meeting served as a coordination and information session rather than a forum for immediate new policy. Hart said state and federal contacts are active: Representative Owens, Senators Merkley and Wyden and Congressman Vance had been in touch and the governor’s office was briefed. Hart said part of the dike work is being funded by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and that the county will carry a portion of the cost. He urged ongoing public communication and said the county planned to circulate talking points and a recorded message with local officials.

Local public-works crews and volunteers were central to the response. Hart and commissioners thanked Burns Public Works director Ty Richardson and Harney County road crews, and noted volunteers — including local Mennonite and Mormon congregations and youth teams — had staffed sandbag stations. Emergency management staff and local police and fire agencies were also credited for their work coordinating shelters and pumps.

Officials reported localized utility issues. Burns experienced a water main hit earlier in the week that produced a large geyser and reduced pressure; County public-health staff and the county said they will test the water system and did not expect ongoing contamination. County public-health staff member Kelly Singhoes was answering the county information line and taking questions.

County staff described where the dike and sandbag lines are being built: construction began near the river at the east end and had progressed roughly two-thirds of the way toward North Broadway; the plan was to extend the dike to North Broadway and then use two-plus feet of sandbags westward along the levee. County officials cautioned that raising a dike at one point can push water elsewhere, and emphasized attempts to address the southeast corner of the system where pressure is greatest.

Residents gave extended on-the-record testimony about historical flood patterns and infrastructure decisions they said contributed to current damage. Chuck Lynn, who lives next to the river behind the levee, recounted floods in 1951–52 and 2011 and described earlier changes to culverts and bridge structures that he said reduced channel capacity. Other residents urged controlled-release mechanisms, dredging, removal of log jams and better access to river channels. A Harney County official said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been on site for days and would return later in the year, and that an assessment this fall — when water levels drop — would help shape a multi-phase mitigation plan.

County leaders flagged urgent needs at shelters. Commissioners said shelter operators had asked for mental-health support and meal logistics; some shelters were relying on store-bought food and lacked running water hookups. The county established an information line for residents affected by flooding: (541) 589-0112. Officials said they would publish the number and status updates on social media and were discussing a recorded public message with Burns and Hines leadership rather than holding a large town-hall at that time.

Budget and recovery concerns were repeatedly raised. Judge Hart said the county’s contingency and discretionary funds would be substantially drawn down by the response. He said the county had roughly \"a little less than\" $800,000–$900,000 in reserves and that current incident costs could exhaust contingency lines; he estimated the county might be able to \"squeeze a million and a half dollars\" but said that would not cover major recovery work and that state and federal partners will be needed. Hart said state legislators were submitting capital project requests for $3 million for Harney County and $3 million for the city of Burns; the county would pursue additional emergency funding and FEMA assistance as appropriate.

Officials also described operational changes to emergency coordination: the county’s emergency operations center (EOC) had moved to a larger Forest Service conference space to improve logistics, and staff were coordinating sign and traffic control improvements at shelter sites to make nighttime access safer. County staff said they would follow up with the American Red Cross and the sheriff to improve shelter signage and staffing.

What’s next: county staff and the Corps of Engineers will complete assessments when access permits, county leaders asked state and federal partners for expedited help, and commissioners said they would hold further work sessions on mitigation and recovery once immediate needs have been stabilized.","Harney County Court spent its April 1 meeting on flood response: a county-built dike and sandbagging are being extended, pumps are running near Burns, state and federal officials are engaged and officials warned of significant housing and budget impacts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617917,"Public calls for clearer audit reporting as commissioners confront budget strain from flooding",428,4969000,5397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4&start=4969&end=5397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4/thumbnail_4969000.jpg","/articles/6617917/Harney-County/Oregon/Public-calls-for-clearer-audit-reporting-as-commissioners-confront-budget-strain-from-flooding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617917-57b85d33d1f4d9fde6da8b9eba930714/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159373&Signature=N2LFbmGpF3P5AJt9blYkFh0mepI~I1r9idvRzcOwaBlTNZpJ-wlMCSCI4Zc0-46Ywygq25WwIMyGGrp0QuaTYqOos~LnRnyefpa6QNIACk6iPsu1tLVkICwy9NwKBlvJB6VnJUy~eV6m-kTPkctJjpVN-gU52DQa-ZloFGRmFHvfNtMS0mHitHiQ5lHQteqAajK-BOem9p-Mihg2YORd76tcvj8EtHbIHMvpiMuts8EyMNr56g9-hZOk4787TodCLIVjD9FhC3OjRVCyM9sakfN4KYmESGnC7cJ4CSElvdXDWunsyYdTI5zHa8YFQysZ~3jwQYlEuRMy0cT1snfv6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A member of the county budget board and other residents told Harney County commissioners on April 1 that the county’s published audit and statement of net position lack detail and do not provide the transparency they expect. The comments came as county leaders warned that flood-response costs are likely to deplete reserves and increase fiscal pressure in the coming year.

Debbie Arns (identified in public comment) compared Harney County’s statement of net position to nearby counties and said Harney’s audit presentation was minimal—she urged the county to ask its auditor for a more detailed report format to help the public and the governing body review the county’s financial position. Arns cited the county audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, as the document in question and volunteered to meet with county staff and the auditor to discuss more-detailed reporting.

County officials responded that standard audits are intended to verify account balances and identify material misstatements; they are not built to be a comprehensive analysis of liquidity or to detect every instance of fraud. County staff said the county had shifted to cash-basis reporting and that the audit reflects that accounting method but agreed to follow up with the auditor to determine what additional detail could be included. The county clerk and treasurer offered to meet with Arns and coordinate a conversation with the auditor.

Commissioners said the audit discussion is timely because the county faces elevated fiscal stress following the flood response; the court voted in the meeting to transfer appropriations into materials and supplies for immediate flood-related costs and discussed contingency and reserve balances.

What’s next: The county said staff would meet with the concerned resident and the auditor and return to the court with findings and potential changes to the level of detail provided in public financial reports.","During public comment at the April 1 Harney County Court meeting, residents and a budget-board member criticized the format and transparency of the county audit and urged the county to provide more detailed financial statements while officials said the audit's purpose is to verify figures rather than provide financial analysis.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617922,"Votes at a glance — Harney County Court, April 1, 2025",2760,5975000,8735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4&start=5975&end=8735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4/thumbnail_5975000.jpg","/articles/6617922/Harney-County/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-Harney-County-Court-April-1-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617922-a45345a456447a841ecec0c1d6fc1076/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159373&Signature=Uw5ZT0CqukUG6yq9qXmFDAymE~G~~v9Sgk8owzgGCboiheLTq8UWgmVN561Oyi1DtLYj-CnJPkeCNwp066c7htuipu0C6jkDgu1hUxlecElKjoMG3tfUGxF2VIHpp1PVmZywlc2gDTriaA9sIDnSjCOhHni6lg3jpg21aHEd8Kj8~Fm8TM4entbGAnpGrSSWhUfWgpgiRjQtfwOq~5H-FCkLdMgfuiJ6-J0-PvQonRd7pewln2KqwgbyIFJgHYGQfMhZtQ~TAoLkhn5QI997pAIdW6wBNJEDfPHu-Spvt942MSowKTFM7T88PMb141vTlef5LOdagJXhYrMhiQO5dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This Votes at a Glance summarizes formal actions, motions and approved items recorded on the Harney County Court agenda for April 1, 2025.

1) Agenda approval
Motion: Approve meeting agenda as presented.
Outcome: Approved (recorded as unanimous in transcript).

2) Minutes approval
Motion: Approve regular meeting minutes of March 19, 2025 and special emergency session minutes of March 28, 2025.
Outcome: Approved (recorded as unanimous in transcript).

3) Building-fee waiver (motion)
Motion text: \"Waive all building-permit fees for any entities funded by Harney County tax dollars including but not limited to county departments, schools, and special districts.\" (as moved and seconded on the record).
Outcome: Approved by the court (motion passed). Vote tally on record: yes 2, no 1 (names not specified in the vote sequence on the public transcript). Notes: Commissioners debated fiscal impacts; building department staff must implement the waiver and present options for time-limited emergency policies.

4) IGAs for on-site wastewater services
Motion: Authorize County Judge to sign three intergovernmental agreements with DEQ and Baker, Union and Wallowa counties to provide on-site wastewater services beginning June 1, contingent on partner ordinances/fee schedules.
Outcome: Approved (recorded unanimous). Notes: Administrative direction given to send scanned signed copies to partner counties and DEQ and to archive fully executed originals.

5) Resolution 2025-07 — intra-fund transfer (general fund)
Motion text/summary: Approve resolution effecting an intra-fund transfer of appropriations in the general fund to increase materials and supplies by $263,683, funded by a $200,000 transfer and a $63,683 reduction in contingency, to pay immediate flood-response costs.
Outcome: Approved by the court (recorded as unanimous).

6) Other routine actions
The court approved routine agenda business, including regular scheduled items and correspondence.

Provenance: Each item above is reflected in the on-the-record discussion and votes in the April 1, 2025 Harney County Court meeting.","Summary of formal actions the Harney County Court recorded on April 1, 2025, including the building-fee waiver, three IGAs, and an intra-fund appropriation resolution for flood response costs.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617926,"Harney County to provide on-site wastewater services for Baker, Union and Wallowa under intergovernmental agreements",644,4456000,5100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4&start=4456&end=5100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2838672-32e9e484cff714a1652b9013933f38a4/thumbnail_4456000.jpg","/articles/6617926/Harney-County/Oregon/Harney-County-to-provide-on-site-wastewater-services-for-Baker-Union-and-Wallowa-under-intergovernmental-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617926-45cffbfd9c6fff74fd8a180b070735df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159373&Signature=h6USqwxpLeBLZOy3nkoDqK37j9~SEtB3NX-hzjpEGsSSGVzwHulUudNiTnLmnGPwmoO2Hg7InQc2coR-AqoZAQINhBdVf9kG~oHMDC7rgJswTwpQ5Gvp-o~HBuFCW9YtxDvqPsSCmWgWSS9Uuu5WDO7ZHb4mmaMijQrRUa1KjcC3oDnAmck1Rst-ZZXI5nAl~0N3EW1lISzXY8ErCN37E6674acpcrjpgRGZmzImKK0Gfk1eQWBhXLtyE5l1nMLu1XOf30uqrpz-GoJ4VULEM92m8e06Ijgf3PlfBSWuuKkwqaVtIMRFcqjwYIWTtmkt2xrfZLkvpz~csSsXj12SIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harney County Court authorized Judge William Hart on April 1 to sign three intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) that will expand Harney County’s environmental-health on-site wastewater services to Baker, Union and Wallowa counties, under an agreement coordinated with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Environmental Health Specialist Jesse Barnes briefed the court: DEQ is consolidating coverage in northeastern Oregon after the state position for that region was vacated and not replaced. Barnes said the IGAs, drafted in consultation with DEQ and the Department of Justice, are intended to let Harney County provide timely on-site permit reviews, inspections and local enforcement support so commercial and residential permitting does not stall while the state’s staffing model changes.

Under the agreements, Harney County will provide qualified personnel (a supervisor to be based in La Grande is planned) and operational capacity; the state will continue to handle large commercial systems (those that exceed 2,500 gallons per day) and nutrient-limited systems, and the DEQ will assist with enforcement where necessary. Each receiving county still must adopt or confirm an on-site wastewater ordinance and a local fee schedule (the IGAs contemplate adoption of the state-aligned fee schedule for these services). DEQ supplies a monthly surcharge reconciliation and will remit prior balances for open permits in each jurisdiction when Harney County becomes the service provider.

Barnes said the proposed start date is June 1, 2025, to give the counties time to adopt ordinances and give Harney time to hire and equip staff; Harney County will remit the DEQ surcharge and administer local permitting under the agreement. County counsel and Harney staff reviewed the IGAs and found no legal concerns in the draft.

The court approved a motion authorizing Judge Hart to sign the three IGAs and instructed staff to circulate copies to the partner counties and to DEQ for execution. Officials said scanned, signed copies would be acceptable to expedite the process and that the county would archive fully executed versions once received.

What’s next: Harney County will recruit and equip an on-site wastewater supervisor in La Grande, the partner counties must adopt ordinances and fee schedules, and Harney staff will begin operational steps so services can begin June 1 if all approvals are received.","Harney County authorized county leadership to sign three IGAs with the Oregon DEQ and neighboring counties to take over on-site septic approvals and inspections for Baker, Union and Wallowa counties, with operations to start June 1 after local ordinances and fee schedules are adopted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harney County court votes to waive building fees for county-funded entities after split vote

Harney County court focuses on flood response as dike, pumps and Corps assessments continue

Public calls for clearer audit reporting as commissioners confront budget strain from flooding

Votes at a glance — Harney County Court, April 1, 2025

Harney County to provide on-site wastewater services for Baker, Union and Wallowa under intergovernmental agreements