Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildfire Risk Mapping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners discuss wildfire risk map, direct staff to prepare state-level letter
Summary
Crook County commissioners reviewed the state's wildfire risk map, discussed inconsistencies affecting lots in Juniper Canyon, Posada Ranch and Powell Butte, and instructed staff to draft a letter for Eastern counties and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC).
Commissioners and staff discussed recent wildfire risk map updates and directed staff to prepare a letter for presentation to regional county groups and the Association of Oregon Counties.
Commissioner Crawford and County Manager Will led the discussion. Will reviewed recent changes to the map and said some corrections were "a tiny bit better" than earlier drafts but that numerous lots remained designated high risk in the wildland-urban interface. Will noted prior conversations with map authors about inconsistent classifications for small groups of lots, citing Resada Ranch as an example where isolated lots had previously been classified differently than surrounding parcels.
Commissioner Crawford said he has received constituent contacts and recommended working with John (recently appointed to a county position) and county fire staff to draft a letter pushing for state-level fixes. The board discussed taking the letter to the Eastern Association of Oregon Counties (EAOC) and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) to seek broader regional support.
Staff said Jack Lehi in the county GIS department previously analyzed tax lots identified as high risk; staff will now compare the final map to earlier drafts to document specific changes. Fire department staff (identified as Russ in the transcript) will be consulted for technical input before the letter is circulated. The EAOC meeting timeline was noted (meeting runs through the 30th) and the AOC meeting schedule (runs through the 10th), giving the county a short window to act if it wishes to coordinate at those venues.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners directed staff to draft and circulate the letter and to coordinate with other eastern counties, EAOC and AOC.
