County discusses updating comprehensive plan, water town hall and partial EOC activation for local flooding

Harney County Court on March 5 discussed a possible joint work session with the county planning commission to review the comprehensive plan’s land‑use language and clarify decision thresholds for exclusive farm‑use (EFU) lands.

Commissioners and staff said a 2022 resolution that reclassified some planning decisions for faster administrative approval may not align with the current comprehensive plan language and that a joint meeting would help reconcile differences. One commissioner said the comprehensive plan was last substantially updated in February 2009 and recommended starting with a land‑use review.

The court also discussed holding a public town hall on water issues to help residents understand potential curtailment of water use, projection effects on property taxes and how different stakeholders would be affected. Officials said potential participants could include the water-rights regulator, local realtors, the assessor’s office and state agencies.

On flooding, county leaders reported increased flows on the Silvies River along Highway 78, where water is beginning to encroach on businesses and residences near Koa Lane inside Burns. The county said it had a meeting scheduled with the landowner and the city and that the emergency-management coordinator and road master were engaged. Officials said a partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center had been filed with Oregon Emergency Management; staff described a partial activation as a scaled ICS/NIMS response that expands only as incident needs grow.

Court members said they will ask the planning director about a coordinated session with the planning commission, will continue outreach on a water town hall and will update the public on the flooding response as events evolve.