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Harney County Court approves agenda, minutes, road approaches and annual appointments; sets hearing on Drewsey School road vacation
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Harney County Court approved routine agenda and minutes, granted two road-approach permits, adopted a resolution to initiate a road-vacation proceeding (hearing set Jan. 23), and approved annual orders naming the budget officer, official newspaper, health officer and justice pro tems.
The Harney County Court on Jan. 8 took a series of procedural and substantive votes the court described as routine. Motions were made, seconded and approved on each item listed below.
Votes at a glance
- Approve agenda as presented — Motion carried (recorded motion; all present voted aye).
- Approve minutes of Dec. 18, 2024 county court meeting — Motion carried (recorded motion; all present voted aye).
- Approve culvert/approach installation (Rickman Ranch) on Heinz Logging Road at Mile Post 19.9 — Motion made, seconded and carried. The roadmaster reviewed the map and recommended approval; court approved the application and the roadmaster was instructed to sign the paperwork.
- Approve approach application for Cameron Merrell on Fields Denial Road (90 feet from NE property corner, 42 feet off the county road) — Motion made, seconded and carried. Roadmaster had previously reviewed maps; court approved and asked for signatures.
- Resolution 2025-01, Notice of Hearing and Order of Vacation of Road (Drewsey School District petition) — Motion made and carried to approve resolution 2025-01, initiating proceedings to vacate Third Street (between Commercial and B Street) and two alleys described in the application; the court set a public hearing for Jan. 23 at 6:10 p.m. in the Harney County Courthouse courtroom. The court directed the roadmaster to prepare the statutorily required written report and to obtain legal descriptions from the county surveyor/assessor to support the record. The motion cited ORS procedures for road vacation (transcript cites "ORS 368.326 to ORS 326.366").
- Court order appointing county budget officer for fiscal year 2025–26 — Motion made and carried appointing William (Bill) Hart, the county judge, as budget officer for FY2025–26.
- Court order designating official county newspaper for 2025 — Motion made and carried designating the Burns Times-Herald as the official county newspaper.
- Court order appointing the county health officer for 2025 — Motion made and carried appointing Dr. Sarah Leosah, DO, as county health officer for 2025.
- Court order appointing Harney County Justice of the Peace Pro Tem for 2025 — Motion made and carried naming Richard Jericho (Justice of the Peace, Grant County) and John Lamborn (attorney, Harney County) as pro tem justices of the peace.
Procedural notes and follow-up
- The Drewsey School District petition to vacate Third Street and two alleys included a notarized application; because the petition did not affect other landowners and was notarized the county did not follow a 30-day posting process and moved more quickly to set a hearing. The roadmaster will file the required report prior to the Jan. 23 hearing.
- Road approach approvals were presented with maps and roadmaster review; the court asked staff to collect required signatures and to file approvals.
- Several routine annual orders were approved by motion; commissioners affirmed the votes by voice (ayes) and the court recorded motions as carried.
No recorded roll-call tally with individual commissioner names was provided in the transcript; motions were approved by voice with no recorded opposition.
