The following are the unapproved minutes from the Harney County Court meeting held Dec. 16. The minutes were edited for clarity and length.

Harney County Judge Pete Runnels thanked the community for working to lower the curve in COVID-19 cases.

Harney County is now in the “low-risk” category for COVID-19, which benefits businesses and the overall health and welfare of the citizens.

Harney County Commissioner Patty Dorroh echoed Runnels’ statements.

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The court continued its conversation concerning the residential building incentives concept.

Runnels recognized that this will create a slight revenue shortfall in the building program, as this is a rebate of building permit fees for residential construction.

He suggested an administrative solution of retaining a small amount of the state-funded COVID-19 business grant funding to cover the costs for this rebate. He explained that the rebate should cost the building program around $7,500 annually. If the county retains $15,000 in administrative costs from the grant program, the cost of the residential building incentives rebate should be covered for two years. The court will then need to determine the funding source for the remaining three years.

County counsel has reviewed the draft resolution regarding the proposal.

Dorroh moved to approve Resolution 2020-30 in the matter of offering building plan incentives to stimulate new housing construction in Harney County. Harney County Commissioner Kristen Shelman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

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Harney County Planning Director Brandon McMullen updated the court regarding a recently approved AT&T cell tower.

The approval process requires the applicant to provide a bond to cover any expenses to the county for removal of the tower upon any future decommission.

The court directed McMullen to refer the bond to county counsel for review before filing it with the county clerk.

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Angela Lamborn, Senior and Community Services director, discussed transportation program budgeting.

She presented the proposed projects and asked the court, which is the sponsoring municipality, to approve participation in them.

Dorroh moved to approve the projects, as proposed, and authorize Runnels to sign the agreement on behalf of the court. Shelman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

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Paul Davis, owner of Alvord Hot Springs, was present to discuss conditions on East Steens Road.

He said visitors were drawn to Harney County this year to see the Alvord Desert, Alvord Hot Springs, and Steens Mountain. Davis said he averages 19 cars a day at the hot springs, which means 70 cars a day on East Steens Road, and he asked for a long-term plan for care and maintenance of the road.

He provided an example of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inviting visitors to the area, but not providing maintenance of the infrastructure.

Davis said he would like all access to the Alvord Lake bed to be closed to the public in order to protect the integrity of the lake bed and for health and safety. He added that he could provide a managed access solution administered through the hot springs.

Runnels replied that he is working with Oregon Department of Transportation and BLM to find funding for road repairs.

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The court reviewed the engineer’s estimate for the Fairgrounds RV Park.

Runnels said he would like to research additional funding solutions.

The court will discuss the project again during its meeting in January.

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The court discussed a resolution in the matter of intra-fund transfer of appropriations within categories for LCAC Fund 350.

The court agreed to table the resolution until additional information regarding payroll allocations can be obtained.