Harney County

Key discussions included an update on the HMEP grant submission, which was filed for plan updates, training sessions, and Full Scale Exercise (FSE). A Hazmat Tabletop Exercise (TTX) game was conducted, involving group scenarios and a subsequent After-Action Review. The Hazmat trailer was available for tours afterward, with various departments including OEM, OREM, OSFM, Public Health, and Emergency Management hosting informational tables. Planning for the next LEPC meeting on February 19th involves potentially having Genasys present to utilize their flood simulation capabilities.

The session began with the approval of the current agenda and the minutes from the January 7th regular session and the January 8th special and executive sessions. Key discussion points during public comment included an update on the status of the BLM's proposal regarding 5,000 acres for an over-the-horizon radar system, and a report on the conclusion of the six-month fee waiver program for flood victims. Agency updates featured a presentation of the annual audit, highlighting the issuance of a clean audit opinion, the change in accounting basis to modified cash basis, and a review of fund balances and expenditures for major funds, including the General Fund, Road Fund, and the newly established Fair Event Center project fund. A question arose regarding timing differences in the distribution of property taxes collected for other governments.

The meeting included an update on the status of State Homeland Security grants, noting that no Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was available. Discussion centered on the Hazmat plan and group update, utilizing the HMEP grant for plan updates, training, and an exercise. Future meeting plans involved holding the next session in the evening for public attendance, potentially at the fairgrounds, and utilizing a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) game to complete two LEPC items for the year. Key accomplishments from the LEPC were reviewed, including starting the group, connectivity, shared resources, membership size (27 members), strong participation, grant connections, CWPP, Genasys, and collaboration. Future goals for 2026 focus on conducting an exercise, increasing public participation, maintaining consistency, continuing collaborations, providing training, planning, growth, targeting the audience, and sustaining teamwork and communication, including text alerts. The group also discussed potential members to invite, such as the Forest Service, HCSWCD, Environmental Justice representatives, ESD, USFWS, and City Managers.

The meeting agenda for the Harney County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 2026 Meeting #4 is structured around several key components led by Anna Murphy from DLCD. Topics include introductions and final questions regarding the risk assessment, an introduction to the mitigation strategy covering an overview of actions, requirements, and a review of the NHMP mission and goals. A significant portion of the meeting involves reviewing and updating the status of mitigation actions from the previous 2019 plan. The session will conclude with a discussion on formulating new mitigation actions that connect the risk assessment and goals to specific measures, followed by wrap-up and next steps.

The meeting involved initial discussions concerning unauthorized external AI tools attempting to join administrator meetings. The main presentation, given by representatives of the Harney Brand initiative and Food Systems initiative under the High Desert Partnership, detailed the collaborative's updated vision, purpose, mission, and goals. Key focus areas included enhancing food security, supporting small businesses, and reducing reliance on imported food, especially during disasters. The discussion covered the entrepreneurial ecosystem building blocks framework (Culture, Capital, Support, Policy, Market, People, Infrastructure). Specific activities mentioned included supporting tribal youth entrepreneurship, providing capital access through KA loans and Shop Harney funds, offering technical assistance via SBDC and Foundry Collective, and promoting youth career pathways through partnerships with TVCC for trade certifications. The policy section touched upon groundwater issues and ensuring collaboration across different groups to address difficult conversations and policy updates.