The Harney County Health District Board of Directors provide leadership and direction for the district. The Board was formed in 1990 when the community voted to separate the health district from the Harney County government.
The board is comprised of seven community-elected members. Board members are elected on a rotation basis for four-year staggered terms.
Board members work closely with the community and the district administration. Meetings are generally held the fourth Wednesday of each month in the board conference room on the lower level of hospital. The community is always invited and encouraged to attend the public portions of district meetings.
The Harney County Health District Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Harney District Hospital Board Conference Room, 557 W. Washington in Burns, Oregon. The community is invited to attend the public portions of the meeting.
NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING AGENDA
November 6, 2024 — Board Agenda
The next meeting of the Harney County Health District Board of Directors is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the hospital. The meeting can be attended in person or virtually. If you would like to attend virtually, please email Kathy Huffman at khuffman@inside-japan.com.
Occasionally, executive sessions may be held during board meetings per Oregon Revised Statutes. Executive sessions and applicable statutes will be included on the meeting agenda.
If you would like to address the board during the public comment period, please fill out a comment card.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES & MEETING NOTICES
You can find the unapproved minutes of the Oct. 2, 2024, Harney County Health District Board meeting here: Board Meeting Minutes — Oct. 2, 2024.
These minutes will be reviewed for approval during the next meeting of the Harney County Health District Board of Directors, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the board conference room of the hospital.
The public portions of the meeting can be attended virtually or in person. If you would like to attend the meeting virtually, please email Kathy Huffman at khuffman@inside-japan.com to receive the videoconferencing information.
Occasionally, an executive session may be held during the board meeting per Oregon Revised Statutes. Executive sessions and applicable statutes will be included on the meeting agenda.
If you would like to address the board during the public comment period, please fill out a comment card.
Sharon Davis, Board Chair
Term Began: August 26, 2015
Came to Harney County: Sharon moved to Harney County in 1974 after marrying her husband, Joe, a lifetime resident of the area. They raised two children here, and have two grandchildren.
Community Involvement: Crane School Budget Board, Crane High School youth group, Harney Partners for Kids and Families, Burns School District No. 3 Budget Board, Kids Club of Harney County, Burns Hilanders Booster Club, Community Support Foundation of Harney County.
Kara Bowen, Board Treasurer
Term Began: July 5, 2023
Came to Harney County: Kara has lived in Harney County for 7 years.
Community Involvement: Previously practiced Physical Therapy
Jolene Cawlfield, Board Secretary
Term Began: February 7, 2024
Came to Harney County: Jolene and her husband, Doug, were both born and raised in Harney County and raised their two children here.
Community Involvement: Jolene worked at Harney District Hospital (HDH) as a registered nurse from June 1980 until September 1996. She was HDH’s first Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certified nurse and taught CPR classes at the hospital for many years. She was a family nurse practitioner in Harney County from July 1997 until September 2022. During this time, she mostly practiced primary care. However, she finished her career as the director of the Harney County Health Department. Jolene continues to stay active in the community by working as a substitute teacher at Crane and Riley schools, serving as a deaconess and volunteer at Faith Baptist Church, and serving on the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO) Clinical Advisory Panel. Previous community involvement includes: EOCCO Local Community Advisory Council (LCAC) chair, Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), 4-H, and numerous scholarship-selection committees and sports programs.
Shana Withee
Term Began: July 1, 2015
Came to Harney County: Shana has lived and worked in Harney County for more than 30 years. She and husband, Jim, have raised their four children here.
Community Involvement: Many 4-H Groups, Harney County Parks & Recreation Budget Board, Knitting Guild, Burns School District, Harney County Cattlewomen
Deborah Bentz
Term Began: July 5, 2023
Came to Harney County: Deborah has lived in Harney County for 29 years.
Community Involvement: Previously on Crane Elementary Governing Board, Harney County Planning Commission
Kathy Cook
Term Began: July 5, 2023
Julie Riel
Term Began: October 2, 2024
Came to Harney County: Julie’s family moved from Colorado to Harney County in 1972. After graduating from Crane Union High School in 1974, she attended college at Oregon State University and then began a 32-plus-year career with the Federal Department of Energy. After retiring from federal service, she moved back to Harney County in 2017.
Community Involvement: In addition to providing part-time bookkeeping services, Julie serves on the Board of Directors for the Silvies River Charter School and Harney Hospital Foundation. She also serves on the budget/finance commission and volunteers at the Awana’s Club at Faith Baptist Church.