HARNEY COUNTY
Lincoln Building: Property to Be Offered for Sale
July 2026
Environmental Cleanup Complete
Harney County has completed the environmental cleanup of the former Lincoln School, 550 North Court Avenue in Burns, using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant awarded to the County in November 2023. Work included removing asbestos-containing materials, encapsulating surfaces coated with lead-based paint, and decommissioning a 10,000-gallon aboveground heating oil tank, preparing the 1928 building for its next chapter.
Building Declared Excess Property
With the cleanup finished, the Harney County Court held a public open house on June 18, 2026, and a public meeting on July 1, 2026, to gather community input on the building’s future. The County does not have funding to renovate the building, and a previously discussed $3 million state contribution would not have been enough to reopen it for the justice-center use originally planned.
On July 2, 2026, the County Court formally adopted Order 2026-02, declaring the Lincoln Building excess County property under ORS 271.310 and authorizing its disposal. The County will advertise the property for sale, with no set deadline for offers, and will continue to accept and evaluate proposals as they come in.
View the Documents
- County Court Order 2026-02 — Declaring the Lincoln Building Excess Property (PDF)
- Oregon DEQ Lincoln School Cleanup Project Summary
- Additional Supporting DEQ Document Source
Questions?
For questions about the sale process, contact Judge Bill Hart at bill.hart@harneycountyor.gov. For questions about the cleanup project, contact Dani Fisher at Dani.Fisher@harneycountyor.gov or 541-573-6356.