Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017 Business / Agriculture Sycamore Tree ribbon-cutting — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, March 3, 2017 — Eastern Oregon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 She continued, “But then I also didn’t want to open up another shop in Baker because I didn’t want to oversaturate the market and there are some great gift shops and boutiques in town. And so I never got around to it. Then when I heard that Jacki (Adams) was going to be selling the store it just all fell into place for me to take over the ownership. It’s like a dream come true.” Gaslin began working at The Sycamore Tree in October when she decided to purchase the store to see the store running and working from the inside out. She has been a self- employed accountant for six years. Gaslin does not plan to make any major changes to the store. The fudge and a lot of their main sections will stay. She has added in Magno- lia Home by Joanna Gaines and her first shipment that came in a few weeks ago is already almost sold out. She has placed new or- ders of furniture, couches, tables, a coffee table, and a dining room table. She plans to keep that line in stock for the store. She has also added a bar ware section to the store and is trying to have a larger presence of men’s gifts so people are able to shop for a gift for men. Gaslin explained that she will begin a wish list for those who are on the customer list with The Sycamore Tree. She explained that if someone wants something for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, wedding regis- tries, and baby registries, they can make a note on their account so others can find those items. She also explained that those who want to do a registry, The Sycamore Tree will set up a dis- play with a picture of the couple, and some of the things they picked out, and put notes up of more things they want. “It’s a great place to work,” Gaslin stated. “We have a great staff. The ladies that work here really are the ones that keep the business running, they know it from the inside out and I’ve just been really blessed to have them stay on and help me with little questions when they come up that I don’t have the answers for, at least I can ask them and know that they know what is going on, so it has been great getting to work with all the ladies here.” Interim Budget Board meets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dexter explained that what these types of meet- ings are used for is training and giving information that will be useful when future budget meetings are held. She explained that even people that had been on the Budget Board before often needed a refresher as budgets are only looked at once a year. During these types of meetings various depart- ments are looked at and ex- plained to board members also giving an opportunity to gain insight into the roles and structures of dif- ferent departments giving budget board members valuable information when determining financial al- lotments during the final stages of budget approval. Referring again to what could be discussed, Dexter stated, “We can talk in very broad vision goals, philosophies, spending priorities.” She then reiterated things that they could not talk about in this meet- ing “specific estimates or appropriation amounts associated with any fund or any line item resource or requirement. The ques- tion of whether to fund a specific program or expen- diture. Or the imposing of any tax.” Jeff Petry then asked the question as to why have this interim meeting if there were so many issues that couldn’t be addressed. Dexter explained that they couldn’t have a formal meeting yet for a couple of reasons one be- ing that in order to have a formal meeting and discuss specifics the public had to be duly noticed and the biggest reason being that the official budget was not yet prepared. She advised that the official budget document would be ready May 5. The public would be noticed of meetings, the proposed budget pub- licly released and then the Budget Board would officially meet to begin consideration of passing the proposed budget. Petry also expressed concern over the manner in which certain entities approached the Board for consideration of funding. He noted that last year in the public meetings groups came forward and gave presentations in a “pitch” for funding. Petry expressed a dislike of that practice and asked if there was a way these groups could approach staff and if appropriate the funding already be noted in the official budget docu- ments, cutting down on the presentations to the board during official meetings. This idea was discussed among the board, Dexter and City Manager Fred Warner. The conclusion was that they could request that those asking for funding approach staff prior to official budget meetings and that had been the case in some instances in the past, however the meetings were required by law to allow the public to speak and there was no way of excluding presentations requesting funding. Dexter then moved on to updating those present on the current 2016-2017 budget status. She advised that due to the additional funds that were utilized in unexpect- ed snow removal and the turnover of the City’s am- bulance billing to a third party that had not yielded the expected revenue, projections for ending fund balances were less than expected. “This is going to be a challenging budget year. We’re going to have to refine and staff is going to have to lay out where the money is and where it isn’t and where the priorities are,” said Warner. A street overlay project that was scheduled for August is already on the chopping block and pos- sibly will not be funded in the new budget. “This has been a long time coming,” he added. Although, this is his first year with the City, Warner who served as County Commissioner prior to the City knows a thing or two about budgets. He said his goal is to have a budget “we can live with and try to keep the City on an even keel without any personnel cuts. Council will have some tough decisions to make.” The City’s budget should be adopted by July 1. It can be adopted later however, if no budget has been adopted by July 1 and the City spends any money legal action can be taken according to City Auditor Kent Bailey. It also opens the possi- bility of citizens suing the City for spending public money they were not en- titled to spend. Bailey is currently still in the process of conclud- ing the City audit, due to personnel changes his firm is running behind but he advised it is expected to be done soon. Dexter advised the board that the proposed budget document will be delivered by May 5, 2017. Formal public Budget meetings are expected to be held the week of May 15 -18 with approval that same week. Once approved City Council will need to of- ficially adopt the budget. Minor changes can still be made up until such time. Dexter expects the Council to vote on adoption at their final June Council meeting to have the adopted budget in place before July 1. The Budget Board still has one vacancy, if you are interested in serving on this important board please contact Julie Smith at City Hall 541.524.2033 for information. Budget information can be found on the City’s website www.bakercity. com. Dexter has offered to meet with anyone wanting to know more informa- tion about the budget and budget process she can be reached at 541.542.2042. NEOEDD requests civics projects E ach year the North- east Oregon Economic Development District updates the Comprehen- sive Economic Develop- ment Strategy (CEDS) for Baker, Union and Wal- lowa counties. The CEDS provides an important overview of the region’s social and business condi- tions, analyzes the region’s economic and community development issues and opportunities, and presents a list of potential economic development and civic projects within the region. See NEOEDD’s website for the 2013-2018 Plan and 2016 Update: http:// www.neoedd.org/content/ comprehensive-plan NEOEDD is collecting information for the 2017 CEDS project list using a form available here: http://www.neoedd.org/ content/2017-ceds-project- information-form. Projects must have a public benefit and be sponsored by a government or non-profit organization. Projects that have a direct or indirect impact on job creation, and/or that address federal Economic Development Administration guidelines, will have greater priority for some funding sources. If your organization sub- mits more than one project, please rank the projects in priority order. The deadline is Mar. 24, 2017. Return via email to kristyathens@ neoedd.org. Additionally, NEOEDD is offering to list CEDS projects on an online platform called Agora. NEOEDD is using Agora to connect projects with potential funders (public funders-such as state and federal agencies, com- munity foundations and banks, and philanthropic sector individuals and organizations), to create greater visibility for proj- ects, and to keep project descriptions up-to-date. Agora’s website has a quick video overview: http://www.agora-platform. com/. NEOEDD is avail- able to register organi- zations and projects on Agora, and then transfer registration information to project managers so they can make updates and correspond with potential funders as they wish. Please return project forms no later than Mar. 24, 2017. Direct ques- tions to Sara Miller, Kristy Athens, or Lisa Dawson at 541-426-3598. The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District’s mission is to provide resources and facilitate quality decision- making for the benefit of entrepreneurs, businesses and communities in Baker, Union, and Wallowa coun- ties. Learn more about its programs and business support at www.neoedd. org. Subscribe today! See page 9 for details. Prices trended generally steady in a limited test compared to week ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable hay. According to some producers, horse owners prefer lower sugar, higher protein hay. Many producers are sold out for the year. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Large Square Premium 30 140.00-140.00 140.00 Alfalfa / Orchard Mix — Small Square Good/Premium 22 165.00-165.00 165.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 1345 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 157.00-187.00 Top 193.00 400-500# Bulk 155.00-183.00 Top 183.50 500-600# Bulk 140.00-161.00 Top 165.50 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 147.00-162.00 Top 162.50 400-500# Bulk 132.00-158.00 Top 160.50 500-600# Bulk 125.00-141.00 Top 143.00 600-700# 700-800# 800-900# 900-1,000# Yearling Steers Bulk 128.00-140.00 Top 143.00 Bulk 119.00-129.00 Top 129.50 Bulk 116.00-125.00 Top 125.75 Bulk 110.00-118.00 Top 119.25 Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 116.00-128.00 Top 130.00 700-800# Bulk 110.00-121.00 Top 122.50 800-900# Bulk 104.00-111.00 Top 114.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 37.00-52.00 Butcher Cows 58.00-65.00 Butcher Bulls 58.00 -77.00 Stock Cows N/A Hfretts 69.00-91.00 Stock Cows Young - N.A ProducersLivestock.com 541-473-3136 — Log Price Report — Prices are based on the majority of saw mills in Northeastern Oregon and Central Idaho. The prices listed below are a composite prices of various saw- mills willing to visit with me about this topic. Ponderosa Pine—small diameter class 8-11 inches diameter class $250 per mbf. Only one sawmill was willing to buy small diameter pine at this time. Ponderosa Pine—medium diameter class 12-17 inches diameter class $300 to $350 per mbf Ponderosa Pine-large diameter class 18 plus inches diameter class $380 to $410 per mbf The Pine prices are still approximately $40 per mbf below average lumber/log market due to 2017 fire salvage Doug Fir & Western Larch—$380 to $420 per mbf. Normal prices typically ranged between $425 to $475 per mbf. White Fir-$300 per mbf. Normal prices typically ranged between $340 to $360 per mbf. Engelmann Spruce—$350 at one Idaho sawmill, other sawmills including with White fir prices. In general, the log prices still impacted from 2015 fire season and fire salvage that resulted. Sawmills are starting to get log yard inventory in line with sawmill production needs. With a new Administra- tion as of 1/20/2017, a more normal economic envi- ronment should result and hopefully a more healthy housing situation will result in a better climate for Northeast Oregon Sawmill and private forest land- owners. Courtesy of Arvid Andersen, Andersen Forestry Consulting — Precious Metals Report — Price per ounce, USD Gold: $1,208.60 Silver: $17.26 Platinum: $947.65 Palladium: $769.25 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $372.50/bu/USD Wheat: $447.00/bu/USD Soybeans: $1,021.75/bu/USD Oats: $243.75 bu/USD Rough Rice: $9.64/cwt/USD Canola: $527.20 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $115.98//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $122.78/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $68.43/lb./USD Bloomberg.com