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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 Business / Agriculture Geiser Grand to expand CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It’s anticipated that the entire project will total more than two million dol- lars. Sidway said, “We will look forward to sharing the details on the project with the community when plans develop.” But even now you can see that work is proceed- ing. If you look over at the building when driv- ing down Resort Street, you’ll see a dozen highly skilled masons working on rebuilding the damaged brick common walls. “We hope that is just the begin- ning of the jobs, direct and indirect, that this project will generate for the com- munity,” said Sidway. Oregon Heritage, a divi- sion of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 28 matching grants worth $2,455,700 to Oregon Main Street Network organizations across the state for build- ing projects that encourage economic revitalization. Projects range from façade improvement to elevator access and seismic upgrades and awards range from $17,500-$100,000. The department funded projects that best conveyed the ability to stimulate private investment and lo- cal economic development, and best fit within the com- munity’s long range plan for downtown vitality. The grant program was created during the 2015 legislative session, and placed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The legislation estab- lished a permanent fund for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, and provided an initial infusion of funds from the sale of lottery bonds. The funds must be used to award grants to partici- pating Oregon Main Street Network organizations to acquire, rehabilitate or con- struct buildings to facilitate community revitalization. The program also requires that at least 50 percent of the funds go to rural communities as defined in the bill. 911 Board holds ‘emergency’ meeting over budget BY GINA K. SWARTZ — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, May 5, 2017 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady in a limited test compared to week ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable hay. According to some pro- ducers, horse owners prefer lower sugar, higher pro- tein hay. Many producers are sold out for the year. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa — Large Square Premium / Supreme 50 180.00-180.00 180.00 Two weeks ago: Alfalfa / Orchard Mix — Small Square Premium 6 165.00-165.00 165.00 Timothy Grass — Small Square Premium 10 275.00-275.00 275.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 674 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 172.00-191.00 Top 200.00 400-500# Bulk 166.00-182.00 Top 184.00 500-600# Bulk 151.00-171.00 Top 178.00 Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com On Friday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. members of the 911 Board were asked to attend what County Com- mission Chair Bill Harvey coined an “emergency” meeting at City Hall. In attendance with Harvey were City Man- ager Fred Warner, Mayor Mike Downing, 911 Board member Debi Dugan, 911 Board member Rob Gen- tilli and 911 Director Hope Lindsey. Lindsey, who has been at the helm of the 911 cen- ter since February 2016, recently submitted her resignation. Harvey made clear that Lindsey had requested this meeting. Lindsey claimed to have received the proposed 911 Center budget on Wednes- day May 3, 2017 following the County Commissions meeting and upon review she says it will leave the center “inoperable next year. They will not be able to function with the rec- ommended funding.” Lindsey expressed with her resignation effec- tive Friday, May 12, she wanted to try and resolve some of the issues before her departure. “As a board, we have had two meetings scheduled to discuss the budget and we haven’t done that at either of them,” she said. Harvey told the Board that he and Lindsey had met the day before to discuss the matter. He told the Board and Lindsey that he “tried several times to work with your schedule to find time to meet and go over everything—” but until this week had been unsuccessful. He also added that Christena Cook, Baker County Ad- ministrative Director had helped Lindsey quite a bit and posed the question to Lindsey, “Is that not true?” Lindsey acknowledged that indeed was the case but she had had questions about some of the things she was expected to do and had emailed Harvey and Cook telling Harvey, “I did not get a response from you right away and Christena said, ‘Just bal- ance it.’” Lindsey advised that she had copies of all those emails if needed. Harvey responded by saying he had not an- swered her right away due to other meetings he had been in at the time. He also said that he knew Lindsey was unfamiliar with the County’s budget process and that the County had Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 162.00-183.00 Top 184.00 400-500# Bulk 153.00-169.00 Top 170.00 500-600# Bulk 147.00-158.00 Top 165.00 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 142.00-164.00 Top 168.00 700-800# Bulk 124.00-141.00 Top 143.00 800-900# Bulk 121.00-129.00 Top 132.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press L-R: Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash, Dispatcher Mandy Wirth. reached a point where they had asked her to “finish it up, you did the best you could with it.” He then stated that the commissioners and budget board did what they could with it but did have to adjust things to make it balance. He advised the County had their first half day budget meeting with the board and commissioners that Wednesday, May 3 and the next was set for May 31st. Harvey asked Warner when the City’s budget meetings were set as the City funds the 911 center as well and would need that final number when deciding on the allocated funds in their budget. Lindsey spoke up saying she felt it was the Board’s job was to come up with the budget, “to give the director and the Center guidelines for what expec- tations are.” Harvey noted that an- other 911 meeting was set for May 12 and that was what that meeting would be used for, the meeting that day could not be used to go through the budget line by line. Lindsey asked, “Why not?” Harvey explained that all the information was not before those present. Lindsey said she had brought information for all and claimed that in two prior meetings it had been on the agenda to have budget discussions, but Harvey had said they would not be discussing the budget prior to both meetings. “At what point will we discuss it?” she asked. Harvey responded, “Right now.” City Manager Fred War- ner, Jr. then added, “I just think since we’re here and it’s a 911 Board meeting, I would like to make sure what is in the budget is what fits the City’s dollar figure. We’ll have our budget done before the County.” Lindsey added, “Well this is just to make recom- mendations so you can make informed decisions. I don’t understand why you’re refusing to talk about it.” Harvey advised that the May 12 meeting would begin with an executive session and would include discussions that could not be done in a public hearing such as employees and employee contracts. Lindsey argued that the meeting was for expendi- tures. Harvey disagreed because he felt part of expenditures could include personnel. The group did go through the proposed budget rather quickly line by line where Lindsey did note areas that the budget could be cut such as office supplies or where money had been allotted in the previous year’s budget to replace some equipment or computers and that amount was again placed in this proposed budget unnecessarily and could be removed. The budget for training caused some discussion. In order for 911 dis- patchers to remain active, ongoing training is required to keep their certification. Cuts to that budget were of grave concern. Simply put, in order to operate, the 911 center needs dispatchers. In order to be a dispatcher certain requirements must be met, including mandatory train- ing hours. Lindsey did suggest that one way to possibly trim the required budget was to take advantage of online trainings rather than send personnel to trainings usu- ally held on the other side of the state incurring gas, food and lodging costs in addition to the cost of the training. Baker Police Chief Wyn Lohner was present at the meeting and spoke up saying, “Online training sounds all well and good but in reality the time to do it is often a problem and I’ve found it to be sort of ineffectual.” Dispatcher Jessica Lynch was also present and told the Board that she and other dispatchers in the 911 Center have paid for trainings out of their own pockets before because the budget isn’t there and they have to maintain their certification to remain employed. Making sure the bud- get for training dollars is sufficient is a priority for those employed by the 911 Center. Lynch also asked the board what the plan was to replace Lindsey as sev- eral 911 Center employees were at the meeting and concerned about the future there. Harvey advised that nothing had yet been done to decide the direction of the 911 Center. Chief Lohner and Sheriff Travis Ash informed the group that in an effort to “trim the budget” and save money they felt that per- haps the 911 center should temporarily return to being under the direction of the Sheriff and promote someone currently within the 911 center to serve as the head. By doing so the Sheriff’s Office could possibly share in the costs. There have been rum- blings of creating a special district to fund EMS/911 services that Ash and Lohner confirmed they are working toward getting on a ballot in the not too distant future. Board member Debi Duggan asked Sheriff Ash if there was a way that he could put together a pre- sentation and come before the 911 Board at the meet- ing on May 12 to delve into the matter further. Ash agreed to put a presentation /proposal together for that meeting. Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 125.00-139.00 Top 141.00 700-800# Bulk 124.00-141.00 Top 142.75 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows N/A Butcher Cows 66.00-74.00 Butcher Bulls N/A Stock Cows Young N/A Hfretts N/A Pairs Young - 1285.00-1485.00 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: $1,238.50 Silver: $16.48 Platinum: $897.39 Palladium: $799.79 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $374.75/bu/USD Wheat: $454.00/bu/USD Soybeans: $975.50/bu/USD Oats: $238.05 bu/USD Rough Rice: $9.91/cwt/USD Canola: $522.60 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $130.05//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $160.10/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $75.55/lb./USD Bloomberg.com
