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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2017 Business / Agriculture Economic Development: Smith, Nudd give updates — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, July 28, 2017 — Eastern Oregon Prices trended generally steady. All prices reported today are new crop, unless otherwise noted. Most producers are done with first cutting and working on second cutting. Some recent and upcoming thunderstorms in some of the growing areas has resulted in lower quality and lower priced hay, as producers were caught off guard and were unable to get the hay out of the field before the rains came. Retail/Stable type hay remains the largest demanded hay. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Timothy Grass Large Square Premium/Supreme 2080 280.00-305.00 290.58 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 282 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 161.00-174.00 Top 181.00 400-500# Bulk 149.00-167.00 Top 168.00 500-600# Bulk 144.00-158.00 Top 162.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk N/A Top N/A 400-500# Bulk 141.00-157.00 Top 159.00 500-600# Bulk 136.00-147.00 Top 149.00 Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press At right, Greg Smith of Gregory Smith and Company, LLC, says Hydro-Dip is one of his leads. Julie Hicks at left. BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Eco- nomic Development Coun- cil (EDC) held a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, 1 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Baker County Court- house, which included a discussion of the Elkhorn Industrial Park, and an update on challenges and progress, from Baker County Economic De- velopment Director Greg Smith. Present from the EDC were Randy Daugherty, Bill Harvey, Fred Warner, Jr., Jerry Peacock, Martin Arritola, Tyler Brown, and Scott Thatcher. Attendance also included Smith’s assistant, Julee Hicks, Baker City Development Coordinator Robin Nudd, Baker County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Shelly Cutler, Blue Moun- tain Community College Small Business Devel- opment Center (BMCC SBDC) Business Advisor Jeff Nelson, BMCC SBDC Baker County Director Dan Koopman, Bob Sav- age, Art Sappington, and Tom Muller. Daugherty called the meeting to order (Chair Craig Ward was absent), and he asked for discus- sion of any old business, of which there was none offered. The minutes from the previous two meetings were approved, with a mo- tion from Peacock, and a second from Harvey. Following a Commis- sion Chair update from Harvey, and a portion of a City Manager update from Warner, Jr., which included discussion of freeway signage issues, Muller said he was confused about cri- teria for denial of one sign previously, by the Planning Commission, versus pos- sible approval of a differ- ent sign, through changing the sign code, which he said is a double standard. Daugherty explained that Muller should speak with the Planning Department regarding the subject, since it would be an issue ad- dressed more appropriately there. Warner, Jr. discussed details of the Elkhorn Industrial Park, which he said is “relatively shovel ready,” for development, and Harvey said that infra- structure should be put into place now, with maximum electricity power loads available at the farthest points out. Smith said that the park needs signage, and Daugherty said that, along with the need for consistent utilities guide- lines, there is no high- speed Internet service yet. Harvey also said that there needs to be a consistent asking price for property there. Daugherty said that the EDC should get some details worked out, and to City Council by Council’s first meeting in September. Nudd said that the newly formed Baker City Down- town group is doing well, and that there are various activities planned in the community, including a Total Solar Eclipse concert event, with four venues, and nine bands. She said that the use of Central Park has grown significantly, and there will be movies shown there every Thurs- day night through mid- September. Smith provided a Direc- tor update, which included, among other details, com- ment that there were (at the time of the meeting) 89 positions available in the City, from teacher, to dishwasher, to bar tender, etc., but he said that the number one challenge for employers has been to find good labor. On the subject of leads, statewide, and elsewhere, for potential business to attract to the County, Smith said that his office responds to all which come in. On a local level, he said that there have been ten significant business possibilities just in July (however, due to certain restraints, he often can’t share details regarding potential businesses before they’re fully established here, he said). Smith mentioned the former convenience store, hotel, and gas station property in Farewell Bend, which he said may be developed by an Atlanta, Georgia-based company, but he remains skeptical, and he said it’s probably better to bull doze it, and start fresh with new con- struction. He said that, while the attempt to convince Gro- cery Outlet to add a store in Baker City has failed (there’s one in La Grande), he still praised Harvey for playing a key role in that effort (Grocery Outlet is focusing on expanding in other markets for now). Smith, displaying some Meridian-based Hydro-Dip items in front of Hicks and himself, said that the company is looking at the possibility of a Baker City location. Hydro-Dip, which provides a custom decorating service using some of the most advanced technology in the decorat- ing industry, specializes in Hydro Dipping, Hydro- graphics, and Water Trans- fer Printing, according to the company’s website. He said that the manu- facturing facility may be in the 5,000 square foot to 8,000 square foot range, and he’s encouraging the company to check out the Elkhorn Industrial Park. Among other topics, Smith said that, with marketing efforts aimed at bringing business to the County, he wanted to emphasize what the costs are for travel, etc., and that the budget is about the minimum needed to get the job done at a reasonable cost. In addressing some comments and complaints which Smith and the Coun- ty have received regarding Greg Smith & Company’s contract for economic development services, for which the company now receives $108,000 annually, after receiving an increase per request for $12,000, which was approved by the EDC and then the County Commis- sion, Smith said, “It almost seems like, rather than a strategic plan, we need a strategic direction...Set up some parameters (of what the EDC would like to see Smith accomplish specifi- cally, with timelines)...” In speaking of business potentials and the restraints in sharing details prema- turely, Smith said, “I can’t brag about some of the stuff I’m doing, and it’s challenging (he gave some general examples)...Some- how, we’ve got to figure out a better methodology, for us sharing, as we go along, with the public, and I acknowledge that.” The EDC went into Executive Session in order to further discuss these details with Smith. I-84 roadwork to continue through eclipse Motorists who travel across the Encina-Pleasant Valley bridge on I-84 near milepost 313 (west of Durkee toward Baker City) are advised that work will continue on the project throughout the month of August. This means that the traffic-controlled work zone will remain in place through the total solar eclipse that covers much of Oregon on August 21. Speed limits in the area are reduced first to 60 miles per hour then down to 50 miles per hour. Crews from Oregon Mainline Paving are con- tinuing to apply a new deck surface on the bridge. They will not be able to interrupt that work for the duration of travel expected for the eclipse due to the nature of the work. The bridge is not service- able at this time, nor will it be by that date. The objective of the $3 million project is to improve the travel surface and structure of the bridge to maintain it in a safe condition. As the work has been progressing, traffic is moved into the westbound lane of travel, controlled by crews as necessary using barrels and other devices. It is expected to be completed by early September. Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 141.00-156.00 Top 157.00 700-800# Bulk 127.00-135.00 Top 138.00 800-900# Bulk 119.00-125.00 Top 128.00 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 127.00-134.00 Top 148.00 700-800# Bulk 119.00-127.00 Top 129.00 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 61.00-73.00 Butcher Cows 75.00-84.00 Butcher Bulls 74.00-92.00 Stock Cows Young 86.00 Hfretts 77.00-85.00 Pairs 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: $1,272.20 Silver: $16.56 Platinum: $946.88 Palladium: $896.72 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $379.00/bu/USD Wheat: $460.75/bu/USD Soybeans: $977.50/bu/USD Oats: $289.50 bu/USD Rough Rice: $12.49/cwt/USD Canola: $501.00 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $114.68//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $150.25/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $66.23/lb./USD Bloomberg.com