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