THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017
Business / Agriculture
City Council
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
He stated that he has
since been complying as
requested.
He stated he had since
learned from others in the
community that they aren’t
required to do so.
He also noted that it
was his understanding
that code enforcement
was complaint-driven and
argued that by having a
complaint driven process
allowed for the possibility
of disgruntled neighbors
to consistently complain
about the smallest things.
Hutchens stated other
concerns in his neighbor-
hood such as traffic control
issues, sanitation issues
and what he felt was drug
activity.
He added his reluc-
tance to call in complaints
for fear of retaliation
and stated he’d talked to
other neighbors in the area
whose complaints had
gone unresolved and they
were now just disgusted
with trying any longer and
feared retaliation.
He told Council that he
just wanted to make sure
they were aware of the
situations that were hap-
pening and added, “My
best experience since mov-
ing to Baker City has been
meeting Mr. Warner. The
City Manager.”
Mayor Downing thanked
him for the information
and moved forward with
the agenda.
Union County Regional
Housing Rehabilitation
Project
Community Connection
of Northeast Oregon is
applying for a $400,000
Community Development
Block Grant through Busi-
ness Oregon.
The grant would be uti-
lized to help homeowners
across Union, Baker, Wal-
lowa and Grant Counties
with housing rehabilitation
to those that qualify.
Business Oregon is
requiring an Intergov-
ernmental Agreement in
Support of the grant for our
community to be eligible
to receive funds.
Kale Elmer, who has
worked with the program
for some time addressed
Council explaining a little
about how the program
works.
First, he assured Council
that by signing the agree-
ment and having funds
available for citizens
would in no way “be of
additional burden to the
City.”
Homeowners must first
qualify for monies from
the grant, such as the
homeowner must have
equity in the home and
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they must be current on
property taxes. The mon-
ies are then loaned to the
homeowner in a no interest
loan without payback until
the property is sold.
Elmer told Council that
the good thing about the
grant dollars is that once
the monies are repaid they
can reallocate those monies
into a new loan for another
homeowner.
Elmer stated that ap-
plications for homeowners
to apply for the program
would be available at the
local Community Connec-
tion office and once funds
were available the alloca-
tion of funds would be
determined on a first come
first serve basis.
He advised that currently
they manage 140 revolving
loans.
City Manager Warner
stated that he was very
familiar with the program
from his time as County
Commission Chair and told
Council that it was a “great
program.”
Mayor Downing also
commented stating that he
also was familiar with the
program and that he has
“seen a lot of benefits. It’s
good for our community. It
helps not only Seniors and
Disabled but low-income
families too.”
Councilor Joseph moved
to sign the agreement.
Councilor McQuisten
made a second followed by
a unanimous Council Vote.
Ordinance #3359 Devel-
opment Code Update
Planning Director Holly
Kerns gave a summary
of the Ordinance again
stating that a request had
been made that larger signs
be allowed in the freeway
overlay area allowing bet-
ter visibility from freeway
traffic.
The planning commis-
sion had reviewed the
request and recommended
the changes be approved.
Mayor Downing, as
required by law, opened
a public meeting on the
matter.
No one came forward to
speak and Downing then
closed the public hearing.
Councilor McQuisten
motioned to hear the third
reading with a second by
Councilor Joseph. Council
voted 6:1 with Councilor
Nilsson casting the sole no
vote.
Kerns then read the ordi-
nance by title only. Mayor
Downing asked if there
was any discussion before
voting on the matter.
Councilor Nilsson stated,
“I have been really paying
attention to this and I have
voted no consistently, but
I’ve heard a lot of argu-
ments for this so if that is
what the people want, it’s
no big deal.”
Upon a motion to ap-
prove by Councilor Joseph
and seconded by Councilor
Thomas, Council again
voted 6:1 with Nilsson still
voting in opposition but
the motion passing.
Boards and Commis-
sions Appointment: Golf
Board
City Recorder/Human
Resource Manager Julie
Smith advised Council that
one seat on the Golf Board
would be vacant the end of
November.
That seat is currently
held by Charlie Williams.
Smith stated that Mr.
Williams had applied to
continue holding that seat.
Councilor Joseph moved
to appoint Mr. Williams
with a second by Councilor
Nilsson.
A unanimous vote was
cast.
Smith advised Council
that another seat on the
golf board would be vacant
soon, just for their infor-
mation.
Work Session Discus-
sion
City Manager Fred War-
ner expressed the need to
occasionally, before certain
items are brought before
Council, to have a Council
work session.
An informal meeting,
that is public, where Coun-
cilors can ask questions
of staff and gain a better
understanding of an issue
before the issue is intro-
duced in a regularly sched-
uled Council meeting.
Warner said he realized
that this was important af-
ter the November 15,2017
Council meeting in which
Police Chief Wyn Lohner
introduced a Chronic Prop-
erty Ordinance, that was
— Weekly Hay Report —
unsupported by Council.
Warner said that he felt
the need for an ordinance
like the one Lohner had
proposed was in essence a
good idea.
Had the Council been
able to discuss the matter,
ask questions and really
understand the issue they
may have been able to
support such an ordinance
as proposed or suggest
changes that were accept-
able.
Councilor McQuisten
stated, “I welcome this
change. It is a more effec-
tive way to get informa-
tion.”
He cited that having
more information would
allow the Council to make
better decisions that were
“respectful of the commu-
nity.”
Councilor Andersen
stated he was “encour-
aged” by this idea and
agreed with Councilor
McQuisten adding, “gives
us opportunity to come up
with great decisions.”
As they discussed among
themselves Warner sug-
gested that perhaps on the
first scheduled meeting of
each month they could just
plan on meeting at 6 p.m.
for discussions before the 7
p.m. meeting.
Councilor Nilsson ques-
tioned the advantage of
having a regular work ses-
sion saying he felt like if it
became a normal occur-
rence that the issues need-
ing discussed wouldn’t
have as much impact as if
it were a special session.
That thought was
expressed throughout the
Council. Warner agreed
to Council’s preference
to schedule special work
sessions for specific issues
as needed.
He did advise that the
December 12th meeting,
the only scheduled meet-
ing for the month and the
last for the year would be
seeing one of the special
work session meetings as
the Council would need
to be advised of the water
management plan that was
going to be submitted to
DEQ as required by Jan 1,
2018.
SEE CITY COUNCIL
PAGE 7
Friday, November 17, 2017 — Eastern Oregon
No new report for last week due to the hoiday.
Prices trended generally steady in a limited test.
Retail/Stable type hay remains the largest demanded
hay. Many hay producers have sold out for the
year. Recent showers and snow has hampered hay
movement.
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
Alfalfa Small Square Good
40 130.00-130.00 130.00
From the week before last:
Barley Straw / Utility
60 40.00-40.00 40.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 504
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk 157.00-210.00 Top 216.00
400-500# Bulk 148.00-177.00 Top 182.50
500-600# Bulk 129.00-153.00 Top 159.50
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 138.00-159.00 Top 161.00
400-500# Bulk 132.00-147.00 Top 149.00
500-600# Bulk 129.00-138.00 Top 138.50
Yearling Steers
600-700# Bulk 129.00-144.00 Top 144.00
700-800# Bulk 123.00-139.00 Top 140.00
800-900# Bulk 121.00-132.00 Top 133.00
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Yearling Heifers
600-700# Bulk 117.00-128.00 Top 131.00
700-800# Bulk 114.00-127.00 Top 130.50
800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A
900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A
Thin Shelly Cows 41.00-49.00
Butcher Cows 49.00-59.00
Butcher Bulls 58.00 -71.00
Stock Cows N/A
Younger Hfrts. N/A
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: $1,298.60
Silver: $16.92
Platinum: $949.65
Palladium: $1029.06
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Corn: $349.50/bu/USD
Wheat: $425.50/bu/USD
Soybeans: $991.25/bu/USD
Oats: $261.50 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $12.32/cwt/USD
Canola: $509.00 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $125.58//lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $154.78/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $71.78/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com