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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 2017)
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 Business / Agriculture County drafts B2H letter, talks about Senate appointment BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Board of Commissioners held its first, regular session of the month on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 9 a.m., in the Commission Cham- bers of the Baker County Courthouse. Present from the Board were Chair Bill Harvey, Commissioners Mark Ben- nett and Bruce Nichols, and Executive Assistant Heidi Martin. Attendance also included Baker Coun- ty/District 8 Water Master Rick Lusk, Deputy Water Master Nathan Petrucci, Deputy Water Master Luke Albert, Baker County Road Master Jeff Smith, Baker County Health Department Director Nancy Staten, Chuck Rouse, and John Creighton. Harvey opened the ses- sion, provided the Invoca- tion, and led in recitation of the Pledge of Alle- giance. The agenda was adopted, with one noted change, with a motion from Nich- ols, and a second from Bennett. No comment was offered for Citizen Participation. The minutes from the Wednesday, November 1, 2017 regular session were approved, with no noted corrections, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. A public hearing was held in the matter of an application for a 2017 Community Development Block Grant from the Oregon Business Develop- ment Department, for the Eagle Valley Rural Fire Protection District Facility, which will be located in the Richland Elementary School Gymnasium, 42008 Moody Road, Richland. The project is estimated to benefit at least 638 people, 51.6% of whom will be low- or moderate-income. Testimony in favor in- cluded Rouse and Creigh- ton, and there was no noted opposition stated. The hearing was continued to Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 9 a.m., with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. As part of a departmen- tal update, Lusk discussed stream flow and other de- tails. He said that overall, snow pack for the area is at about 48-50% of normal, for this time of year, so, he’s not concerned for now. He said that Thief Val- ley’s capacity is sitting at about 33%, lower than normal (due to a stuck gate); Phillips and Unity reservoirs are right at, or slightly above, the normal capacity currently. Among other details, Lusk said that District 8 is “the best District,” noting issues with other regions, including lawsuits, environmental issues, etc. He voiced praise for the staff here, as well as for the farmers and ranchers the Department works with. Lusk, Petrucci, and Albert provided other informa- tion, using a slide show presentation. A Professional Services Agreement, between the County and Monte Ander- son, Physician Assistant, for the services of Mid- Level Provider at the Baker County School-Based Health Center (SBHC), was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. The agreement covers the period of August 31, 2017, through June 4, 2018, and the County will pay Ander- son $60 per hour. A Professional Services Agreement, between the County and Gina Glaubke, Physician Assistant, for Provider Services at the Baker County Health De- partment’s (BCHD) Family Planning Clinic, was ap- proved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. The agreement covers the period of July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019, and the County will pay Glaubke $60 per hour. A Professional Services Agreement, between the County and Eric Lamb, M.D., for the services of Baker County Health Of- ficer, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. The agreement covers the period of July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019, and the County will pay Lamb $825 per month, with a to- tal not to exceed $9,900 for the term of the agreement. A Medical Services Agreement, between the County and Baker School District 5J, for the opera- tion of the SBHC, by the BCHD, was approved, with a motion from Ben- nett, and a second from Nichols. The agreement covers the period of July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2019, and the County and the School District will secure funding for the SBHC, and assign the funding to BCHD. County Road Department request for the purchase of a 2015 Caterpillar 420F Backhoe Loader, for $83,083.83, from Western States Equipment, was ap- proved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. There is sufficient fund- ing in the Department’s budget for the purchase, and the new backhoe will replace two 1978 Case Backhoes at the end of their expected life, which the Department recently sold. Three other quotes were received: $92,500 from Wagner Equipment; $90,000 from CAT Finan- cial; and $90,000 from CAT Financial. The first public hear- ing was held in the matter of Order No. 2017-172, Adopting A Baker County Fee Schedule (copies of the proposed 2018 County Fee Schedule were provided to the Board). The Board discussed some proposed changes to the Schedule, mostly increases, and the hearing is continued to Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 9 a.m. Order No. 2017-165, Authorizing The Sale Of County Foreclosure Prop- erty By Private Sale, for property located at 2130 9th Street, Baker City, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. The minimum bid was set at a 15% reduction, from $8,500, to $7,225, with the stipulation that the structure be removed within 60 days (with a po- tential for an extension). Order No. 2017-166, Authorizing The Sale Of County Foreclosure Property By Private Sale, for property located at 1440 13th Street, Baker City, was approved, with a motion from Nichols, and a second from Bennett. The minimum bid was set at a 15% reduction, from $9,500, to $8,075, with the stipulation that structure be removed within 60 days (with the potential for an extension). Order No. 2017-167, Appointing Members To The Transient Lodging Tax Marketing Committee, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Carly Annable and Rae- ann Van Arsdall were ap- pointed, their terms set to expire on March 1, 2019. Order No. 2017-168, Ap- pointing Members To The Eastern Oregon Coordi- nated Care Local Commu- nity Advisory Council, was approved, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. Ronald Thompson and Alicia Bates were appoint- ed, their terms set to expire on February 1, 2020. Order No. 2017-169, Directing The Baker County Sheriff To Make Sale Of County Property; Fixing The Minimum Price And Providing A Portion Of The Conditions And Terms Of Sale, was ap- proved, with a motion from Harvey, and a second from Bennett. The property is described as a 5,950 square foot lot, in Sumpter, Map Reference No. 16414. The minimum bid was set at $8,500, and the auction is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 10 a.m., on the steps of the Baker County Courthouse. Order No. 2017-170, Directing The Baker County Sheriff To Make Sale Of County Property; Fixing The Minimum Price And Providing A Portion Of The Conditions And Terms Of Sale, was ap- proved, with a motion from Harvey, and a second from Bennett. The property is described as a 6,938 square foot lot with a building, in Sumpter, Map Reference No. 5125. The minimum bid was set at $9,500, and the auction is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 10 a.m., on the steps of the Baker County Courthouse. Order No. 2017-171, Di- recting The Baker County Sheriff To Make Sale Of County Property; Fixing The Minimum Price And Providing A Portion Of The Conditions And Terms Of Sale, was postponed, with a letter to be sent to interested nearby landown- ers, with a motion from Bennett, and a second from Nichols. The property is described as a .17 acre lot, in Durkee, Map Reference No. 6925. A letter regarding the proposed Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) Transmission Line Project, drafted from the Commis- sion to affected landown- ers in the County, was approved to be sent, with a motion from Nichols, and a second from Bennett. The letter reads as fol- lows: “As you are probably are aware, the Bureau of Land Management has re- cently released the Record of Decision (ROD) of their preferred route for the pro- posed Idaho Power Corp. Boardman to Hemingway power transmission line. “From the onset of the project, Baker County has maintained the posi- tion that the line does not directly benefit the citizens of Baker County, and should therefore not be constructed on agricultural lands within Baker County. “The County has also maintained that, if the line is approved through Baker County anyway, it should not negatively impact the private landowners with the routing or associated activities (such as access roads, etc.) In keeping with this position, the County has diligently met with all parties in an attempt to come to an ar- rangement with the various landowners to establish a ‘tolerable’ route. “The project has now moved into review by the State of Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. The County is committed to continuing the fight for equity for our landown- ers specifically, and the County at large. Please feel free to contact us at any time with your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns, or ideas in this ongoing process. “A constant suggestion made by landowners dur- ing this lengthy progres- sion has been for the County to assume the lead in discussions on property acquisition for the line by Idaho Power, should the line be approved. The reasoning for this is multi- faceted: “Strength in numbers; Ability to negotiate for an- nual payments vs. one time lump sum; Negotiate for improved micro-siting line placement in specific areas; May provide a strong tool to limit the ability to utilize ‘Eminent Domain’ to force the landowner into undesir- able outcomes; Minimize undisclosed negotiations that pit neighbors against neighbors. “Baker County would retain legal counsel to assist the County and the landowners in this process. In the event that we receive significant interest in this idea, we will schedule a meeting of the potentially impacted landowners, in order to formalize the op- tion...” SEE COUNTY PAGE 4 PASTURE! for the 2018 grazing season Pasture in Bridgeport area, 2400 +/- excellent grass and water all summer long. Will accommodate 75 animal units. Must secure by February 1, 2018. Call 541-519-5035 for more information. — Weekly Hay Report — Friday, December 1, 2017 — Eastern Oregon 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 and upcoming holidays have and will continue to slow movement. Tons Price Range Wtd Avg Alfalfa Small Square Premium 50 170.00-170.00 170.00 Timothy Large Square Good/Premium 30 170.00-170.00 170.00 USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov — Cattle Market Report — Wednesday, November 29, 2017 Vale, Oregon Cattle sold through the auction: 2,492 Steer Calves 300-400# Bulk 171.00-208.00 Top 217.50 400-500# Bulk 146.00-191.00 Top 192.50 500-600# Bulk 145.00-168.00 Top 171.00 Heifer Calves 300-400# Bulk 164.00-183.00 Top 185.00 400-500# Bulk 138.00-174.00 Top 178.50 500-600# Bulk 137.00-149.00 Top 150.25 Yearling Steers 600-700# Bulk 141.00-157.00 Top 160.50 700-800# Bulk 132.00-156.00 Top 156.75 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk 109.00-119.00 Top 124.00 Yearling Heifers 600-700# Bulk 128.00-143.50 Top 143.75 700-800# Bulk 123.00-143.00 Top 144.00 800-900# Bulk N/A Top N/A 900-1,000# Bulk N/A Top N/A Thin Shelly Cows 41.00-53.00 Butcher Cows 56.00-67.00 Butcher Bulls 48.00 - 65.00 Stock Cows N/A Younger Hfrts. 72.00 - 89.00 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: $1,269.00 Silver: $16.13 Platinum: $916.40 Palladium: $986.88 Bloomberg.com — Ag Commodities — Corn: $353.75/bu/USD Wheat: $432.75/bu/USD Soybeans: $1008.50/bu/USD Oats: $254.50 bu/USD Rough Rice: $12.33/cwt/USD Canola: $509.70 CAD/mwt Live Cattle: $120.53//lb./USD Feeder Cattle: $147.78/lb./USD Lean Hogs: $70.50/lb./USD Bloomberg.com