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