8
community news
september1
2016
A New Future for Banks Sawmill
On August 29, 2016, Hampton Lumber
announced its acquisition of the Banks lumber
mill assets in Banks, Oregon. The Banks lum-
ber mill, which employed roughly 60 people,
had been in operation since 1961 producing
high quality green Doug fir narrow dimension
lumber.
The location of the Banks sawmill is
ideal for Hampton, which currently operates
three sawmills in Oregon in the communities
of Warrenton, Tillamook, and Willamina. The
Banks mill is conveniently located 25 miles
from Portland’s urban markets and transporta-
tion systems and has access to rail and a quality
workforce in Washington County. Most impor-
tantly, the mill is situated near several state and
private forestlands, including lands managed by
Hampton near the Wilson River.
Access to a reasonably priced timber
supply is a critical factor in the long-term vi-
ability of any sawmill. With the purchase of
the Banks sawmill, Hampton is relying on
the state’s continued commitment to working
public forests and a dependable timber sup-
ply. “Any additional restrictions or reductions
from current modest harvest levels on nearby
state forests could negatively affect the employ-
ment levels of all our sawmills in Oregon,” said
Hampton CEO, Steve Zika. “However, we be-
lieve the Banks sawmill has the potential to be a
successful business enterprise.”
In recent years numerous sawmills
throughout the region have shuttered due to log
shortages, high log costs, and declining lum-
ber prices. These challenges forced the previ-
ous owners of the Banks sawmill to postpone
further investments and upgrades at the mill.
Hampton plans to change that by investing in
upgrades to improve safety and productivity at
the mill. To make these improvements, Hamp-
ton will keep the mill shut down for approxi-
mately six months. During that time Hampton
will hire some of the workers laid off by the
previous owner to help with mill improvements
and employ a number of local contractors for
the more technical electrical and mechanical
projects.
“With all the challenges, one might
wonder why a company would continue to in-
vest in sawmills,” said Zika. “But we have over
70 years of experience in the sawmill business
and people still need and want renewable wood
products.” Nearly 100 percent of a log is used
when manufactured locally, creating a wide va-
riety of value-added products for construction,
paper processing, landscaping, and energy gen-
eration.
“Working forests are an important part
of the Pacific Northwest economy, our his-
tory, and our culture,” said Zika. “We happen
to think that managed forests and the sawmills
they support will continue to play a key role in
the sustainability of rural and urban communi-
ties in Oregon long into the future.”
WOEC 2016 Annual Meeting
continued from page 7
section of underground distribu-
tion line along Hayward Road, a
project to convert overhead line
at the tunnel on Highway 26 to an
underground line to improve reli-
ability, re-establishing a backup
feed for the Hamlet area, and a
repair to the Timber-to-Elsie line.
General Manager Bob
Perry also discussed the weather
event from last year and reported
that total cost of damages and
repairs for the event to WOEC
was $1.425 million and FEMA
will reimburse the co-op for the
full 75% of that amount, with
WOEC recovering $1.1 million.
Perry also introduced the idea of
implementing a voluntary round
up program to assist those who
have difficulty paying their bill.
Perry also discussed the difficul-
ty for the co-op in establishing
service for customers involved
in legal marijuana grows. Perry
said some of the operations are
very large and create issues with
providing the needed load re-
quirement. “This has become a
major source of frustration for
our operations department,” said
Perry.
State Senator Betsy
Johnson briefly addressed the
audience and encouraged them
to support the Vernonia Schools
Bond Measure on the ballot in
November. “This will let us do
some improvements but most
importantly allow us to refinance
the Bond and close the books on
the schools and be finished,” said
Johnson. Johnson also discussed
the upcoming construction of
the Vernonia Senior Center, and
the economic impact on Colum-
bia County with new industrial
growth in Scappoose that in-
cludes the construction of a new
Cascade Tissue conversion plant
and the Boeing Research facility
being built in partnership with
Portland Community College.
Johnson also questioned Measure
99, that would send all school
students to outdoor school, and
asked voters to look closely at
this measure before voting for it.
Following the conduct-
ing of all business, door prizes
were awarded and the members
enjoyed a BBQ lunch provided
by Terrel’s BBQ.
DID YOU KNOW?
Vernonia School District is asking for a YES VOTE for a bond measure of $6.8 Million
The debt for the construction of our school has a balance of $4.1 Million that needs to be paid
Our school district was chosen through a lottery system by the State of Oregon to get $2.7 Million in a matching grant IF we pass the bond
(We vote IN $6.8 million and we will receive $9.5 Million Total!)
If we pass the bond, not only will we refinance our debts, BUT will ALSO complete athletic fields and facilities on the campus, construct, furnish and equip new
classrooms (including a dedicated art room and welding/metals shop) ,
and upgrade Mist school
The cost to pass this bond is estimated at 24 cents per thousand of County assessed value of your property
If your property is assessed at $100K, your cost is estimated at $24.00 per year
If your property is assessed at $200K, your cost is estimated at $48.00 per year
If your property is assessed at $300K, your cost is estimated at $72.00 per year
If your property is assessed at $400K, your cost is estimated at $96.00 per year
PLEASE BE VERNONIA’S HERO, VOTE YES FOR BOND MEASURE 5-259
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