July Agenda7/23/2023 07/23/2023 Proposed July Meeting Agenda
OPENING/FLAG SALUTE ROLL CALL MINUTES PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS: Hall Report – Hall Projects (in priority order): Front ramp needing paint again - complete Repainting under eves of hall Northeast side roof needs additional screws Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished Kitchen counters need refinished Four party rentals on the books. Chaps, Gamers and Zumba still have long term contracts. AGRICULTURE – Bad news/Good News Turkey’s currency has continued to devalue after upending hazelnut prices last year, which experts see as a disquieting though not necessarily disastrous omen for 2023’s harvest. “We’ve hit rock bottom and we expect a two to three year dig-out of this hole to get back to profitable prices,” said Larry George, president of the George Packing Co., a major Oregon processor. The lire’s value against the dollar and euro fell roughly 50% in the year preceding the 2022 hazelnut harvest, contributing to the plunge in Oregon’s initial prices to 40-53 cents per pound, from about 80-90 cents the previous year. JOHN DAY, Ore. — New Biochar producer. Giant mounds of what appears to be black powdery charcoal or crushed pencil lead lie piled outside a towering industrial plant built in recent years on the Malheur Lumber property in John Day. It is Biochar, an up and coming product. Similar in appearance to charcoal used for cooking, but it can be added to soil to make it highly fertile for agricultural and gardening use, particularly in tropical areas with high rain fall. It can also be used as a carbon water filter to remove pollutants, such as chemicals and metals, from storm drains and old mines. The new plant, which employs 18 people, started production of biochar made from wood waste in April. It generated 100 tons of finished product in June and is expected to produce 500 tons this month. The hope is to ramp up production to about 10,000 tons per year and begin marketing the product to customers in 2024, Krumenauer said. EDUCATION - LEGISLATIVE - The bill proposing ranked choice voting as an option in Oregon passed the Legislature and will be on the ballot in November. If it passes in November, the state will use the system but my understanding is it is optional for local jurisdictions. Our new Oregon Secretary of State is LaVonne Griffin-Valade, Secretary Fagan’s resignation cast a dark shadow over the Secretary of State’s office. Oregonians rightly demanded quick action to rebuild trust in the many important programs housed in this agency. Ms Valade says she thinks you deserve to hear exactly how she plans to rebuild trust. See bio at State of Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State - Meet the Secretary. She has also stated she has no interest in running for the office at the end of her appointed term. How do we attract a competent candidate that wants to actually do the job rather than as a stepping stone to governors office? Annual salary of $77,000 plus $250/month for qualified expenses doesn’t seem likely to do the job. COMMUNITY SERVICE – Foster birthday parties – We reached out to the state organization. They said “fantastic idea” and that they would get back to me. Still no luck, will pursue when things slow down a bit. COMMUNICATIONS – Betty TREASURERS REPORT - Bills – Dan Cleaning Supplies 9.28 Door threshold 120.00 Pizza for clean up day 29.96 Bolts for ramp 17.40 Caulk for ramp 9.18 Boards and paint for ramp 62.32 Paper Products 92.30 Electrical straps for heat pump 2.97 Inspect/locate septic tank 320.00 Pump out tank 385.00 Website (no longer free) 144.00 Excavate septic tank 241.66 Pipe for lawn faucet 51.24 Fittings for lawn faucet 44.21 Heat pump conduit 78.34 Heat pump conduit 13.48 Drill for new grey water Pipe holes in wall 66.37 Pea gravel for septic tank 72.00 Gravel for repair of parking 38.00 Grey water pipe fittings 17.25 Pipe for new grey water 51.93 Toilet repair part 19.99 Vacuum cleaner repair 7.98 Total $1894.86 Grey Water disposal Septic Tank project ($1095.47) was authorized by the Executive Committee as an emergency repair to avoid cancelling a rental. Lawn water faucet ($95.45) took advantage of abandoned drain line to old septic tank to place pipe without digging a trench. Heat pump conduit ( $94.79) was not up to code and needed to be replaced before hiring an electrician to replace the electrical service. Door Threshold ($120) is rotted out and must be replaced. TABLED BUSINESS - Bike rodeo idea UNFINISHED BUSINESS: PA system in dance hall cost - Scott tells me speaker rebuilding is now in progress. 2024 community dinner proposal – 150 year anniversary of Oregon State Grange is in September. Should dinner we are planning be then, or maybe October 28 with Troys fair? Rental waivers for October 28 and December 24 Grange hall electrical service. Only one estimate so far, for $2100. Pomona Grange cookie booth fund raiser needs some volunteers yet. Call Pamela Furlan 503-320-2245. NEW BUSINESS: Quarterly report State Fair Log Cabin in need of staff. Call State Grange Office Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 8-4:30 at 503-316-0106 to sign up. Grange display booth for county fair? MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: Ken Fessler wrote us a letter with a membership check, says doing OK now after some tribulations. Will read at meeting GOOD OF THE ORDER: Don’t count the days, make the days count. Muhammad Ali Archives
April 2025
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