The Union County Commissioners approved two land sales for the Baum Industrial Park at Wednesday’s meeting.

The total for the two sales is more than $170,000 and likely the first two of several on the horizon, according to commissioners.

The first sale was to BAR Trucking, Inc., owned by Tim and Kristy Nelson, originally out of John Day. The business purchased five acres at the industrial park for $99,500, according to Union County Administrative Officer Shelley Burgess. At the meeting, Burgess said the business will have one full-time position available by the time the business is operational.

The trucking business has been contracted with Boise Cascade for more than 10 years, providing wood waste materials. A description of the business provided by the commissioners’ office said despite Boise Cascade being the primary source of the company’s income, it started in the log hauling industry and will continue to do so in its new location.

BAR Trucking plans to expand its business by having a screen plant that separates wood and rock material, according to the description. The company also may sell wholesale wood products in bulk to landscaping companies as well as firewood from the new location.

The second business, Romans’ Precision Irrigation, purchased just short of four acres of property. The purchased lot is next to the highway and passersby can view what they have to offer. The business has a local office in Island City and another location in Vale, Burgess said. The irrigation company specializes in sales of irrigation products, design, fabrication, installation and maintenance of Valley products.

Union County Commissioner Jack Howard said Romans’ Precision Irrigation is a company that has expanded into different towns in Northeast Oregon and is an “aggressively growing company.”

Burgess said this business expansion will create four family-wage positions. The company purchased the four acres for $78,207.

Commissioners Howard and Steve McClure commended Commissioner Donna Beverage who has taken on the responsibility of bringing businesses to the industrial park.

During Beverage’s campaign for her seat as commissioner, she said she wanted to help existing businesses expand and new ones move to Union County. In a recent interview, she told The Observer she loves that her commitment to the industrial park is seeing results.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, the commissioners approved a new paving project that will take place at the Baum Industrial Park to make the property even more enticing to businesses looking to locate there.

See more in Friday’s edition of The Observer.