Baker County’s big bargain

Rarely is a government agency presented with the kind of bargain that Baker County Commissioners gratefully accepted recently.

Commissioners want to build a hydroelectric plant at Mason Dam between Baker City and Sumpter.

They solicited bids from consultants interested in overseeing the county’s application for a permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Four consultants submitted bids.

Their cost estimates, to be charitable, gave commissioners pause. The amounts ranged from $750,000 to $1.5 million.

It occurred to Commission Chairman Fred Warner Jr. — as well it should have — that the county was paying considerably less to the person who, in addition to handling the Mason Dam application, has also been working as the county’s facilities manager.

He’s Jason Yencopal, and his annual salary is $46,488.

Commissioners decided there was no reason to spend 16 to 32 times that much to get what amounts to the same product.

The county will have to hire a new facilities manager to take over Yencopal’s duties that aren’t related to Mason Dam.

But that’s still a much better deal for the county, and its taxpayers, than shelling out $1 million or more for a consultant.

We hope commissioners’ decision ensures that the Mason Dam project will come to fruition.

We’re eager for the day when the water that flows through Mason Dam begins producing clean, and valuable, electricity before it pours into the Powder River.