Chalkline Magazine Summer 2023

2023 Board of Directors OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Oleg Foksha, Foksha Homes

VICE PRESIDENT

Jordan Schweiger, Good Well Construction

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Andrew Wheeler, T. Wheeler Homes ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT

Santiago Sarmiento, Sarmiento’s LLC

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Jason Sawyers, Randy Fultz Custom Homes, LLC

FORMER PAST PRESIDENT

Jubal Frost, Focus Development

BOARD MEMBERS

Adam Kelley, Neighborly Ventures

Alyssa Wavra, Wavra Design Co.

Beth Rhoades, C & R Remodeling

Connor Reiten, PNGC Power

David Qualls, Parr Lumber

Fred Martin, F & W Fence

Jason Flores, Celtic Homes

Jed Bennett, Steve Bennett Construction

Jeff Reynolds, Home Fire Stove

John Eld, Bonaventure Senior Living

Justen Maron, Olsen Communities

Natalie Janney, MultiTech Engineering

Samantha Crabb, Cherry City Interiors & Design

Association Staff

Mike Erdmann, Chief Executive Officer mike@HomeBuildersAssociation.org

Haley Hamilton, Director of Shows & Events haley@HomeBuildersAssociation.org

April McVay, Director of Member Services april@HomeBuildersAssociation.org

Brad Nanke, Director of Safety & Training brad@HomeBuildersAssociation.org

Tracy Mitchell, Contract Accountant accounting@HomeBuildersAssociation.org

Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties

2075 Madrona Ave SE Suite 100, Salem, OR 97302 tel 503-399-1500 | fax 503-399-0651 www.HomeBuildersAssociation.org

The Spike Club is an exclusive group of members who contribute to the growth of the association by recruiting and retaining members. Spikes maintain a special status, have the respect of their peers as valued members of the HBA and are recognized for their efforts locally and nationally. To become a Spike, bring in six members to the HBA. Applications for prospective members may be obtained from the HBA office, or call to have one sent to the prospective member.

ALL TIME BIG SPIKE 1500+

John Gooley 2702

STATESMAN SPIKE 500+

Ric McNall 809

SUPER SPIKE 250–499

Mike Smith 485

John Mills 441

Rick Massey 436

Dan Dorn 371

Welcome New & Reinstated Members

Atlas Construction LLC

Ramiro Rodriguez (503) 393-7663

BFS

Jeffrey Green 368

Chuck Foster 292

Jubal Frost 278

Mike Riddle 261

ROYAL SPIKE 150–249

Greg Conser 249

Steve Johnson 248

Jordan Schweiger 231

Tom Wheeler 210

Don Druliner 203

Randy Fultz 178

Rick Ziebell 173

Ken Hannegan 166

RED SPIKE 100–149

Kelvin Dettwyler 146

Rob Rardin 127

John Hammer 101

GREEN SPIKE 50–99

Matt Holstege 97

Brad Moore 94

Kent Kaufman 88

Rich Kansky 85

Larry Bilyeu 75

Eric Olsen 75

Don Sturgeon 68

Rich Tovar 48

Jim Hobbs 47

Steve Herr 46

Kathy Temple 65

Kerry Kuenzi 63

Eric Templeton 60

Serge Serdsev 58

Mike Smith 56

Patrick Jackson 55

Randy Melton 50

LIFE SPIKE 25–49

Laura Dorn 29

Mark Shipman 29

Hunter Emerick 29

Mike VanBuren (503) 883-1967

Black Ram General Construction LLC

Misael Ramon Gonzalez (503) 726-9810

Chris Greene Construction

Chris Greene (541) 390-0134

Copeland Custom Flooring

Jason Copeland (503) 932-4323

Dynasty Roofing LLC

Karla Montes (503) 851-5691

Get Simple Box Oregon

Brittney Eshuis (503) 765-5421

Huff Construction, LLC

Charles Huff (503) 298-8934

International Wood Products Riley McCoy (503) 621-2800

Michael Devlin 46

Ryan Bloedel 46

Oleg Foksha 39

David Hafner 39

Jason Sawyers 39

Nolan Fridley 38

Kevin Stone 28

Randy Reeves 28

Rich Fry 26

Chad Robb 25

Steve Hurley 25

BLUE SPIKE 6–24

Andrew Wheeler 24

Kraig Kelly 24

Peter Strauhal 22

Jason Robertson 22

Robert Kleinke 22

Brett Tallan 13

Don Lulay 12

Gary Epping 11

Chad Montgomery 11

Ricky Fast 10

Chris Rasmussen 10

Santiago Sarmiento 9

Jim Sparkman 9

Tracy Belle 8

Kelli Terjeson 7

Dave Van Lydegraf 7

Caleb Remington 6

Junk Boyz LLC

Arturo Fuentes (503) 302-2479

Light Benders Kellan Sheeley (503) 352-0249

Pacific Power Electric LLC

Francisco Gonzales (503) 931-3639

Prestige Home Maintenance

Victor Cortez Velasco (503) 509-6756

Second Nature Construction Inc

Sam Madge (971) 218-0075

Willamette Fireplaces Inc.

Eldon Anderson (503) 877-0676

We are an association of building industry professionals committed to supporting our members. We advocate for balanced, efficient, and responsible development while promoting the social and economic values of homeownership in our community.

President’s Message

We’re at the halfway point in the year! I hope all of you have seen great growth and continued success. Even though this year is challenging to some, at the same time it has produced a lot of success for others. I can tell you from personal experience that the slower years can create the best opportunity for growth. While some in our industry are pulling back and slowing production, I think it’s a great time to spend more time networking and expanding your sphere. The last few years have been so overwhelming that very few of us have focused on growing our businesses because we were busy keeping up with the demand. Take advantage of any slow times you find to set yourself up for success. One way my company does this is by getting more involved with the HBA and hiring from within the association for current and future projects. This aids in our own growth as well as those within the association.

There are a number of new regulations and laws coming into affect that will allow the industry to do more than we have been able to in the past. The implementation of the new middle housing rules and standards allow those of us who deal more in the single-family housing realm to have more land available to build on and more access to properties that were previously not usable. I encourage all builders or sub contractors to explore these options and to take advantage of the classes offered by the HBA to educate yourself on these new regulations.

Be on the lookout for emails from the HBA in regards to the current legislative session. We may need you to respond to calls to action in

by Oleg Foksha 2023 HBA President

regards to some potential laws coming forth that may be detrimental or beneficial to us as an industry. Please keep an eye out, use your voice and participate when you find an opportunity.

As far as the local Salem market is concerned, we’re seeing more housing units being sold as well as more buyers entering the market. I’m hoping this is a good sign of what we can expect moving into summer and fall. I anticipate that this will result in more new residential starts to create more momentum and benefit all of us.

I know we like to capitalize on the good weather conditions when summer comes around but I hope you’re able to find ample time to spend with your family and friends in the sun!

Sincerely,

Oleg Foksha

Celebrate Excellence at the 2023 Tour of Homes, July 15th – 23rd

The HBA’s 2023 Tour of Homes, presented by NW Natural, opens Saturday, July 15th and runs through Sunday, July 23rd. We hope that you’ll make plans to visit the Tour homes and see the remarkable craftsmanship and innovation of fellow HBA members and celebrate the exceptional work that has gone into building these homes.

With 16 entries ranging in price from $337,340 to nearly $2 million, this year’s Tour of Homes showcases everything from entry-level to luxury. The Tour features eight entries in Salem, eight in Dallas, one in Monmouth and one in Jefferson. Unique to this year’s Tour is an entry featuring bare subdivision lots in a new development that didn’t have a finished home available for display.

Thousands of area consumers are drawn to the Tour of Homes every year, and while most are there to see and be inspired by the latest in new construction, many prospective new home buyers are there to purchase or talk to custom builders about having a home built for them.

The Tour of Homes wouldn’t take place without the support of our long standing and committed sponsors, and so we are tremendously thankful to NW Natural for their Presenting Sponsorship, along with Supporting Sponsors Cherry City Interiors, Hear No Evil, HomeSmart Realty Group and The Fixture Gallery.

Join us and marvel at the brilliant blend of architectural styles, designs and innovations that truly celebrate diversity in home pricing and design. Don’t miss the chance to explore and be inspired by these striking residences at the HBA’s 2023 Tour of Homes.

PWB Update!

by Natalie Janney, Multi/Tech Engineering, PWB Chair

As our PWB council reaches is first full year, we are accelerating with some fun projects and events this summer.

In July, we will be gathering to enjoy the Tour of Homes. On Sunday, July 16th, you can join us for brunch and then we will carpool/caravan to see some of the homes on the Tour. This will be a fun way to network, have community and support our fellow HBA members. Spouses and friends are welcome to join.

We are having our first ever PWB BuildCamp at the end of July. The intention of the camp is to introduce kids to construction with hands-on projects. The camp is aimed at kids entering 7th through 10th grade and it is free for the students. The campers will be constructing Zen Dens that will be used in the local high schools. These are phone-free zones

the kids can use to have a quiet moment. CTEC is providing the facilities and the kids will get hands on instruction and lunch provided every day of the camp. There are opportunities for volunteers and sponsorship still available. Contact April with HBA for more details.

On August 18th, we will be hosting a Corn Hole Tournament. Registration is open for sixteen teams of 2. The event also includes tickets for non-players to come and toss some bags at practice boards, have dinner and a beverage, and participate in a brown bottle pull and raffle prizes. This is our major fundraiser for the year and will help complete projects in the future like the Simonka Place remodel from last year.

I know summer can be a busy season for so many of us. But we are excited for some opportunities to serve the community, network, and support our members during the sunny days of summer. I hope we get a chance to see you at one of our events.

HBA’s New Product House Funds Political Action Efforts

As you visit the 2023 Tour of Homes this July, make sure to stop by the HBA’s New Product House at 4887 Towhee Ct in South Salem. The New Product House is an annual endeavor where HBA members come together to construct a home using discounted and donated labor and materials. The end goal? To raise funds for the association’s Political Action Committee (PAC) and its efforts to support our industry.

Good Well Construction, led by Jordan Schweiger, has stepped up to serve as the volunteer general contractor of this year’s home which is being built on an infill lot across from Schirle Elementary School. One of the most remarkable aspects of the project is the support it receives from the HBA community. Countless members contribute discounted or donated labor and materials, demonstrating their commitment to both the association and the advancement of the industry as a whole.

The New Product House’s significance, however, extends beyond it’s collaborative nature. The primary purpose of the venture is generate funds for the HBA’s Political Action Committee. The PAC plays a vital role in advocating for our industry’s efforts and ensuring a favorable business environment for all HBA members. By supporting the New Product House,

each of us contributes to the strength and influence of our association and helps shape the future of the industry.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the individuals and organizations that have made the New Product house possible this year and in past years. Your dedication and generosity have propelled the HBA’s mission forward and ensured the continued success of the building industry.

MULTI-FAMILY TREND

Salem-area construction shifts from single-family to apartments

By James Day

The housing mix in Salem is changing significantly. For more than 20 years a tectonic shift has been taking place in the construction market as builders are now producing far more apartments and multi-family projects than single-family homes.

“Historically, Salem’s mix of single-family and multifamily housing has been about 2/3 single-family and 1/3 multifamily,” said Mike Erdmann, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties (see graphic element below).  “However, for the last few years, Salem is building far more multi-family units than singlefamily units, and that trend has been clear for the better part of twenty years.”

Erdmann and his home builders association members cite a series of reasons for the change:

• Higher housing prices are putting ownership out of reach for many;

• Higher land and construction costs make it difficult to build affordable rental homes;

• Higher down payments that come with higher home prices mean many rent longer;

Higher interest rates are make ownership more challenging for those looking to buy;

Not enough new single-family homes are being built to meet the housing shortage;

• There is a shortage of land for single-family homes; and

• It is increasingly challenging for some subcontractors to handle large multi-family projects.

The trend has produced a string of challenges for Jordan Schweiger, founder and principal broker for Good Well Real Estate in Salem. Schweiger’s firm builds mixed-use, multi-family and other residential housing up and down the valley.

Salem Single - Family vs. Multifamily Housing Starts

A 38-unit mixed-use project under construction in Tigard by Good Well Real Estate of Salem. Good Well and other Salem-area builders are dealing with a historic shift from single-family to multi-family construction.

Photo: Good Well Real Estate

“We are building more multi-family and mixed-use housing, as single-family lot availability dries up and because of the long timelines it can take to get entitlements for new subdivisions,” Schweiger told Chalkline.

The list of challenges is lengthy, he said.

“Higher interest rates, inflation, and supply chain constraints make it more challenging to build,” he said. “ It means we have to plan far ahead and constantly check to make sure that the products we need haven’t developed long lead times or simply become unavailable.

“Every project seems to present a new type of constraint.  One project it’s long lead times for electrical switch gear.  The next project it’s roofing material.  It has taken supply chains a long time to catch up and ramp up production to pre-COVID 19 levels.”

All of these individual challenges add up to one overwhelming collective one, affordability.

“The current environment is making housing less affordable,.” Schweiger said. “There is a shortage of all housing types, and building more multi-family only won’t solve the problem because

housing units are not ‘fungible.’  For example, people expecting to buy a home in the $700,000 to $800,000 range will sooner move outside of their preferred area to buy the home they want rather than rent.”

And one of the key costs to wrangle with is the money itself. “For multi-family projects, for example, projects that made sense in an environment of sub 4% interest rates don’t pencil out without more money into the project when market interest rates are 6.5% or 7%-plus,” Schweiger said. “As credit tightens, the amount of capital lenders have to lend in their respective buckets starts to dry up.”

Schweiger also sees some larger, societal concerns as  key facets of the equation.

“Growth is migrating outside of the larger jurisdictions to cities that impose fewer restrictions on development and building,” he said.  “This leads increasingly to more people commuting to work rather than living in the city they work in.  This trend could be reversed with fewer restrictions on development and building and quicker paths to approvals for new projects.”

Salem Alliance and Salem for Refugees recently had Pure Energy Group put solar on their flat roofs to help offset rising electrical bills.

Utility prices in most of the Willamette Valley have gone up between 7% - 15% in 2023 and potentially again in 2024!

For more info contact: Jordan Sinn  971-218-6374 • jordan@pureenergy.group

Pure Energy Group, Inc.

CCB# 235232

A 70-plus unit apartment complex is under construction in the Stayton area along the Cascade Highway. It will be the largest such complex in the region.

Photo: James Day

Woodburn has seen two large apartment complexes go up in recent months along the Highway 99 corridor. Photo: James Day

The hexagonal grid used in honeycomb is the most efficient way to cover an area with minimal circumference or boundary.

Charles Darwin described it as a masterpiece of engineering, “absolutely perfect in economizing labor and wax.” The use of this shape reflects Hagan Hamilton’s ongoing commitment to proficiency and resourcefulness.

Much like a beehive, Hagan Hamilton is a humming, thriving community in which everyone plays a distinct role but is united in shared purpose. We are industrious, but also operate as a family — working toward something greater than ourselves.

Chris McLaran chris@haganhamilton.com

T.J. Sullivan TJ@haganhamilton.com

Revisiting the 2022 OR-OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Rule

Last year on May 9, 2022, Oregon adopted a permanent rule – 437-002-0156 to protect workers from heat-related illnesses. The rule’s key requirements apply to any workplace where extreme heat caused by weather can expose workers to heat-related illnesses – medical conditions resulting from the body’s inability to cope with a particular heat load. The rules do not apply to buildings and structures that have mechanical ventilation that keep the indoor heat index less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The key requirements are based on a set of numbers called the heat index – sometimes called the apparent temperature – published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. There is a direct relationship between air temperature and relative humidity; the heat index indicates what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity and the air temperature are combined. Oregon OSHA’s rules for preventing heat illnesses apply to workplaces whenever an employee is working, and the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. More requirements apply when the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit (see High heat practices on next page).

Exemptions – There are both full and partial exemptions in the rules.

Full exemptions: Incidental heat exposures, exposures to heat generated from the work process, emergency operations, and buildings and structures that have a mechanical ventilation system that keeps the heat index below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Partial exemptions: Employers whose employees perform either “rest” or “light” workloads, associated support activities for wildland firefighters, and employees who work from home.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Access to shade

Establish one or more shade areas when the heat index equals or exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Shade may be provided by natural or artificial means that do not expose employees to unsafe or unhealthy conditions and that do not discourage access or use.

Those performing “rest” or light” work, as defined by the rules, are exempt from the provisions for shade when the heat index is less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Shade must:

• Be open to the air or have mechanical ventilation for cooling. Be located as close as practical to the areas where employees are working.

Accommodate at least the number of employees on recovery, rest, or meal periods so they have room to sit.

When an employee’s access to shade is not possible in a particular situation – during high winds or when an employee is walking through range land, for

safety

Brad Nanke HBA Director

of Safety and Training

example – the employer must identify and implement cooling measures that provide equivalent protection to shade.

Drinking water

Other rules require water to be provided at all times, but the specific requirements for this rule are described below.

• Enough drinking water must be available so that each employee can consume 32 ounces per hour.

• Drinking water must be cool (66 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (35 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit).

• Drinking water packaged as a consumer product and electrolyte-replenishing drinks that do not contain caffeine – sports drinks, for example – are acceptable substitutes, but should not completely replace the required water.

Employers are not required to supply the entire quantity of drinking water for employees at the beginning of a shift; employers may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have a procedure that ensures any water consumed during the shift will be replaced.

Those performing “rest” or light” work, as defined by the rules, are exempt from the specific quantities of water when the heat index is less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit - but still required in other Oregon OSHA provisions.

Supervisor and employee training

By June 15, 2022, employers must ensure that all employees – including new, supervisory, and nonsupervisory employees – are trained in the following topics, in a language they can readily understand, before they begin work at sites where the heat index will be 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher:

The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness, including the extra burden of heat caused by exertion, clothing, and personal protective equipment.

The procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard, including the employer’s responsibility to provide water, daily heat index information, shade, cool-down rests, how to report symptoms of heat-related illness, and access to first aid, as well as the employees’ right to exercise their rights under this standard without fear of retaliation.

• How to adapt to working in a hot environment.

• The importance of employees immediately reporting symptoms or signs of heat illness – in co-workers or themselves.

The effects of nonjob factors – such as medications, alcohol, and obesity –on tolerance to heat stress.

• The main types of heat-related illnesses – heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke – and their signs and symptoms.

• The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water, up to 32 ounces per hour.

Those performing “rest” or light” work, as defined by the rules, are exempt from the training requirements when the heat index is less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

High heat practices

When the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must implement the following additional high heat practices:

• Ensure that effective communication by voice, observation, or electronic means is maintained so that employees working at the site can contact a supervisor when necessary. Cellphones and text messaging may be used for this purpose only if reception in the area is reliable.

Ensure that employees are monitored for signs of heat illness, and whether medical attention is necessary, using one or more of the following:

◆ Regular communication with employees working alone – by radio, cellphone, or other alternative means.

◆ A mandatory buddy system.

◆ Other equally effective means of observation or communication.

• Designate and equip one or more employees at each site who can call for emergency medical services and allow other employees to call for emergency services when designated employees are not immediately available.

• Ensure that each employee takes heat illness prevention rest breaks, based upon one of the three options in the rules, regardless of the length of the shift.

◆ The rest break can take place with any other meal or rest period required by policy, rule, or law if the timing of the break coincides with the required meal or rest period.

◆ The preventive cool-down rest break is a work assignment.

Emergency medical plan

When the ambient temperature at a site exceeds the heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must implement an emergency medical plan that complies with 437-002-0161, Medical and first aid (agricultural

employers must implement, per 437-004-1305(4)), and includes procedures for:

Responding to employees’ signs and symptoms of possible heat illness, including the use of first aid and how emergency medical services will be provided. If a supervisor observes or an employee reports signs or symptoms of heat illness, the supervisor must take immediate action appropriate to the severity of the illness.

◆ If a supervisor observes signs or an employee reports symptoms of heat illness, the employee must be relieved from duty and provided with a means to reduce body temperature.

◆ If the signs or symptoms indicate severe heat illness – such as decreased consciousness, staggering, vomiting, disorientation, irrational behavior, or convulsions – immediately implement the emergency response procedures. The information is intended to supplement the rules and provide best practices to employers.

◆ An employee exhibiting signs or symptoms of heat illness must be monitored and must not be left alone or sent home without being offered on-site first aid or provided with emergency medical services.

Contacting emergency medical services and, if instructed to do so by medical professionals, transporting employees to a place where they can be reached by an emergency medical provider.

• Ensuring that clear and precise directions to the site are provided to emergency responders so they can quickly find the affected employee.

Acclimatization

Employers must develop effective acclimatization practices that allow employees to gradually adapt to working at sites where the ambient temperature heat exceeds the heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Employers may either develop their own acclimatization plan or follow guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Resources

Oregon OSHA has compliance assistance tools on its website at osha.oregon. gov/pages/topics/heat-stress.aspx

These tools include fact sheets, an online training course that meets 5 of the 7 training requirements, a Heat Illness Prevention Plan Sample, and a Heat Illness Prevention Sample Plan for Rest Breaks and Acclimatization. Materials are available in both English and Spanish.

The OSHA NIOSH Heat Safety Tool is available through the Play Store or App Store for downloading to your mobile devices. It provides the actual Heat Index at the device’s location.

Contact Brad Nanke at brad@homebuildersassociation.org or at 503-990-9216 if you have questions or concerns.

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