Saratoga sawmill draws closer to production

As the production date for the Saratoga sawmill draws closer, there are still a few more positions to be filled. The mill currently has 30 employees but needs 80 by its start date later this month

“Finding enough employees was a concern, but it is turning out good so far,” Saratoga Forest Management owner, Gary Ervin said. “There are not many spots left, but there is always room for good help.”

In addition to actual mill workers, the logging side of the operation employs 40 people locally. Logging will continue full time, year-round and Ervin could still use some hands on that end of the spectrum.

Meanwhile, the trucks continue to roll in, dropping about 20 loads of logs a day. That rate of trucks will increase to around 25 per day after production begins at the mill.

Depending upon the gross vehicle weight, each truck brings in 26 to 27 tons each.

“It takes about 21 minutes to process 27 tons of lumber,” Ervin said.

The mill will run one shift and mill owners are talking about a work week consisting of four 10-hour shifts.

The mill has been bringing in trucks loaded with wood for a couple of months now and the pile is increasing in size by the day.

“We have plenty of wood to start the operation,” said Ervin.

Once production cranks up, the mill will put out stud lumber. The studs will be cut into multiples of 8-foot, 9-foot and 10-foot lengths depending upon the market for the wood.

“We have plenty of buyers for our products,” Ervin said. “Probably more than we need. It’s not a problem to sell the product, that’s the easy part.”

Applicants interested in logging operations should contact Gary Ervin at the mill by calling 326-3082.