Mitch LeClair photo Debbie and Phil Cimmiyotti stand outside Ross Machine and Steel Sales, Inc., their metal repair and retail business on Harper Road in Hermiston.

While a scrap metal business in Hermiston is working to sell off inventory and shut down, a neighbor with a similar name   employing more than a dozen workers is looking to the future.

Phil and Debbie Cimmiyotti own and operate Ross Machine and Steel Sales Inc. at 400 W Harper Rd. in Hermiston

In March, the Cimmiyottis purchased the steel sales and repair portion of Warren and Juanita Ross scrap yard.

For the last two weeks, the Rosses have been watching load after load of scrap steel, aluminum and other materials leave their once-bustling yard.

During an interview Wednesday, Cimmyotti said that as an employee for more than 30 years, he adopted the Ross moniker out of respect and to preserve business relationships that had developed for decades.

While Warren and Juanita Ross work to liquidate thousands of tons of scrap metal, Cimmiyotti said he continues to accept a healthy amount of repair projects and retail steel supplies out of his shop.

We have all kinds of machining equipment to get the job done, he said.

Those jobs include everything from repairing silage-hauling trailers to building new steel stairs for the Stanfield School District.

Cimmiyotti also said he and his wifes business supplied structural materials for the new Pioneer Hi-Bred plant with some help from Prairie Engineering out of Iowa.

Cimmiyotti said he and his staff of 15 full-time employees appreciate engaging in trade with loyal customers; they stay open a half-day on Saturdays specifically for local farmers.

Thats not a 9 to 5 operation, he said. When theyre broke down, I try to service them.

He said much of the retail side of his business also helps produce agricultural commodities and even energy, with his steel finding new homes on farms and windmill projects in the area.

Not all of his customers are Oregonians, however.

We do a lot of work with farmers on the other side of the [Columbia] river, too, Cimmiyotti said.

He said Ross Machine continues to look at more jobs coming up, including a couple larger bid projects.

We just try and keep busy, he said.