SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 37, NO. 20
SECTION A
APRIL 17, 2015
50 CENTS
Long-term plans, short-term concerns
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Monday night was the an-
nual preview of long-term
funding options for the city.
Among the topics discussed
was a ranking of possible new
positions to add down the
road.
At the same time, imme-
diate funding questions have
come into focus – including
one that could cut a popular
new matching grant program.
City Manager Chris Eppley
and Assistant Controller Tim
Wood led the discussion for
members of the Keizer Long
Range Planning Task Force,
which includes members of
the Keizer City Council and
the Keizer Budget Commit-
tee. The meeting was in es-
sence a preview of the budget
committee meetings, which
will take place May 5, 7 and
12, with another meeting May
19 if needed.
While the meeting looked
at the long-range forecasts
for the water and stormwater
funds, the main emphasis was
on the general fund. Within
that, one key component was
looking at possible jobs to add
in the future.
In particular, the task force
members were asked to rate
their priorities among four
potential new positions: a new
parks employee position, a
motorcycle police offi cer and
two night shift patrol offi cers.
The position of highest prior-
ity was given a 4, down to 1
for the lowest priority.
“We need to know how
these rank for you, so can
weigh them out,” Eppley said.
Once the priorities for all
task force members were tab-
ulated, the fi rst patrol offi cer
position was the highest, av-
eraging a 3.0 score. The parks
position got a 2.7, followed
closely by the motorcycle of-
fi cer position at 2.6. The sec-
ond patrol offi cer was a distant
fourth at 1.7.
Any new positions would
be in addition to a new code
compliance offi cer position
fi lled this week, an informa-
tion technology position add-
ed this fi scal year and a com-
puter forensics position in the
police department currently
being recruited for.
Candidate
forum at
WKNA
PAGE A2
KEIZERTIMES/Craig Murphy
City leaders including city manager Chris Eppley (far right) listen as Nate Brown answers a
question during Monday's Long Range Planning Task Force meeting.
In Plain Sight at MHS
Please see BUDGET, Page A10
Brewfest for
KeizerFest?
MVLC
to host
fundraiser
PAGE A5
Joe Egli talks
about this
year's Iris
Festival during
the April 9
West Keizer
Neighborhood
Association
meeting.
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
KEIZERTIMES/
Craig Murphy
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Wanna beer?
One of the big changes for
next month’s Keizer Iris Fes-
tival revolves around changes
in drinks.
Keizer’s biggest annual
celebration technically kicks
off with the Mayor’s Prayer
Breakfast on Thursday, May
7 at 7:30 a.m., followed by
the Firefi ghters Mother’s Day
Breakfast at the Keizer Fire
District on Sunday, May 10 at
7:30 a.m.
But things really get go-
ing on Thursday, May 14 at
the Keizerfest Tent, which will
be located at 4100 Cherry
Avenue NE for the second
straight year. There will be a
sponsor’s luncheon at noon,
with the kick-off party that
evening starting at 6 p.m. A
BBQ chicken dinner will be
served, with The Boomers
providing music starting at 7
p.m.
Per usual, the star attraction
of the extended weekend will
be the parade Saturday, May
16 starting at 10:30 a.m. along
River Road.
Please see BREWS, Page A3
Sgt. Chuck Lovell, of the Portland Police Bureau, talks with attendees after a forum on issues
surrounding human traffi cking at McNary High School.
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Parents: have the tough,
uncomfortable conversations
with your kids.
That was the message from
In Plain Sight, a forum held
by the McNary High School
AWARE Club April 7. The
AWARE Club focuses on is-
sues of human traffi cking and
invited speakers from a num-
ber of area and Portland orga-
nizations to speak on the issue.
“Parents might say it is in-
appropriate or uncomfortable,
but it’s going to be a lot more
uncomfortable when your
daughter comes home to tell
what’s been happening,” said
Sara Hunt, a survivor of pros-
titution.
Mayor's got game...
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
Jon Watts (right) offers Mayor Cathy Clark a high-fi ve during his 24-hour Game-A-Thon
fundraiser last weekend at Mr. Video. The mayor, having completed a race for the fi rst time
in three tries, is too excited to notice.
As a demonstration of what
that means, Hunt brought her
son on stage and asked him
what he would do if someone
tried to take him.
“I would kick and scream,
and punch and shout,” he said.
“Basically, he’s going to go
nuts.” Hunt added.
Then she asked her son
what he would do if they were
in a public place and someone
started shooting.
“I would hold onto you
and not let go,” he responded.
Hunt was one of several
speakers at the event, but one
that spoke most openly of her
experiences. She urged the
girls in attendance to learn
how to say “no” when they
Please see SIGHT, Page A10
Maurices
open in
Keizer
PAGE A6
Ways to get involved:
• Support Oregon
House Bill 2356.
• Donations of old cell
phones or financial help
to the Center for Hope
& Safety, www.mvwcs.com.
• Find out more about
the work of Compassion
First, which is seeking
to establish a short-term
home for adult victims
of sexual trafficking
and developing a
mentorship program
for survivors, www.
compassionfirst.org.
• Volunteer with the
Marion Co. District
Attorney’s Victims
Assistance Office,
www.co.marion.or.us.
Lady Celts
return to
golf course
PAGE A8
KRP disc golf
getting a redo
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Keizer Rapids Park should
be a busy place in June.
Starting on June 10, a
horde of community volun-
teers are expected to descend
upon the park to build the Big
Toy play structure over a fi ve-
day period.
Elsewhere at the park June
10, others will be redoing
the Keizer Rapids Disc Golf
Course.
Michael Wilson and Jason
Bruster presented their project
at the Keizer Parks and Recre-
ation Advisory Board meeting
on Tuesday. Bruster is a former
Parks Board member.
The two left the meeting
with a commitment of $2,050
from the matching grant pro-
KEIZERTIMES/Craig Murphy
Jason Bruster (left) and
Michael Wilson talked to the
Parks Board Tuesday about
disc golf renovations.
gram.
As part of getting the grant,
work needs to be done by
June 30, which is the end of
the current fi scal year.
Please see DISC, Page A10
McNary
baseball in
5th so far
PAGE A8