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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2015)
JUNE 5, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 No fi ght over city budget Three critically injured in crash By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes Just like that, a $40 million budget was approved. Keizer City Councilors had nine public hearings on Monday evening, most of which didn’t take much time. That was true of the last one, which concerned the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget. Councilors made up half of the Keizer Budget Com- mittee, which met three times last month to go over the budget. Several minor tweaks were made to the budget in light of those meetings, which assistant controller Tim Wood went over on Monday. By the time councilors opened the hearing for the budget, there were no audi- ence members aside from the Keizertimes, thus the hearing was closed. “It’s remarkable,” Mayor Cathy Clark said. That was the lone com- ment made before councilors unanimously approved the $40,066,500 budget. Per usu- al, the general fund took up the biggest chunk of the bud- get with $10,332,900. Of that, $6,523,200 was for police. The sewer fund totaled $5,604,500 while the ad- ministrative services fund was $3,637,800. Other large funds include the water fund ($2.9 million), the street fund ($2.6 million), the transportation improvement fund ($2.2 mil- lion), the Keizer Station LID fund ($1.7 million) and the stormwater fund ($1.6 mil- lion). Clark gave compliments. “Well done to our fi nance staff, (city manager) Chris Ep- pley and the staff,” the mayor said. “You brought us a budget that was easy to understand.” Councilor Brandon Smith, who apologized for missing the budget process while in Europe, noted he had tried to fi nd more funding for the parks matching grant pro- gram, which he started last year while chairing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. “I promised I would try to fi nd more for parks,” Smith said. “I couldn’t justify what was already done.” Clark has been going through the budget process since 2002, while this year was the fi rst for councilors Amy Ripp and Roland Herrera. “It was very educational,” Ripp said. “It was a wonderful learning opportunity. We did our due diligence, to make sure we knew what we were approving.” Ripp noted trying to fi nd small amounts of money for particular programs proved diffi cult. “It was entertaining trying to fi nd the money,” Ripp said. “I wasn’t afraid to push for what I felt strongly for. It was a little overwhelming. It was a Forest Fair at CCC June 20 The Oregon Forest Fair is returning this month to Chemeketa Community Col- lege. The event, taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 20, was held at Chemeketa 10 years. It’s been held every year since, but this is the fi rst time back at Chemeketa. The expo and educational event is free and open to the public. There will be dozens of exhibits representing a wide range of forest products and services, including four educa- tional panel presentations. The event is put on by the Oregon Small Woodlands As- sociation. For more informa- tion, visit www.oswa.org or call Gene and Lynnette Hen- shaw at 503-623-5759. When the event was last at CCC, Gene Henshaw noted about 750 people attended. He expects between that many and 1,000 people this year. KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS GARAGE SALE DISH T V AD Park-wide Garage Sale at Starlite Mobile Park hall (behind offi ce). June 4, 5, 6, from 8 am to 4 pm. At the end of Lancaster and Portland Rd. 0605 DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) SAVE! Regular Price $32.99. Call Today and Ask About FREE SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 855-849- 1815 ONAC RUMMAGE SALE GIGANTIC RUMMAGE SALE! WALL TAX PROBLEMS with the IRS or State Taxes? Wall & Associates can settle for a fraction of what you owe! Results may vary. Not a solicitation for legal services. 844-886-0875 ONAC 6/5, 6/12, 6/19 • David Bruce Barrett, 84, passed away on May 21. There will be no services held at this time. Arrangements are being handled by Keizer Fu- neral Chapel. • John Sanford, 84, passed away on May 23. A celebra- tion of life will be held Thurs- day, June 11 at 3 p.m. at the Keizer Elks Lodge. Arrange- ments are being handled by Keizer Funeral Chapel. By CRAIG MURPHY Of the Keizertimes The Keizer Urban Renew- al Agency has been closed. The URA board – the Keizer City Councilors plus the mayor – met on Monday and approved a resolution to close the agency as well as the North River Road Urban Renewal Plan. Such action was approved during the May 12 Budget Committee meeting, with formal closure to take place during the June 15 council meeting. According to Monday’s res- olution, councilors approved the Urban Renewal Plan in September 1990. The plan was amended several times over the years, with the ninth and fi nal amendment being ad- opted in February 2012. Susan Gahlsdorf, Finance director for Keizer, said re- maining there is still money in the Program Income Fund that will not be used by the end of this fi scal year. These funds can be used to repay taxing jurisdictions. Gahlsdorf told the Keizertimes on Mon- day closing the district means a couple of things. “The most signifi cant change is that tax revenue that was previously going to the Urban Renewal District will now go to the other jurisdic- tions; this will increase their future property tax revenues Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21 Struggling with DRUGS or ALCOHOL? Addicted to PILLS? Talk to someone who cares. Call the Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. 855- 978-9402 ONAC Thur & Fri: 9 am – 7 pm Sat: 9 am – 3 pm WE’LL HAVE: Antiques • Knick Knacks Dishes • Clothes • Cookware Craft Supplies • Jewelry Bikes • Radios Lawnmowers • Garden Tools 1000s of ITEMS & MUCH MORE! death notices Urban Renewal Agency closed ADDICTION HELPLINE THURS – SAT, JUNE 18 – 20 at First Baptist Church of Salem (395 Marion Street NE in downtown Salem) big elephant to chew, one bite at a time.” Ripp estimated she easily put in 80 hours reading, re- searching and meeting with Clark and others to get up to speed on the budget, in addi- tion to the meetings. “We put so much effort in during the process,” she said. “After all the time spent in the budget committee, there’s nothing left to discuss. You’re already done all of the work.” Clark was pleased with the fi nal product approved on Monday. “I am so proud of the councilors and the commu- nity volunteers,” said Clark, who became mayor in Janu- ary. “Everyone brought their ‘A’ game.” Clark noted staff did “a lot” of prep work to bring the budget to the committee, which she felt represented a broad section of Keizer. “That diversity added to the conversation,” Clark said. “We represented the commu- nity well. Plus people really focused on the issues. There was never a hint of personal debates. The result is a better outcome. If you feel safe to have those conversations, ev- eryone wins.” Ripp and Clark also both liked the transparency and ease for citizens to fi nd copies of the budget. “People watching at home could follow along,” Clark said. “They knew what page we were on.” Contemporary Timepieces D A D S FOR SERVICES DIVORCE $155. Complete preparation. Includes children, custody, support, property and bills division. 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Payments are expected to be distributed within the next few months.” Gahlsdorf said the pay- ments will primarily come from the city’s general fund. “These disbursements will represent full repayment of all amounts owed to these juris- dictions as provided for in the interagency agreements,” she said. The city did not enter into a reimbursement agreement with the Urban Renewal Dis- trict, while the school district did. “The Salem-Keizer School District has different terms set in its interagency agreement which calls for an annual pay- ment over 10 years and repay- ment amounts do not accrue interest,” Gahlsdorf said. “Fur- thermore, the amount owed to Salem-Keizer School Dis- trict is signifi cantly more than amounts due the other juris- dictions and it will take the full 10 years to repay them un- less another source of revenue is identifi ed. Repayments are expected to come out of the city’s general fund.” A potential source of rev- enue could come if the Raw- From Your Local Keizer McDonald’s ® 6025 Keizer Station Blvd NE 4880 River Rd NE ı 5 % OFF Dig It! Expires 6-18-15 The total of Entire Purchase with coupon • Tons of landscape, shrubs & trees • Green house full of perennials & annuals • Great selection of vegetables, herbs, berries, seed potatoes, & much more • Diagnostic center for plant problems • Pond treatments for water • Palm Plants • We build ponds, waterfalls, retaining walls & paver patios • Fish & fi sh food • Bark, Rock, & Soil for pick up and delivery • G.L.C. Licensed and Bonded GUENTNER’S GARDENS GARDEN CENTER, GIFT SHOP, LANDSCAPING 5780 Commercial Street S, Salem 503-585-7133 SALEM’S LARGEST COMPLETE GARDEN CENTER Redeemable at: 6025 Keizer Station Blvd NE, Keizer 4880 River Road NE, Keizer © 2015 McDonald’s Valid Thru: 6/30/15 Redeemable at: 6025 Keizer Station Blvd NE, Keizer 4880 River Road NE, Keizer ©2015 The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca Cola Company. © 2015 McDonald’s Valid Thru: 6/30/15 lins family repurchases its property in Keizer Station. “If the Rawlins family ex- ercises their option to pur- chase the foreclosed land, it will be a council decision on how to use the proceeds,” Gahlsdorf said. “A portion of the proceeds could be used to pay the debt owed to the Salem-Keizer School District. A portion could be used for projects on River Road and a portion could go into the city’s general fund.” Tim Wood, assistant con- troller for the city, previously noted the cost savings of clos- ing the district. “Closing the district one year earlier than originally an- ticipated will save the city ap- proximately $25,000 in addi- tional interest expense,” Wood said at the May 12 meeting. Monday’s resolution in- cluded an appropriations transfer of $51,700 from the capital outlay fund to the materials and services fund. The resolution was approved unanimously. “This has been a great thing for the City of Keizer,” said councilor and former mayor Dennis Koho, who fi rst joined council shortly after the dis- trict was formed. “We’ve done some wonderful things with it. But all good things must come to an end.” Mayor Cathy Clark echoed that sentiment. “I’m proud we had proj- ects, we got them done in a responsible manner and all can enjoy the benefi ts,” Clark said. Life is a Garden… 503-393-0701 • 4965 R IVER R OAD N • M ONDAY -F RIDAY 9-6 • S ATURDAY 9-5 Tasty Deals Three people were critically injured when a Keizer woman caused a crash last Saturday, May 30. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Offi ce, Melissa Aicher was driving home from the Woodburn Drag Strip with her 8-year-old son on Highway 219 when she didn’t stop at a stop sign at French Prairie Road NE and Mahoney Road NE. She collided with an elderly couple from Newberg. That couple was taken to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) via LifeFlight, while Aicher’s son was taken there by ambulance. All three were listed in critical condition, while Aicher was treated and released from Salem Hospital. Alcohol may have been a factor.
