PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 7, 2015
ORCHARD,
continued from Page A1
“Mechanical means would
entail mowing, trimming, lev-
eling, etc. with tractors and
implements. This would create
dust, and noise, but there is no
chemicals involved,” he wrote.
Schurter wrote that Round-
Up would be used “very spar-
ingly” and signs would be post-
ed near the Big Toy (located
within the orchard and the rea-
son for the pesticide concern),
the KRP entrance and other
places as needed.
“Work on the trees and
grounds would be attempted
when a limited amount of visi-
tors were at the park and cur-
tailed when special events are
going on,” he wrote.
As have others, Schurter
noted the poor health of the
trees. City offi cials and others
have estimated blight means the
trees will only last a few more
years before having to be cut
down.
“Because of the poor health
of the trees, Schurter Enter-
prises LLC will not be liable for
the death of the trees,” Schurter
wrote. “The non-use of chemi-
cals will speed up the death of
the trees, but it is hard to say
exactly how long they will last.
Hazelnut trees of that variety
and age suffer from Eastern
Filbert Blight, and spraying
and pruning is the only effec-
tive way to combat it. Pruning
will hold it at bay, but they will
eventually succumb.”
In the past, Weathers was
paying the city $9,000 a year in
rent and keeping all proceeds.
Schurter’s proposal calls for 15
percent of net profi ts from the
farming of the hazelnuts to be
given to the city as rent.
City Attorney Shannon
Johnson emphasized during
Monday’s meeting Schurter’s
proposal was not solicited.
“Staff is concerned no one is
maintaining the trees,” Johnson
said. “It can be a big expense
to keep the weeds down and
snagged trees. Council would
have to act tonight to get main-
tenance done and crops for this
season.”
Figuring out what to do
with the trees has been a ques-
tion brought up recently, in-
cluding at last month’s Keizer
Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board meeting (see related sto-
ry, page A9).
While there is the poten-
tial fi nancial windfall for all
involved, mayor Cathy Clark
noted after Monday’s meeting
that’s not the main benefi t.
“It appears this is a chance to
be responsible for a city asset,”
Clark said, noting a desire to
have Schurter – and any future
farmer – take down dead trees
during the lease. “This is more
sustainable without having to
do the spraying.”
Clark and Lawyer both ex-
pressed surprise at someone
stepping forward to resume ha-
zelnut farming.
“It did seem like it was
done,” Clark said.
Lawyer said the internation-
al demand for hazelnuts makes
the orchard attractive.
“That’s more of a factor for
the farmer,” Lawyer said. “If the
price (of the crop) was on the
way down, I’m not sure he’d be
talking to us.”
Clark feels all will benefi t.
“It’s a win-win for every-
one,” the mayor said. “It helps
us care for our resources. He
believes he can do this in a sus-
tainable way without spraying
the orchard.”
Schurter told the Keizertimes
on Tuesday he doesn’t know
how much longer the trees will
survive.
“The idea is to farm it not
using pesticides,” he said. “I’m
not saying they are bad, but this
is a way to alleviate the con-
cern. As far as the trees, this will
affect them in a bad way. They
will end up dying a lot quicker
than if we could control the
blight. It’s something you have
to work around.
“They’re already dying,”
Schurter added. “They will
continue to die. I expect them
to die at a quicker rate than
if we could spray. At orchards
with newer trees, you don’t
have to spray those. But with
an old variety like that, they
are going to die eventually. I
can understand the concerns
people have.”
Schurter, who noted the
harvesting would be done in
the fall – his proposal calls for
the contract to run through
Nov. 30 – learned about the is-
sue by reading the story in this
paper about Weathers getting
out of his contract.
“I thought it would be a
shame that the crop would fall
and rot on the ground,” he said.
“I fi gured it’s not a bad idea to
at least harvest it and farm it.
Even if (the trees) are going to
die, at least you can get some-
thing out of it. The city ben-
efi ts with a percentage of the
sales and, even more, it will
look good. The orchards will
be mowed and dead trees will
be cut out.”
No timeline was given for
when a contract would be
signed.
Wine tasting at KHC Aug. 13
The Keizer Heritage Cen-
ter will hold a public wine
tasting on Thursday, Aug. 13,
as part of its on-going Heri-
tage Thursday series of events.
Wines from local wineries
will be available for tasting;
there will be light appetizers
to taste with the wines.
The Keizer Art Association
will be stage artist demonstra-
tions during the event.
Live music will be provid-
ed.
The cost is $5 per glass, $2
for refi lls. The fee includes a
free glass.
For information contact
the Keizer Heritage Center at
503-393-9660.
Spirit of ‘45 concert Sunday
Oregon Spirit of ‘45, a group that honors the men and wom-
en of the World War II generation, is hosting Oregon’s 234th
Army Band for a concert at Salem’s Historic Elsinore Theatre
Sunday, Aug. 9.
The concert begins at 3 p.m. Admission is free. Tickets are
available at the Elsinore box offi ce 170 High Street S.E.
Artists: get your work on
the Keizer holiday card
A call has been made to
area artists to enter submis-
sions for the 2015 City of
Keizer holiday greeting card.
The Keizer Public Arts
Commission, which works to
bring art into the community,
invites residents of all ages to
submit art work that expresses
the holiday season in Keizer.
The deadline is Friday,
Sept. 18. All submitted entries
become the property of the
city.
The artist of the selected
artwork will receive a $100
gift card to Michael’s Art and
Crafts.
Contest rules and an appli-
cation can be downloaded at
keizer.org; they are also avail-
able at city hall.
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