AUGUST 7, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9
Parks Board talks about KRP orchards
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
What will happen with the
remaining trees in the orchard
at Keizer Rapids Park?
The topic has come to the
forefront recently in light of
Tony Weathers being granted a
release from his contract with
the city to harvest the orchards,
citing potential litigation issues
related to spraying pesticides.
When Keizer City Council-
ors agreed to let Weathers out of
his contract, the question arose
as to whether the remaining
trees could be taken down.
The question of what to do
with the trees came up again
during the July 14 Keizer Parks
and Recreation Advisory Board
meeting. It also came up at this
week’s council meeting (see re-
lated story, pg. A1).
“Could the rest be leased
out?” Richard Walsh asked at
the Parks Board meeting.
Bill Lawyer, Public Works
director for Keizer, isn’t holding
his breath on that.
“Potentially, but it’s being
looked at as no more farming in
the orchard,” Lawyer said.
Brandon Smith, the council
liaison to the Parks Board, not-
ed the argument some make for
having the trees gone.
“If the trees come down,
it looks like progress is being
made,” Smith said. “Some felt
empty ground would exert
pressure on the city to do some-
thing.”
Walsh pointed out the KRP
master plan has trees in the or-
chard being gone.
“As long as the trees are
there, they will be a hurdle to
soccer teams and other groups,”
he said. “There was the plan of
eventually zero revenue there, as
there eventually would be ball
parks there.”
Walsh pointed to one draw-
back to the idea.
“We’re looking at an expen-
sive project to clear the land,” he
said. “If we clear it now, it will
cost money.”
Emphasized Lawyer: “It will
cost a lot of money.”
Volunteers knocked down
nearly 200 trees on two acres
to make room for the Big Toy.
Others came to chop the trees
into fi rewood and haul it away.
“That was for two acres,”
Lawyer said. “We have 22-plus
acres more.”
Board member Clint Hol-
land noted he’d heard the cost
to cut trees would be $90,000.
Lawyer said no real plan was
in place for the orchard.
“The plan was to farm the
orchard as long as the farmer
would farm,” he said. “We were
hearing fi ve to six years would
be left. We hoped the fi ve to six
years would turn to eight to 10
years. Filbert prices went way
up the last couple of years, so
we hoped they would continue
to farm them.”
While part of the discussion
was about the remaining trees,
there were still lingering ques-
tions about the potential liti-
gation Weathers referred to in
regards to spraying pesticides.
Both Walsh and Lawyer noted
Weathers had originally been
fi ne with some of the orchard
being used for the Big Toy, but
something changed his mind.
“My concern is my ass being
sued,” Weathers told the Keiz-
ertimes in May. “My concern is
someone using the toy when
the park is closed, get fl u and
found out I sprayed. I have too
much to lose.”
Walsh, an attorney, ques-
tioned if there truly could be
a lawsuit concerning the pesti-
cides.
“We have insurance and
there is little scientifi c risk,”
Walsh said. “We could just close
(the Big Toy) on those days we
do the spraying.”
Lawyer corrected Walsh.
“We do not have insurance
for this,” Lawyer said. “We’ve
explored every option we could
think of. The insurance won’t
cover if we get sued for spray-
ing. (Weathers) expressed con-
cerns about being sued. He said
if we could indemnify him, he
would continue to farm. But
we don’t have insurance cover-
age for that.”
Walsh still wasn’t quite con-
vinced.
“It’s hard to believe there’s
not insurance to cover it,” he
said.
Smith said a “number of
people” had weighed in on the
issue.
“There are organizations out
there that will sue you,” Smith
said.
“Not if the chance of suc-
ceeding is low,” Walsh respond-
ed.
Smith said all factors were
looked at.
“Council felt that was a risk
that was a little too far,” he
said. “We had a written opin-
ion from the insurance com-
pany they would not cover it. If
(Weathers) had his own insur-
ance, that would be one thing.
But we don’t have insurance for
that exposure.”
Lawyer to miss Parks Board meetings
By CRAIG MURPHY
Of the Keizertimes
Each month at the Keizer
Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board meeting, Bill Lawyer is
on hand to answer questions
and give updates.
This month will be different.
Lawyer, the Public Works
director for Keizer who has at-
tended Parks Board meetings
for 16 years as the city staff rep-
resentative, is letting his seat at
the monthly meetings be fi lled
by Robert Johnson, the parks
supervisor for the city.
“This is my last regular ap-
pearance at a Parks Board meet-
ing,” Lawyer said at the July 14
meeting. “From now on Robert
will be the staff liaison. I will
only be here as needed.”
JT Hager led the effort in
thanking Lawyer for his contri-
butions.
“Bill, you have been invalu-
able,” Hager said. “Your ability
to look back at the past and see
how it can be done in the future
has been very, very valuable.”
Richard Walsh, a longtime
member of the Parks Board, also
gave praise.
“Bill, you are the Parks De-
partment,” Walsh said. “We
couldn’t have done what we did
in the last several years without
your help. We give you a ton of
work every time you’re here,
but you always smile about it. I
really do appreciate it.”
Parks Board members ap-
proved a motion recognizing
Lawyer for his efforts, then gave
him a round of applause.
“I’m not going anywhere,”
Lawyer said. “I’m still invested,
but not at the meetings. This is a
tough one for me. But I need to
step back and get other people
to step forward. Robert is ready
for it. Thank you for the recog-
nition. I appreciate it.”
In other Parks Board news:
• In an effort to gener-
ate more revenue, Parks Board
members approved a motion
calling for councilors to actively
pursue additional cell towers in
Keizer parks. A cell tower is al-
ready in Bair Park, bringing in
$2,100 a month in revenue for
the city. That funding is split in
half between parks and the wa-
ter fund.
Parks Board chair David
Louden wasn’t sure councilors
need to be involved with creat-
ing more parks revenue.
“It’s more up to us to come
up with additional revenue
ideas,” Louden said.
Hager, however, felt it was an
appropriate motion.
“This lets the council know
we’re looking to do things,”
Hager said. “We’re on record.
The more cell towers, the more
the funding we get with rev-
enue to the parks. What we’re
saying is we need money.”
• Gary Blake once again
brought up the subject of the
potential sale of Palma Ciea
Park.
“I’ve spent a lot of time go-
ing down Cummings Lane and
Rafael Court asking residents
about the park,” said Blake,
who sat with several neighbors.
“Without a doubt, they are
shocked and amazed at the idea
it could be sold. Neighbors are
willing to sit and talk and fi nd
out what could be done.”
Blake said ideas include hav-
ing a neighborhood garden and
volunteers sprucing up the park.
“What we’d like to stress is
the residents of the area want to
be involved with the discussion
of what happens to the park,”
Blake said. “I have neighbors
here who are willing to be here.
Our intent is not to direct the
Parks Board, we just want an
opportunity to speak before a
decision is made.”
KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS
CLEANING SERVICE
SERVICES
A+ CLEANING SERVICE. Residential
maintenance cleaning, Move-In/out,
Remodel Clean up. Over 20 years
experience. Registered and Bonded.
$25/hour all supplies provided. www.
aplusclean.net. Call Lorie 503-580-
0298
0828
DIVORCE $155. Complete preparation.
Includes children, custody, support,
property and bills division. No court
appearances. Divorced in 1-5 weeks
possible.
503-772-5295.
www.
paralegalalternatives.com legalalt@
msn.com
ONAC
FOR SALE
Two Sanyo portable air conditioning
units with remote controls, $95 each.
New price was over $300 each, very
good working condition. John @ 503-
851-1819.
0807
Darrell Richardson
has requested
a smoking ban
in Keizer parks
several times
recently, including
at Monday’s
Keizer City
Council meeting.
KEIZERTIMES/
Craig Murphy
BAN,
continued from Page A1
“I’m excited about you
putting up the signs at parks,”
Richardson said. “I hope you
will include Sunset Park. I
haven’t heard back about my
request (from April).”
Councilor Marlene Parsons
noted the Parks Board didn’t
do anything with the request.
“I know; I was at the meet-
ing,” Richardson replied.
“The Parks Board representa-
tive downplayed it so much, I
couldn’t believe it. Why do we
have to depend on the Parks
Board for this? Sunset Park is
one that shouldn’t have smok-
ing. I live right next to Sunset.
We have two or three guys
that come down and smoke
cigars for several hours. Quite
a few cities don’t allow smok-
ing in parks. Let those that
don’t smoke have some rights,
too.”
Mayor Cathy Clark ex-
pressed her appreciation to
Richardson for bringing the
topic up again.
“I don’t think this is a con-
versation that has fi nished by
any stretch,” Clark said. “Mar-
ion County and Salem don’t
allow smoking in any parks.
Enforcement is an issue.”
Clark
suggested
hav-
ing members of the Marion
County Health Authority
talk about smoking at a Parks
Board meeting.
“The way people in our
community make decisions
is with good information,”
Clark said. “It is a community
conversation. In Salem they
had a series of public hearings.
This was a process the com-
munity got involved in.”
Councilor Dennis Koho
said he’d be willing to vote
on the issue, even if the Parks
Board continues to have no
recommendation.
Richardson noted how re-
cent fi res in the Northwest
have been started by discarded
cigarette butts.
“It’s a common sense law,”
he said. “The state, Marion
County and Salem have all
stepped up.”
Despite his frustration with
the lack of action, Richard-
son emphasized he still loves
Keizer.
“This is the best city in the
world,” he said.
In other business Aug. 3:
• Lyndon Zaitz gave a pre-
sentation about Saturday’s
RIVERfair, which runs from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at KRP.
“We have nice, diverse ac-
tivities,” Zaitz said. “We have
a lot for families. We’re very
excited about what is hap-
pening. There are a lot of new
vendors and a lot of returning
vendors.”
• Councilors approved a
request from Clint Holland
to add a concert and a movie
date at the KRP amphitheater.
The concert on Aug. 22 will
take the place of the cancelled
Pig in the Park event, while a
movie will be added for some-
time in September.
Koho noted he’s heard
some complaints from people
about not being able to bring
their water into events on hot
nights. Holland said waters
can be brought in on movie
nights and also noted crowds
have been big throughout the
summer.
“This year we’re packing
them in for every event,” Hol-
land said. “This last weekend
we sold more food and bev-
erages than we have for any
event. The last four events
have all been large.”
• Councilor Amy Ripp
noted Red Wing Shoes is
moving to Keizer Station;
more specifi cally, into the
space currently occupied by
the Keizer Chamber of Com-
merce. As a result, the cham-
ber offi ce is moving to 6150
Ulali Drive next week, next to
World Market.
• Jessi Long was appointed
to fi ll a vacancy on the Keiz-
er Public Arts Commission.
Long will serve a three-year
term ending in June 2018.
• The council work session
on Aug. 10 will be a tour of
the Salem-Keizer School Dis-
trict’s Career and Technical
Education Campus on Port-
land Road. The tour starts at
5:45 p.m. and will be open to
the public.
have years of experience in
EXPERIENCE We
design, carpentry, and engineering.
won’t stop until the job is
PROFESSIONALISM We
fi nished and you are content.
long list of satisfi ed
TRUSTWORTHINESS Our
clients attest to our ability
to get the job done right.
PLACE A
CLASSIFIED AD
Call 503-390-1051
503.393.2875
remodelkeizer.com
CCB#155626
Sam Goesch CLU, Agent
Sam Goesch Ins Agcy Inc
3975 River Road North
Keizer, OR 97303
Web: SamGoesch.com Bus: 503-393-6252
1211999
State Farm , Bloomington, IL
WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit.
Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Celebration
Services
Saturday Evening
6:00 pm
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
Sunday Morning
9:00 am
and
10:45 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 10:00 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
Jason Lee UMC
820 Jeff erson St. NE
Salem OR 97301
Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor
The church with the purple doors
503-364-2844
Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available
Faith Lutheran Church
4505 River Rd N • 393-4507
Sunday Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Children’s Church
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities
Pastor
Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion