DECEMBER 30, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9 Roundabout opens It’s curtains for the cows In June, the descendants of Joseph and Rosalie Herber petitioned the city to rezone property affectionately know as the “cow pasture” between Chemawa Road and Dear- born Avenue on the west side of Verda Lane. It was the second time in three years the family request- ed a rezoning that would pave the way for apartments on the site. The new proposal added cosmetic improvements, but the total number of apart- ments only dropped from 120 to 112. Local residents turned out in droves to speak in opposi- tion to the plan over the course of the next two months, oth- ers put pen to paper to voice their concerns. Citing school impacts, traffi c concerns, liv- ability issues and more, they implored the council to deny the request and keep it zoned for single-family development. The historic signifi cance of one home on the property was even called into question. In the end, Keizer city councilors couldn’t fi nd fault with the application and granted the rezone. There is no timetable as yet for con- structing the new apartments. Tight vote for councilor In August, an open Keizer city council seat drew two candidates for the offi ce, Allen Barker and Laura Reid. Barker is something of a newcomer to the city, but jumped right onto the city budget committee. Reid, on the other hand, has lived here for more than 15 years and has probably taught a substantial percentage of Keizer voters and/or their children through her work at McNary High School. On election night, Barker held on to a slim lead and, with all precincts supposedly reporting, Keizertimes errone- ously called the race for him. Forty-eight hours later, another 1,400 new votes ap- peared and gave Reid a lead she never relinquished. Reid will join the council at its fi rst meeting in January. After seemingly years of anxiety, the traffi c roundabout at Chemawa Road Northeast and Verda Lane Northeast fi - nally opened September. When the idea was fi rst put forth numerous local residents voiced opposition, but city of- fi cials had been claiming for years that the four-way stop was failing. While a nearly three- month closure led to long lines of traffi c around town during the summer months, the roundabout has fared well. While some residents are surely avoiding it and others are still learning to use it, the intersection has been largely crash-free. A spate of violence Violence found it’s way to Keizer in 2016. On Valentine’s Day, Jerrid Goodpaster was murdered at Keizer Station in what police believe was a marijuana deal gone wrong. Two suspects were later arrested and one of them charged with the killing. A little over a month later, a 59-year-old man was shot in the parking lot of Bi-Mart in another suspected drug deal gone bad. The victim survived the shooting, and the suspect was arrested as he tried to fl ee north on River Road North. The shooter pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 90 months in prison not long after the incident. In April, a teenage boy fatally stabbed the abusive boyfriend of his mother on Brooks Avenue N.E. Jeffrey Holly, the victim, had several previous run-ins with police and neighbors. The Marion County District Attorney’s Offi ce chose not to press charges against the boy. “Generally speaking, Keiz- er is a safe place to live. Every- one involved (were) living a high-risk lifestyle,” said Chief John Teague of Keizer Police Department, though he added the teenage boy was not part of the problem. 2016 YEAR IN REVIEW Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes on River Road When Starbucks decided to move a block south on River Road it displaced fi ve other businesses that called the now-razed strip mall home. The building that once housed the coffee chain and Mr. Video has also been de- molished. Mr. Video found a new home, sans Limeberry, at 3836 River Road N. Back at Schoolhouse Square, the new building under con- struction will become home to a Human Bean coffee shop, a Jersey Mike’s sand- wich shop, and a to-be-de- termined third tenant. Elsewhere on River Road, Tony’s Kingdom of Com- ics moved south to 3856 River Road N. Taco Bell and Shari’s got makeovers. Keizer Liquor moved north to 5023 River Road N. in School- house Square. In December, Bricks & Minifi gs, a dedicat- ed shop for Lego enthusiasts, opened at 3670 River Road N. Bank of the Cascades, GISI Marketing Group and Big Town Hero closed and two new marijuana shops opened. Keizer parks funding in crisis KPD staff needs grow Early in 2016, Keizer resi- dent Eamon Bishop called upon the city to consider closing several of the city parks and parks amenities. While the proposal was met with skepticism at the time, it launched a sprawling and still growing conversa- tion about the state of Keizer’s green spaces. For months, the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has grappled with overdue repairs and fi nd- ing a way to create a dedicat- ed parks fund to cover main- tenance and improvements. The most likely option at the moment is a fee added to util- ity bills, but the exact amount is still in question. Currently, parks funds are supplied by a thinly-stretched city general fund which also provides funding for the Keiz- er Police Department. Homelessness in spotlight In early 2016, the Salem City Council, Keizer City Council, and Marion and Polk counties convened a task force to look at issues of homelessness in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Through the year, the group has heard from local groups tackling issues surrounding homelessness and tried to chart a path forward. Growing numbers of homeless individuals, a shortage of housing and numerous other factors are contribut- ing to the more visible presence in the area. The situation in Keizer reached a head in November, when a camp of homeless individuals set down stakes under an aw- ning in Schoolhouse Square. The camp ebbed and fl owed in size over the course of four days before Keizer police requested they move on. The task force wraps up its work in February 2017 and hopes to have a plan for what comes next after its fi nal meeting. While parks have dominat- ed headlines in 2016, another city department is also in need of better funding: the Keizer Police Department. When the city convened its budget advisory committee in May, several members called upon the city to add another police offi cer, but City Man- ager Chris Eppley wanted to see a healthier reserve before moving forward. KPD Chief John Teague brought forth a proposal in August saying that while the need isn’t dire, yet, he would like to add fi ve offi cers. Teague also cautioned the council not to confuse an in- creased number of offi cers with an immediate decrease in crime. “It’s more about customer service. When we get one more detective, you’re going to have a detective show up at your house after a burglary, not just a patrolman,” Teague said. KEIZER CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUS Drive with Uber. No experience is required, but you’ll need a Smartphone. It’s fun and easy. For more information, call: 1-800-819- 1182 ONAC DISH TV – BEST DEAL EVER! Only $39.99/mo. Plus $14.99/ mo Internet (where avail.) FREE Streaming. FREE Install (up to 6 rooms.) FREE HD-DVR. CALL 1-800- 394-5170 ONAC Do you owe over $10,000 in back taxes? We help people resolve tax debt. $50 cash back upon sign- up. BBB Accredited. Call for a free consultation 1-800-956-6048 ONAC HELP WANTED: DRIVERS Quality Transportation is hiring Maintenance Mechanics and CDL-A Drivers. Locations in Nevada. MUST BE WILLING TO RELOCATE. 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