FEBRUARY 3, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
Utility bills a shock?
There are
places
to turn
How a parks fee might
affect your utility bill
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
As Keizer city offi cials discuss the options for
instituting a dedicated parks fee – and adding the fee
to utility bills – Keizertimes asked City Finance Director
Tim Wood how such a fee would affect Keizer residents
if the fee is instituted.
“Unfortunately, there is not a lot of defi nitive answers
as we are still in the preliminary stages of identifying what
our community desires for the park system,” Wood said.
The results of a survey available on keizer.org will
likely have a major impact on whether the city proceeds,
Wood said attaching the fee to the water and sewer bills
would save money on printing, postage and processing
costs.
“However, the city council could decide to make it
a separate bill with a different billing frequency such as
annually or quarterly; or a different funding mechanism
altogether,” Wood said.
If a fee is implemented, the city council can also
establish the order in which payments are applied to
outstanding balances. The council could also establish an
opt-out process for specifi c groups of residents.
“Our current utility payment priority is to apply a
customer’s payment to the oldest outstanding bill fi rst
and proportionately to each of the three utilities (water,
sewer and stormwater),” Wood said.
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
After weeks of frigid
temperatures – and more
winter weather potentially
on the way – it's likely that
some Keizer residents are
in for a surprise when their
utility bills arrive.
“For our existing utility
customers
we
provide
discounted sewer rates for
qualifying senior citizens
or
disabled
heads
of
households,” said Tim Wood,
Keizer fi nance director.
Sewer
rates
typically
account for more than 50
percent of the standard
Keizer utility bill. Roughly
three dozen households take
advantage of discounted rates.
To apply for a discounted
rate, city offi cials require
proof of income such as an
income tax return or annual
social security statement.
While the city can provide
discounts for some customers,
those needing short term
assistance are referred to The
Salvation Army or St. Vincent
de Paul for help. To fi nd out
more about Salvation Army
options, call 503 585-6688 or
visit www.salem.kroccenter.
or. Information on St.
Vincent de Paul programs
is available at svdpsalem.org
or by calling 503 364-5672.
Wood said only a handful of
Keizer residents seek such
help in a given month.
For homeowners with
natural gas bills, Northwest
Natural offers several options
for alleviating the strain
caused by sharp bill increases.
Customers can enroll in
programs that spread out
the cost of the average year's
worth of bills or work out
payment plans that will keep
them from having their gas
shut off. Very low or fi xed
income
customers
can
apply for assistance through
the federally-funded Low
Income Energy Assistance
program.
Visit
www.
nwnatural.com for more
information.
Portland General Electric
offers
several
assistance
programs that can help cover
By DEREK WILEY
Of the Keizertimes
Whiteaker Middle was one
of over eight thousand schools
worldwide to participate in the
Great Kindness Challenge last
year.
This year, Feb. 6-10, White-
aker counselor Pat Curran
would like to see that kindness
spread throughout Keizer as
Mayor Cathy Clark will declare
it Great Kindness Challenge
Week at the Monday, Feb. 6 city
council meeting.
“We’re trying to get the
businesses on River Road that
have a reader board to put
something up about the Great
Kindness Challenge, just to get
more people involved because
what we’d eventually like this
to be is a city-wide thing dur-
ing that week,” Curran said.
During the week, students
will get a checklist of 50 differ-
ent acts of kindness, like “Smile
at 25 people” and “Offer to
help your custodian.” At the
end of the week, prizes will be
given to the kindest classes.
Whiteaker is also raising
money for Assistance League of
Salem, which provides school
supplies and clothes to students
in need. During lunch each day,
students will participate in a
different kindness activity, like
signing a poster for the feeder
elementary schools and making
thank you cards for staff mem-
bers. Each day will also have a
theme where students are in-
vited to dress up. Monday is su-
per hero day. Thursday is crazy
hair day.
Whiteaker started doing the
Great Kindness Challenge three
years ago.
“There’s a lot of anti-bul-
lying campaigns that are out
there. We do anti-bullying
curriculum in our classrooms,
which is great, but this is kind
of fl ipping it on its head,” Cur-
ran said. “We’re trying to get
kids to do positive things as
opposed to just don’t do nega-
tive things. We’re basically just
trying to encourage kids to do
kind things here at school but
also in the community. It’s a
pretty simple idea but it’s a neat
thing we’d like to catch on.”
Photo illustration
the cost of unexpected bills
as well as payment plan and
due date options. Some
families can also qualify for
free weatherization assistance.
For more information, visit
www.portlandgeneral.com.
Salem Electric customers
may qualify for a one-time
Town hall on
Wolverines take on Kindness Challenge state budget
February 10
PERMIT CLASS
1PM AT KEIZER CIVIC CENTER
L O CATED AT: 930 CHEMAWA RD NE, KEIZER OR 97303
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
2 PERMIT OPTIONS: OREGON ONLY ( $ 45)
INCLUDED
or MULTI-STATE ( $ 80) OREGON
Cash or check payment will
be made at the class.
A driver license is all
you need to bring.
HONORED
3 WAYS TO SIGN UP!
PURCHASE 1 ENTREE + 2 DRINKS
CONCEALED CARRY
The Oregon Legislative
Assembly’s budget-writing
Joint Ways and Means
Committee will hold a
series of public hearings in
seven cities across the state
beginning February 10.
The town hall events
will create opportunities for
Oregonians to provide input
into the 2017-19 biennial
state budget, according to
Rep. Nancy Nathanson
(D-Eugene) and Sen. Richard
Devlin (D-Tualatin), the co-
chairs of the committee.
A Salem-based meeting
will take place Friday, Feb. 10,
at the Oregon State Capitol
beginning at 5 p.m.
On January 19, the co-
chairs released an “Existing
Resources
Framework,”
recognizing that existing
revenues fall $1.8 billion
short
of
the
funding
necessary to continue state
services at current levels. To
view the budget framework
and accompanying narrative,
visit bit.ly/2kLXL6v.
CALL: 360 -921-2071
WEB: FirearmTrainingNW.com
EMAIL: FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com
Walk-Ins are
Welcome
Multi-state permit
honored in Alaska
but not Hawaii
We are
Everything
Except
Overpriced
Simple
Cremation
$795
Inexpensive Burial
and Funeral Options
Pre-Planning Available
On-Site Crematory
4365 RIVER RD N, KEIZER
503.393.7037
Se habla español
RECEIVE THE SECOND MEAL AT…
50%
OFF
DO NOT HONOR
UT RES. ONLY
payment assistance of $150
to $225 per heating season
(January to April). Priority
is given to seniors and those
with disabilities. For more
information or to schedule
an appointment to talk about
option, call 503-362-3601.
The
Mid-Willamette
Valley Community Action
Agency can also offer
assistance ranging from bill
assistance to weatherization
services. Visit www.mwvcaa.
org for details.
EXP
02-28-17
NORTH SALEM
2505 Liberty St NE
503.689.1082
Valid only at
Liberty Street
location. Dine-in
only, Cannot be
combined with any
other offer or discount.
Not valid February 14, 2017.
Thanks for voting us Best Barbecue – 8 years running
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
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
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
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 - 9:15 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org