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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2018)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 39, NO. 35 SECTION A JUNE 1, 2018 $1.00 Service calls up 15 % at KFD #torchard KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Pilts of dtad fi lutrt trtts wtnt up in smokt at Ktiztr Rapids Park last wttk as voluntttrs madt way for a local farmtr to utgin harvtsting grass sttd in tht 20-acrt arta in tht tast stction of tht park. By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Keizer Fire District responded to 15.7 percent more calls in 2017 and the 2018- 19 proposed budget with an increase of $581,900 or 8.3 percent accounts for that. Resources have increased by $1,193,748 over the previous budget. While the majority of the increase is due to higher than anticipated project carryover, property taxes and ambulance billing revenue are projected to increase by more than $600,000. The budget allows for the continuation of all current prog rams and services while also increasing staffi ng by one fi refi ghter/ paramedic. But the number of full time equivalent remains at 35.5 due to the deletion of the volunteer coordinator position that was unsuccessful during the grant process. Nearly all increases in the proposed budget are related to personnel services, including a 4 percent cost of living adjustment in salaries, 13.9 percent increase in health insurance and 25.6 percent increase in workers compensation insurance, along with the addition of a fi refi ghter/paramedic. Materials and services have increased by 3.2 percent, with the greatest increase coming from the addition of $25,000 in a radio maintenance line for an annual fee for a radio system that is under construction. Since most equipment has been purchased through the bond, capital outlay needs have decreased by $15,000. The proposed budget includes the fi nal year of the fi ve-year local option level of $0.59 per thousand. The district will be on the ballot for a renewal of the levy in November. Reserves and contingencies have increased by $20,000. The district will continue to have three funds—the general fund, which consists of four organizational u n i t s — administration ($1,665,885, fi re ($335,854), EMS ($2,095,780) and training ($398,901) the capital projects fund ($250,000) and the bond fund ($318,073). Administration sees an increase of 11.3 percent and EMS 10.2 percent. The budget committee approved the budget on Wednesday, May 16 and sent it to the Keizer Fire Board of Directors for adoption during its regular meeting on June 19 at 7 p.m. A copy of the document may be obtained at the station, 661 Chemawa Rd. NE from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Witt named softball's Player of the Year PAGE B1 Students release latest book PAGE A2 Blanchet student defi es challenges, aces PSAT By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Nikhil Namburi, a junior at Blanchet, had a “pounding” head- ache the day he aced the PSAT. “I did not think I did well at all in the PSAT,” Namburi said. “I just wanted to go home and take a nap.” Overcoming headaches and fa- tigue has become a way of life for Namburi. At age 4, he had emergency brain surgery to drain a cyst, which Namburi says was about the size of a baseball. Namburi's doctors thought he might suffer from a learning disability. “I think most people with the condition I have tend to have learning disabilities, especially the size of my cyst,” Namburi said. “I don't think it hindered my learning abilities particularly but it defi nitely makes it harder to work hard. The symptoms compound the more and more I work. There's a certain limit Nikhil Namuuri, a Blanchtt studtnt and Ktiztr rtsidtnt, rtctntly actd tht PSAT dtspitt ltarning challtngts that rtsulttd from a urain cyst whtn ht was 4. I have to set for myself and I can't work beyond that or else it's just going to end up hurting me more than it helps me.” The symptoms also depend on Namburi's sleep schedule and diet. He has to stay away from excess sugars and fast food. “The way that I maintain my lifestyle makes a huge impact on the symptoms that I have,” Nam- buri said. “It's more of just knowing my limits and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for both short term and long term benefi ts.” Namburi, who also scored per- fectly on the ACT and earned 1570 of 1600 possible points on the SAT, said he doesn't enjoy school more than any other student. He just thinks differently. “I have more of an analytical mind so test are defi nitely easier for Pltast stt PSAT, Pagt A5 KEIZERTIMES/Dtrtk Wilty Cemetery clean-up PAGE A8 Andtrson looks to Volunteer will run for city council “Whtn I found lift afttr city council By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes City Councilor Bruce Anderson is opting not to seek another term on the Keizer City Council. “ I ' v e been look- ing at the activities that I'm in- volved and and there B. Andtrson are some other areas I want to move into,” said Anderson. Anderson was appointed to fi ll a vacancy left by City Councilor Brandon Smith who moved to Salem shortly after being elected in 2014. Anderson's term will offi - cially end in January 2019. Anderson's time as a volunteer with the city predates his service as a councilor, he was a member of the Keizer Planning Commission for seven years before stepping up to the city council. “My wife and I have lived here for 28 years, we appreci- ate living in this community and being part of it. Being part of how our community is shaped has been important to me,” Anderson said. Being a member of the city council widened his lens on everything the city is in- volved in and granted him a bird's eye view of just how much the city counts on vol- unteers to accomplish the Pltast stt ANDERSON, Pagt A7 out Bruct was sttpping down, I ftlt likt it was timt to sttp up.” — Dan Kohltr By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Last year, Keizerite Dan Kohler heard the city was looking for help in removing wood chips from The Big Toy in Keizer Rapids Park. When he approached Keizer Public Works Director Bill Lawyer with a proposal to get the job done in a day, Lawyer was skeptical to say the least. “Bill looked at me and said, 'There is no way you can do that.' Inside I said, 'I'll take that challenge.'” Kohler said. Drawing upon members of his church – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – throughout the mid-Willamette Valley as well as other organizations and the community at large, Kohler enlisted several hundred volunteers to remove 600 cubic feet of wood chips to make way for a pour-in-place surface in six hours. When the volunteers were done, it only took city staff about a day to fi nish the job. Lawyer later estimated it saved the city about $6,000 in city resources. Kohler is now planning to run to replace sitting Councilor Bruce Anderson in Position 6 on the Keizer City Council. Anderson is stepping away from the council after being appointed to fi nish out the term of Brandon Smith when Smith moved to Salem. Keizer voters will determine who replaces Anderson this November. “I had a number of people who approached me and said Pltast stt COUNCIL, Pagt A7 Doutt will be two-sport athlete at George Fox PAGE B1
