PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 10, 2018
SAFETY,
continued from Page A1
local police departments or
through trained, armed private
security.
“As a dad, I wanted to see
what I could do about (school
safety). So I gathered informa-
tion about what parents expect
and what they would be will-
ing to pay for it,” Lawyer said.
“The data supports a new con-
versation.”
The survey put three ques-
tions to respondents, do you
support having additional
school resource offi cers (SROs)
or armed security in schools,
would you support increas-
ing additional police funding
through fees to pay for the
personnel and whether the re-
spondent lives in Keizer.
On the question of SROs
and armed security, 52 percent
of the 421 respondents said
they wanted both, 28 percent
said they would prefer SROs
and 9 percent favored armed
security. Only 9 percent said
they wanted neither.
Regarding funding, 29 per-
cent said cost did not matter
to them. Nearly 24 percent
said they would be willing to
add $3-$5 to the existing pub-
lic services fee, 16 percent said
they would support a $2-$3
increase. About a quarter of
respondents didn't want to pay
more for increased security.
More than 91 percent of re-
spondents lived in Keizer.
“I understand that this is
sensitive but, as a parent with
two kids, I can't know I had a
chance and chose not to ask
the questions,” Lawyer said.
While no formal requests
were made, Lawyer and Kohler
said they hoped to see the city
engage with the Salem-Keizer
School District regarding the
results of the survey and, if the
district does not act, potentially
put the issue on the ballot for
Keizer voters.
“We aren't proposing one
thing or the other, but the
school district has chosen to
ignore it. We can't sit around
and do nothing,” added Kohler.
Lawyer said the goal is not
to create a punitive environ-
ment, but to secure school
campuses.
City councilors responses
were mixed. Councilor Roland
Herrera asked how the survey
was distributed. Lawyer, Kohler,
Keizer Mayor Cathy Clark and
state Rep. Bill Post all called
for participation through Face-
book, but Herrera said that re-
sponses from his circle would
likely be far different.
Councilor Kim Freeman
expressed concern over the
limited number of responses
and suggested making the topic
central to a upcoming Com-
munity Conversation hosted
by the Keizer Chamber of
Commerce.
“I don't know if you plan to
present this to the district, but
I encourage you to do it. I, like
a lot of folks, am concerned
about school safety. Do you
envision us hiring more police
offi cers? I'm not sure how the
jurisdictional issue and how
it comports with the district,”
said Anderson.
Councilor Laura Reid, who
is a teacher at McNary High
School, took issue with the no-
tion that the district was ignor-
ing the problem.
“To say that they haven't
done anything or aren't listen-
ing, isn't really fair. I would en-
courage you, as you proceed, to
reach out to (Superintendent)
Christy Perry regarding the
district's fact-fi nding and mar-
ry the two,” Reid said.
Even Keizer Police Chief
John Teague chimed in when
asked about his take on the
proposals.
“Our interest in being in the
schools is not to enforce the
law, it's to see the law enforced
a whole lot less in the schools,”
Teague said. “If increased se-
curity is the goal, then they
should have armed security.
You can get a whole lot more
armed security for your dollar
than you do cops. Whether that
is palatable to people, I don't
know.”
Teague said he could envi-
sion an additional two SRO
positions, but that would likely
be the furthest reasonable ex-
tension of what KPD can offer.
SKEF wants city to pick
up fi eld watering tab
that physical education teach-
By ERIC A. HOWALD
ers are planning classes around
Of the Keizertimes
The Salem-Keizer Educa- the worst spots.
“We would have to reseed
tion Foundation (SKEF) is
looking for fi elds to host its and level certain areas because
youth soccer games, and has its the gophers are going wild,”
eyes on the back 40 at Claggett Holland said. He estimated the
Creek Middle School. How- campus could become home
ever, organizers are asking the to three or four new fi elds.
At press time, city staff didn’t
city of Keizer to pick up the
water tab if the plan goes for- have a bead on how much
watering the Claggett fi elds
ward.
would
cost,
SKEF Ex-
but doing so
ecutive Direc-
wouldn’t be a
tor Krina Lee
fi rst. Around
and longtime
the turn of the
Keizer youth
millennium,
sports advocate
volunteers re-
Clint Holland
inquired about
— Krina Lee h a b i l i t a t e d
the possibility
SKEF Director fi elds at White-
aker
Middle
at a meeting of
School and the
the Keizer City
city paid the ir-
council Mon-
rigation bill for the next seven
day, July 16.
“We are desperate for facili- years. The contractual agree-
ties. There were some week- ment only lasted fi ve years, but
ends last year when we were in Keizer Public Works Director
10 different facilities through- Bill Lawyer said it took the city
out Salem and Keizer,” Lee “some time to catch up.” Since
then, the Salem-Keizer School
said.
Lee said SKEF and Holland District has been billed for the
were willing to put forth the water used to maintain the
time and effort to rehabilitate fi elds. To this day, cheers from
the fi elds on the campus using the baseball and soccer fi elds
volunteers and private dona- at Whiteaker can be heard for
tions, but are trying to avoid blocks around the school.
In exchange for rehabbing
the school district incurring
additional expense for water to the fi elds and establishing a
maintain if improvements are concession stand to pay for
continued maintenance, SKEF
done.
Lee said the fi elds at the would ask for fi rst right-of-
school are in such poor shape refusal on Saturdays when its
“We are
desperate for
facilities.”
soccer season is in full swing.
Lawyer and Holland believe
that there are already two wa-
ter meters near the fi elds, one
for the school and one for the
city, which would cut some of
the costs associated with put-
ting in new infrastructure.
After the meeting, Lawyer
said he would not support us-
ing the park services fee the
city collects on utility bills to
cover the cost of watering the
fi elds at Claggett.
“The fees are intended for
use in city-owned park prop-
erties to increase the level of
service, replace existing ame-
nities and make additional im-
provements to the parks system
once we catch up on all of the
deferred maintenance,” Lawyer
said.
City councilors seemed re-
ceptive to the idea, but with-
held any action while waiting
to fi nd out what the exact costs
to the city would be.
“I think it’s something that
we really do need. I think
it would be awesome,” said
Councilor Roland Herrera.
Holland added he would
be willing to assist in efforts
to rehabilitate fi elds at Cum-
mings Elementary School if a
similar deal for water could be
reached there.
SPREE: More charges,
arrests possible
(Continued from Page A1)
Berlin was transported to Marion County Correctional Facility
where he was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts
of conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of burglars’ tools, and
tampering with physical evidence. He is alleged to have been in-
volved in the buglaries at Sonic, Dairy Queen and Los Dos Her-
manos. He has since been released from jail.
Scott was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary
and possession of burglars’ tools. He is believed to have been in-
volved in the Burger King burglary. Scott is still in custody at the
jail.
“We have reason to believe there may be more suspects involved
and we know the criminal activity they engaged in extends beyond
the city of Keizer. We are working closely with other law enforce-
ment agencies,” Kuhns said.
Additional charges for the two men arrested and additional ar-
rests may be forthcoming.