SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 40, NO. 20
SECTION A
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
$1.00
KPD union bid fails
Judge
sees merit
in some
arguments,
not enough
Sergeants
dispute
roles
despite
signatures
stating
otherwise
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Keizer Police Department
(KPD) sergeants sought access
to the Keizer Police union
over two days of hearings in
2018, but the effort appeared
handicapped from the get-go.
Five of the KPD current
sergeants testifi ed on behalf of
the Keizer Police Association
(KPA), which they were
seeking access to, in July
and September of 2018.
The hearings took place at
the Employment Relations
Board with Administrative
Law Judge Martin Kehoe
presiding. While the request
was denied an objection has
been fi led.
The sergeants contend that
their duties do not rise to
“ I didn’t read it. I have clearly
defi ned goals and I’ve seen
how other sergeants
do business. I honestly
don’t feel I need a
document to tell me
what my job is.”
Please see ROLES, Page A5
Please see JUDGE, Page A5
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/Andrew Jackson
— Sgt. Trevor Wenning
the level of supervisory and
therefore qualify for inclusion
in the KPA.
While
the
sergeants
took issue with the job
description issued by the City
of Keizer Human Resources
Department, all of them
had signed statements and
clear pressure to “get it done.”
Sgt. Trevor Wenning was
the most blunt in responding
to a question from Cathy Peck,
the city’s legal representative,
as to why he would sign such
a document knowing there
was disagreement over the
duties therein.
“I didn’t read it. I have
clearly defi ned goals and I’ve
seen how other sergeants do
business. I honestly don’t feel
I need a document to tell me
what my job is,” Wenning said.
When Sgt. Bob Trump
asked whether he understood
the sergeants’ position to be
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
An effort by the Keizer
Police Department’s sergeants
to join the Keizer Police
Association
union
was
dismissed by an administrative
law judge in late January.
The
dismissal
follows
two days of hearings on
the matter that took place
in 2018. (See related story
Sergeants dispute.) However,
the dismissal is not likely to
be the end of the discussion,
said Machell DePina, human
resources director for the City
of Keizer. Keizer’s police are a
department of the city and thus
work in conjunction with city
staff policies and procedures.
“The
Keizer
Police
Association, via their attorney
Daryl Garrettson, has fi led an
objection to the administrative
law judge’s proposed order so
this issue is still far from over,”
DePina said.
checked boxes indicating no
changes were needed within a
year prior to their request for
union inclusion.
Some
sergeants
took
responsibility for signing the
job description while others
said it was presented to them
at the last minute and under
Best of show
Board fi res starting
gun on parks
workout projects
so much great advice and
By ERIC A. HOWALD
guidance,” Davis told the
Of the Keizertimes
A proposal to install fi tness members of the parks board.
Davis’ grand vision was
stations in Keizer parks has
covered
last
entered
the
month in the
sprint stage.
Keizer times ,
Jeff Davis,
but funding to
a Keizer resi-
begin work on
dent and local
a scaled-back
fi nancial advi-
Phase 1 came
sor, has talked
to
fruition
with the city
quickly.
offi cials
and
representatives
In addition
for about six
to
fi nancial
months about
backing, Davis
a plan to install
said Rotarian
fi tness equip-
Bob Zielinski
ment through-
has offered use
out
Keizer’s
of an excavator
parks system.
and an employ-
In less than 48
ee to run it and
hours, Davis’
Herc
Rent-
project turned
als offered use
from a vision
of
addition-
into something
al equipment
he’ll have to
during down
make good on.
time.
That
On Monday,
leaves the larg-
Feb. 11, Davis
est outstanding
received the
need to begin
— Jeff Davis
endor sement
moving for-
of the Keizer
ward assistance
Rotary Foundation to the tune with installing concrete pads.
of $25,000 over two years and Those with the know-how
approval for a $7,832 matching and ability are encouraged
grant during a meeting Keizer to contact Davis at 541-905-
Parks Advisory Board Tuesday, 5192 or via email at jeffd@
Feb. 12.
live.com.
“Thank you all. I've gotten Please see WORKOUT, Page A8
“If this goes
well, and we
learn along
the way, we
might be able
do more
next year.”
KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald
McNary High School senior Laura Gillespie won Best of Show in the annual student show
at the Keizer Art Association gallery. For all the winners and more photos, see Page A3.
Eminent domain defense might be breaking new ground
Paul Diller
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
Usage of eminent domain
claims to take possession of
property needed for pub-
lic use is older than Amer-
ica itself, but the defense
being deployed by St. Edward
Catholic Church to ward off
a claim by the Salem-Keizer
School District is distinct. And
it’s part of a handful of cases
that could one day reach the
highest court in the nation,
according to a professor at
Willamette University Law
School.
“The church is asserting
here that the fact that they are
a religious entity should make
it harder to take their land.
It’s an argument buttressed by
the relatively recent Religious
Land Use and Institutionalized
Persons Act (RIULPA),” said
Professor Paul Diller, who
spoke with the Keizertimes
as part of a monthly on-air
interview segment at the
studios of KMUZ on Friday,
Feb. 8.
RIULPA was passed in
2000 in response to the U.S.
Supreme
Court
striking
down the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act that was
designed to curtail government
action burdening religious
organizations. RIULPA is
much more narrow and applies
specifi cally to land use.
“RIULPA is often used
when they think [churches]
Please see DOMAIN, Page A8
Keizer
hoopsters
All-American
finalists
PAGE A14
Whiteaker
cabaret on
deck
PAGE A3
Keizer
school shares
valentines
with seniors
PAGE A8
Swimmers
denied shot
at state
PAGE A11