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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2020)
AUGUST 7, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 Council approves Storytelling with a chainsaw sending charter changes to ballot By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Keizer voters will have the opportunity to update the city’s charter for the fi rst time in almost three decades this November. If the changes are approved, it will remove the language put in place the last time voters were given the chance to amend the city’s founding document. The Keizer City Council voted 5-0 to put changes to the city charter before voters on Nov. 3. Councilors Marlene Parsons and Laura Reid were absent. “I’m thrilled to see this, it’s been a long time coming,” said Councilor Dan Kohler. The council convened task force with an eye toward removing a section that marginalizes LGBTQ+ residents last year. The re- moval of the offending section, Section 44, was the major change recommended by the task force, but its members also found oth- er ways to make the document more inclusive, such as using less gendered language throughout the document, and more readable. While city staff are prohibited from promoting the charter changes, Mayor Cathy Clark said it was the responsibility of the council to advise voters on why the changes are needed. “It would behoove us as council to put together messaging to explain this to voters,” Clark said. Councilors Elizabeth Smith and Roland Herrera volunteered to lead the charge. Section 44, which was added to the charter in 1993, prohibits the city from: extending minority status to individuals based on sexual orientation and expending funds that “promote homo- sexuality or express approval of homosexual behavior.” The effort to pass the measure in Keizer was a last-ditch at- tempt by members of the No Special Rights Committee and Oregon Citizens Alliance to put in place such language wher- ever they could. After several attempts to have similar measures passed statewide, the groups targeted a more limited number of individual cities and counties where they thought the ideas might gain traction. Keizer was on the short list and didn’t dis- appoint the idea’s supporters when it hit the ballot box. Voters approved the measure with a 55 percent majority. Since that time, the Oregon Legislature passed a measure making all such local provisions unenforceable, but then re- turned to the issue in 2017 with a statute putting any local gov- ernment that tried to enforce on the hook for court challenges. Despite the neutering, the language has remained in the city’s founding document for 27 years. obituaries Darold Milton Strean April 17, 1927 – July 25, 2020 Darold Milton Strean of Keizer, Oregon peacefully passed away on July 25, 2020. He was born to Milton and Mary Strean in Fernwood, Oregon. He attended school in Fernwood, and also Molalla High School. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, one brother and six sisters. Darold was drafted from the 11th grade into the U.S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in Garmisch, Germany, during WWII. After returning home, he married Gwendolyn Ochampaugh. They lived in the Salem/Keizer area and raised fi ve children: David Strean (Diane), Steven Strean (Ying), Gerald Strean, Cheryl Rempel (David), and Rebecca Barker (Kent), all of Salem. He had 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Darold was a patriot, and at the end of his military career of 35 years, he retired as an E-9 sergeant major, serving in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard. Darold enjoyed woodworking, reading and exploring places in Oregon and learning, together with his wife, about early Oregon pioneer history. Darold was a devoted father and was always there for his children. He spent much of his time sharing patiently his experience with each one, and was always there to lend a hand. Darold lived the last seven years of D. Strean his life with his youngest daughter, Becki and her husband Kent, and enjoyed many outings and camping trips with them. Darold was a lifelong follower of Christ, and will be remembered for being such a wonderful role model for his children and grandchildren. He was always faithful to his church and was active in his seniors group, “Prime Timers.” Anyone who ever met or knew Darold will miss him greatly. Well done good and faithful servant. Enter in the joy of your Lord. Matthew 25:23. Due to Covid restrictions, an immediate family graveside service will be held. In lieu of fl owers, contributions can be made to Willamette Valley Hospice. KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald and Brooklyn Flint Artist James Lukinich outlines trees with a chainsaw at the second of two story poles in front of the Keizer Civic Center Tuesday, Aug. 4. LEFT: Close-up of a frog and dragonfl y near the base of the pole. New wave of city-sponsored business loans in the works Keizer eligible for $1.1 million in CARES pandemic grants By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes In May, the City of Keizer awarded 18 $2,500 grants to local businesses struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to a match- ing grant from Oregon Busi- ness Development Department, another round of grants will be offered. The new grants will look quite different from the fi rst wave, in which a total of $45,000 was awarded via draw- ing business names out of a bucket. There could also be far fewer grants available out of the second $45,000 allotment. Because the money is arriv- ing through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se- curity (CARES) Act approved by Congress earlier this year, there will be a completely different system of awarding grants. This time around, grants could range from $2,500 to $12,500 depending on the number of employees or verifi - able expenses. Applications will likely be accepted through the city’s website, www.keizer.org. “These loans will also be geared toward minority-owned or historically disadvantaged businesses,” said City Manager Chris Eppley. “The goal of the program is also trying to get at least 50 percent of the grant awards to sole proprietors,” added Shane Witham, interim development director. Keizer had applied to re- ceive a matching grant from a state program ordering a cash infusion into local businesses, but the terms the city set for the fi rst round of grants did not align with that program. Under the terms of the CARES agreement, the city Free bike repair offered Aug. 21 A free bike repair session hosted by the NW Hub will be held in the Kennedy neighborhood at the Keizer Church of Christ, 5405 Ridge Dr N.E on Friday, August 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. The City of Keizer’s Traffi c Safety, Bikeways and Pedestrian Committee will be offering helmets in exchange for a $5 dona- tion. Fittings are free. could be eligible for up to $1.1 pandemic in the United States million in federal reimburse- and massive economic shut- ments for expenditures related downs, the city agreed to ac- to COVID-19. However, the cept $15,000 a year from Mar- city would need to spend the ion County over the next three years. Part of the money fi rst, agreement was then apply for deter mining reimbursement. how the money, E p p l e y which is com- said the reim- ing from the bursements Oregon Lottery, did not seem would be used. to cover staff Numerous pos- time related to sibilities were COVID-19 is- mentioned, sues, but that but all fell to it could cov- the wayside er some other in the wake pandemic-re- of COVID- lated projects. 19’s spread and “We are councilors em- looking at ren- braced a for- ovating the cus- tomer service — Chris Eppley givable business counters in the Keizer city manager loan program. Po t e n t i a l civic center as projects that a result of the pandemic and it may cover lost out included: prepping those sorts of expenses,” Ep- city-owned properties to be pley said. “It looks as though placed on the market for lease; we could possibly partner with development and support of some social service organiza- sports facilities; revitalization tions to help them. We’re going of public investment projects, to work hard to get this back installation of a food truck pod on city-owned property; and into the community.” paying consultants to advise the Background The original money ap- city on creation of an urban proved for the fi rst round of renewal district or expanding grants was a result of fortu- Keizer’s urban growth bound- itous timing. In January, prior ary for employment land. to the onset of the COVID-19 “It looks as though we could possibly partner with some social service organizations to help them” SUBSCRIBE GET A YEAR’S WORTH OF KEIZER NEWS IN YOUR MAILBOX ONLY $35 | CALL 503-390-1051 Yes, we’re open! Sanitation and social distancing measures are being followed in our store. A sanitation station near M emorial C enters ◆ C remation & B urial Simplicity - Convenience - Low Cost the entrance is available for your use. According to the state’s new face-covering mandate, everyone must wear a mask while visiting us. If you do not have a mask, we are happy to provide one. Thank you for your understanding and help in complying with this new simple cremation simple direct burial church funeral requirement. We look forward to seeing you. ◆ $795 ◆ $995 ◆ $2965 DON'T FORGET DIAMONDS MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. 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