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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2020)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 Public Square Public Square weclomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Keizertimes. Submit a guest opinion, column or letter to the editor to publisher@keizertimes.com. Stay in the room No one likes uncomfortable con- night, but the accolades don’t end versations but working through that there. For the past few months, a steady discomfort can have enormous pay- cadre of residents have spoken out offs. Case in point: a work session of on issues of inclusivity and what a the Keizer City Council Monday, Keizer resolution should embody. Some of the faces have Nov. 9. grown familiar during After receiving heated that time, but new ones backlash from residents of have shown up to make the city over a refusal to voices heard at ev- condemn white suprema- editorial their ery meeting. cy, members of the council Each added a unique worked through the issues perspective and moved and drafted a statement of the conversation for- values that might live up to ward in valuable ways. Mayor Cathy Clark’s claim a few weeks ago of Keizer “leading Over the course of weeks and the way” through inclusivity in local months, they have shown the power inherent in individuals coming to- politics. The new draft includes a defi ni- gether for a more perfect union. We also don’t want to forget the tion of white supremacy, a repudia- tion of it and a nod to the tribes that efforts of those who fi rst brought a resolution proposal to the city two once inhabited Keizer. Members of the council have yet years ago. They started a ball rolling to vote on the statement – they le- that others were able to pick up and gally can’t vote on issues in work run with. All of these individuals who stood sessions – and some may still dissent, but the new document is a giant step up and spoke up during the meeting forward from the mostly watered deserve recognition for their cour- down statement of a few weeks ago. age and work as well. Lastly, it should not go without Each of the councilors,even in lieu of recent comments, should be noting that the fi ve candidates for commended for their work Monday city council seats in the election earlier this month were in the room Monday night. To Kyle Juran and Ross Day: As Keizer’s next city councilors, inclu- sivity in all forms is a baton you will need to take up, and we hope that the messages of the people you will represent resonated in your chests. To Mike De Blasi, Dylan Juran and Michele Roland-Schwartz: It took courage to show up at the work session in the wake of elec- tion defeat, but we have come to expect that from each of you. Salve the wound of the loss, but don’t let is dissuade you from public service. Stay involved on the city commit- tees you already serve on, join an- other when you are ready and live to fi ght another day. Councilors have grown fond of the phrase “The Keizer Way,” which feels like code for doing things fru- gally in word and fi nances. This time around “The American Way” ap- pears to have won the day. There are lessons there for all of us in the process that is taking place, and we can continue to build on them, but everyone needs to stay in the room. —Editorial Board Welcome to city council COVID-19 changed the way political candidates campaigned in 2020. In Keizer, where grassroots, door-to-door canvassing has been the norm, candidates relied on so- cial media, lawn signs and advertis- ing to promote themselves. In January 2021 the council will seat an incumbent and two new members. Laura Reid won election to her second term. Her historical knowledge will position her as a key councilor since Marlene Par- sons and Kim Freeman did not seek re-election. Parsons and Freeman both will have served two terms when they make way for their re- placements. Ross Day and Kyle Juran will be Keizer’s newest councilors when they are sworn into offi ce on Jan. 4. Ross Day, an attorney with his own fi rm, specializes in land use, real estate and business law. As the city moves forward on discussions about future growth and any expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary, his experience will help navigate Keiz- er through the the process. His fel- low councilors will do well to turn to Day for advice and information that will be important to laying the groundwork for growth. Kyle Juran will bring to the council a background and expe- rience that will be as important as Day’s land use knowledge. Juran is the owner of Remodeling by Classic Homes in Keizer and he has served on the Keizer Planning Commission. He will be able to confi dently discuss growth issues and the accompanying aesthetic components. We welcome Day and Juran to the council and look forward to their contributions. — LAZ How to protect migrating animals Project, an innovative effort to map By JIM AKENSON and wildlife movement and corridors LORI McKINNON Oregon Hunters Association across the state. Oregon has an op- (OHA), a group of conserva- portunity to ensure this new infor- tion-minded sportsmen, urges Ore- mation leads to sound management gon Department of Fish and Wild- solutions by developing agency pol- icy to formally identify mi- life (ODFW) to develop gration corridors. and implement a policy This action will bolster to enhance and conserve guest current conservation projects migratory habitat for big column where many groups (includ- game, and all wildlife that ing OHA) are working to make seasonal movements. conserve and enhance mi- Habitat connectivity, the degree to which separate habi- gratory habitat. For example, OHA tat patches are connected, is a crucial has pledged over $114,000 and many factor for conservation of wildlife. volunteer hours to the Gilchrist Increases in urban and energy de- Wildlife Underpass Project aimed at velopment has resulted in extensive reducing ungulate mortality and ve- habitat loss and fragmentation for hicle collisions on U.S. Highway 97. many species in Oregon. Fortunately, Additionally, a migration policy will advances in wildlife tracking technol- frame new partnerships between pri- ogy have allowed wildlife managers vate landowners, non-government to more accurately identify where organizations, and government agen- animals move on the landscape, as cies, which will result in additional well as impediments to wildlife space conservation projects and funding use. For ungulate species (e.g., deer, sources. Recently, Coastal Farm & elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep), mi- Ranch, after obtaining the low bid gration corridors are fundamental to provide fencing material, support- to their life history, but until recent- ed the Gilchrist Wildlife Underpass ly, these corridors were thought of Project by providing fencing mate- as conduit between seasonal ranges rials at a discount below their initial low bid. OHA’s Bend chapter has rather than essential habitat. Many big game migration cor- invested hundreds of volunteer hours ridors are currently obstructed by maintaining the fence that funnels transportation infrastructure and en- wildlife to the Lava Butte wildlife ergy development sites. Therefore, underpass on U.S. Highway 97, ap- state agencies must consider the full proximately 50 miles north of the extent of migratory habitat to better new Gilchrist underpass. The Lava Butte wildlife underpass has reduced manage ungulate populations. ODFW is making leaps and vehicle-wildlife collisions by 86%. In- bounds through the Oregon Con- dividuals can support and help fund nectivity Assessment and Mapping habitat connectivity and migration corridor projects by purchasing a specialized watch for wildlife license plate voucher at www.myowf.org/ watchforwildlife. Global Positioning System (GPS) wildlife tracking collars have become commonplace in wildlife manage- ment today, and this shift to more ef- fi cient and accurate technology will allow for more precise management into the future. GPS collars collect an immense amount of animal location data on fi xed time schedules, and these data are ideal for describing ungulate resource selection and utilization and migratory habitat. A migration policy will assist ODFW and their partners in obtaining additional grant funding to provide wildlife professionals with additional GPS collars, which will in- turn, further our knowledge of mi- gration corridors, resource selection, and population dynamics. How can Oregonian’s assist with protecting wildlife and their habitats? By working with their local wild- life biologist, watershed managers, ODFW commissioners and legisla- tors to promote continued research and policy development. In addition, the public can support protection of wildlife, their habitats, and mitigation from land management, urban, and energy development and transporta- tion infrastructure projects through county, state and federal public com- ment processes. absolute going forward. No matter what label you put in a value statement, it letters To the Editor: will do absolutely nothing After attending to change the hearts and last nights Keizer city minds of those who al- council meeting (Mon- ready harbor hate in their day, Nov. 9), I left with similar hearts. And trust me, this won’t stop thoughts that I have experienced at here from further demands being times over my 37 years living in this brought from this same group of great community. “my way or the highway.” There were times I would give Butch Dunn the council the benefi t of the doubt Keizer that the right decision would be made, only to witness that the fi x was in. The majority of the council who were in attendance, led by the Mayor, decided to join with a small To the Editor: vocal minority of progressive sup- Marion County Fire District #1 porters, led by Council or Roland wants to thank those who partic- Herrera, and added, what appears to ipated in the recent election. Our be, a knee-jerk response to Keizer’s local option levy was up for renew- Value Statement that this group had al, and the outcome was not as we insisted on. They did it just for ap- had hoped. peasement, in my opinion, and in The local option levy accounted the opinion of many other Keize- for 30% of our revenue to provide rites. emergency services. Its loss means Frankly, it’s as if last week’s elec- that we have to make cuts to ser- tions didn’t even come into consid- vice levels, which includes laying eration. Keizer spoke loudly that we off emergency personnel, taking preferred more conservative voices apparatus out of service, and closing on the council than we did progres- fi re stations. sive ones. At times I felt lectured to, New service levels will take ef- and at times I felt preached to, by fect on January 1, 2021. We will two individuals specifi cally. Rac- communicate with you in advance ism, hate, discrimination and vio- about these cuts, and how it could lence toward anyone should, and impact your family and business in is, roundly condemned throughout an emergency. this community. These will be very diffi cult de- I felt at times they were being cisions for us to make, and we ask unfairly baked in with the “racist” for your understanding in the days label too frequently thrown out. and months ahead. Please feel free Note that one speaker even encour- to contact me with questions at aged the council to move quickly kylem@mcfd1.com or (503) 588- with this declaration, so it becomes 6535. effective before the new councilors Kyle McMann are seated. Or does she mean the Fire Chief/Paramedic/RN two elected by the majority in last Marion County Fire District #1 week’s election? One thing will be Keizer values statement Loss of levy vote for MCFD1 will hurt maze (Jim Akenson is senior conserva- tion director, Oregon Hunters Asso- ciation. Lori McKinnon is president of Coastal Farm & Ranch.) Keizertimes Maze by Jonathan Graf of Keizer Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 • Phone: 503.390.1051 www.keizertimes.com sudoku SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. 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