FEBRUARY 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7
STORM: Debris drop site
will stay open thru Sunday
(Continued from Page A1)
Top photo courtesy of Lewis Media Group
TOP: An aerial photo of the damage at Claggett Creek Park where sevel large, mature maple
trees will now need to be taken down. ABOVE: Bruno Lopez and Jony Granado unload branches
south of Keizer Little League Park.
in his wallet to cover the cost of fi lling a large
propane tank.
The Jaymar resident turned and handed him
$20 and one of his business cards.
“He said, ‘I know you’re good for it.’ After I
fi lled the propane tank, went to the bank and
dropped by his house. I also got to see what he
and his neighbors had done,” Lawyer said.
Keizer Public Works employees began re-
ceiving the fi rst calls regarding downed trees
and wires on Friday evening. A two-man crew
spent the entire night putting out caution signs
as trees cracked under the weight of the ice.
By Saturday evening, Lawyer was able to
send everyone home to rest, but they were
back out Sunday morning.
A signifi cant portion of the power had re-
turned by Sunday night, but some residents
appeared in for a long haul. Portland Gener-
al Electric stopped estimating repair times by
Monday morning.
In addition to helping keep streets clear,
about 15 public works employees kept a thumb
on the pulse of numerous systems.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the water
systems, putting pump stations on back-up
engines, deploying generators to traffi c signals
and keeping tabs on what was happening in
our parks,” Lawyer said. “The staff handled this
very well, they were confi dent in what they
were doing and I couldn’t be more proud of
them.”
Numerous Keizer parks were still closed
Wednesday, Feb. 16.
“Claggett Creek Park just breaks my heart.
There are some large, mature maple trees that
will have to be taken down there,” Lawyer said.
As residents celebrated President’s Day
Monday, Feb. 15, clean-up began in earnest.
A drop-off site for branches and downed trees
was established at the south parking lot of
Keizer Little League Park. Within a few hours,
the pile of debris was 25 yards long, 10 yards
wide and up to nine feet high. Debris collec-
tion will continue at the site at least through
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Future hours
will be based on need.
“It may continue to be open daily or only
one weekends, but we are working with lo-
cal haulers to muddle through the operation,”
Lawyer said.
Ultimately, the debris will be ground up
and repurposed into organic material. Marion
County is also permitting all local municipal-
ities to take debris to Brown’s Island in Salem
for no-charge disposal.
Lawyer said a grinder may be dispatched to
the KLL parking lot to help with the removal
effort.
Local haulers are encouraging neighbors to
split the cost of a large disposal bin to clean
up their neck of the woods. Haulers are pre-
pared to work with residents to keep the cost
reasonable, said City Manager Chris Eppley at
a meeting of the Keizer City Council Tuesday,
Feb. 16.
Lawyer said the city will take responsibility
for any debris in the rights-of-way on private
property. Wood cut in Keizer parks will be left
on-site and free to the public.
He cautioned residents to keep their eyes
peeled when walking and driving.
“Call them hangers or widowmakers or
whatever you want, but there are unstable
branches still in the trees. Stay out from under
them,” Lawyer said.
The Keizer Police Department was busy re-
sponding to the storm as well. In the 12-hour
period between 7 p.m. Feb. 12 and 7 a.m. Feb.
13. Keizer offi cers responded to 80 storm re-
lated calls. Another 50 calls for service came in
before midnight Saturday.
“Almost all of these calls were for down
trees and branches affecting Keizer roadways,”
said Lt. Bob Trump, spokesperson for the de-
partment.
At one point, Sgt. Rodney Bamford had to
call in public works employees to assist with
tree removal on Wheatland Road North.
“Over the next several hours, public works
employees and responding offi cers cleared
roadways and placed barricades at many loca-
tions to ensure safe travels,” Trump said.
crossword
We’re
Shaping
Up
Exciting changes
changes coming
coming
Exciting
to your to your
beginning
March
beginning
March
19 19