Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments Emergency Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keizer forwards Rhonda Rich to council for Emergency Planning Committee seat
Summary
The Keizer selection committee interviewed two applicants for a new Emergency Planning Committee and agreed to forward neighborhood volunteer Rhonda Rich to city council for appointment; Jill Gus was also considered.
Keizer’s volunteer appointments panel moved Thursday to forward Rhonda Rich to the City Council for appointment to the city’s newly created Emergency Planning Committee after interviewing two applicants.
The committee discussed two candidates: Jill Gus, who said she works with the Keizer Chamber of Commerce and volunteers on multiple city boards, and Rhonda Rich, a longtime West Keizer Neighborhood Association leader and a Keizer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member. Chair Dawn said the city and county are creating the committee and the role will be filled by members once council confirms appointments.
“I'm very organized at getting people to help,” Jill Gus told the committee, describing volunteer coordination she performed during wildfire-related evacuations at the fairgrounds and work organizing animal intake and tracking on a large whiteboard. She said her experience included recruiting and directing volunteers during the Canyon Fires and helping set up intake procedures for animals and owners.
Rhonda Rich described training and community emergency work, including CERT training through the Keizer Fire District and FEMA Incident Command System online courses she had completed or planned to take. “I have the desire to be prepared for emergencies and to help others in their time of need,” she said, describing prior volunteer leadership and neighborhood outreach.
Committee members asked both applicants about relevant training and experience; Gus emphasized volunteer coordination and contacts, while Rich highlighted emergency training, caregiving experience and leadership of a neighborhood association. After questioning, committee members closed nominations and reached agreement to forward Rich to the City Council for final appointment.
The committee chair thanked both applicants and noted that committee seats are open to the public, encouraging continued volunteer engagement.
Rhonda Rich will be placed on the next City Council agenda for formal appointment; the council makes the final appointment decision.
