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Prineville names Casey Keiser assistant city manager; staff report highlights railroad growth and public works projects
Summary
City Manager Forrester announced Casey Keiser—9s promotion to assistant city manager while remaining public works director; staff also reported railroad business wins, upcoming water and road projects, public safety hiring and Meadow Lakes revenue above forecast.
City Manager Forrester told Prineville City Council that Casey Keiser has accepted the role of assistant city manager while continuing as public works director, part of a planned succession as Forrester moves toward retirement.
"I'm very pleased to announce that Casey Keiser has accepted our offer to become the assistant city manager and public works director," Forrester said, noting he expects to work through 2027 and will transition high‑level responsibilities to Keiser over the coming years.
Forrester used his report to highlight several operational updates. He invited Matt Wiederholt to describe recent railroad activity: the first carloads for a local barley‑to‑brewer partnership shipped last week, and Food Express has proposed setting up a small satellite transloading operation at the freight depot that would store several trucks and use a food‑grade transloader. Forrester said the railroad has operated profitably for four or five years and that the city plans to acquire a used locomotive, currently being painted and expected around September, to ease pressure on the existing engine.
Staff also reported public safety recruiting progress — lateral officers in background checks and an academy graduate nearing field training — and multiple infrastructure projects moving to bid or construction, including the Combs Flat Road and OID Canal piping preconstruction kickoff and an annual water line replacement design sent to bid. Forrester said Meadow Lakes is about $227,148 over forecast for the fiscal year, which he described as positive revenue performance.
Why it matters: the promotion signals an internal succession plan for city management and keeps experienced public‑works leadership aligned with long‑term projects (water, roads, airport and railroad operations) that affect service delivery and local economic development.
The council had no public comment during this portion of the agenda and no formal action was required for the personnel announcement.
