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Keizer honors public‑works retiree, proclaims Black History Month and hears community updates
Summary
At its Feb. 2 meeting, Keizer City Council presented a Black History Month proclamation and heard a personal history from Larry Porter; the council also honored Public Works Director Bill Lawyer for decades of service and received updates from the Chamber, Keizer Heritage Museum and neighborhood groups.
Keizer — The City Council opened its Feb. 2 meeting with ceremonial items: a Black History Month proclamation and public recognition of long‑time city staff and community groups.
Larry Porter, introduced by Councilor Duran and noted as a member of the CDEC committee, spoke about his family’s civil rights history in Selma, Alabama, the importance of recognizing Black Americans’ contributions beyond a single month and his view that Black history should be celebrated year‑round. Mayor Clark then read a proclamation declaring February 2026 Black History Month in Keizer.
The council recognized Interim Public Works Director Bill Lawyer for roughly 36–37 years of service. Neighborhood association leaders from West Keizer praised Lawyer’s role in park and street safety projects — including Keizer Rapids Park improvements, safe routes to schools work at Cummings Elementary, and traffic‑safety upgrades — and the city announced a reception for Lawyer on Feb. 4. Multiple councilors offered personal thanks and recollections of working with Lawyer.
Council also received brief updates: the Keizer Chamber of Commerce reported successful winter events, the creation of a Chamber Foundation to operate giving programs, and progress on Kaiserfest; Keizer Heritage Museum said its reimagining and modernization project continues into 2026 with an Oregon State Capitol event planned for Feb. 14 and a presentation on museum applications of artificial intelligence accepted at a statewide conference.
Representative quote: "Black history is more than just 30 to 31 days... it's a 12‑month, 24‑hour, 7‑day‑a‑week movement," said Larry Porter.
What’s next: The council scheduled a retirement reception for Bill Lawyer on Feb. 4 and encouraged public attendance at heritage and Chamber events.
