Letter from Mayor Scott Keyser - End of the Year 2025

2025 was a long year with both a regular session and a special session. A lot of the work that goes into tracking what’s happening at the state level and pushing back against bad policy happens behind the scenes. Most people never see it… and that’s probably a blessing for their blood pressure. I spent a good chunk of 2025 fighting the bad. We didn’t come away untouched—there were a few scratches—but we’re still standing, and no one needed stitches.
One of the biggest battles was the attempted gas tax increase. Thanks to over 5,000 volunteers statewide—and about 25 right here in Molalla—we managed to stop it and send it to the ballot. That means voters get the final say in 2026, which is exactly how it should work. Democracy may be messy, but it beats the alternative.

Here at home, we had some real wins. The city started and finished its newest addition to our park system, Chief Yelkus Park. Seeing that project go from an idea to reality—without disappearing into a black hole of “government timelines”—was a great thing to watch. It’s a fantastic new park, and yes, I’ve already walked it more than once.

We also saw the majority of construction completed on the new Molalla Police Station. Keeping our promise to voters by delivering this project on time and on budget is a big deal—especially in a world where projects usually come with excuses instead. The grand opening is planned for the end of January, and I promise there will be fewer hard hats and more smiles.

Looking ahead, the city has several important projects moving forward. Our drinking water facility is in the design phase for a new water silo, improvements to the intake system, and possibly a second intake—because clean, reliable water is something we all agree is worth getting right. We’ve also sent our library project to design. The plan is to remodel and add onto the Molalla Civic Center, placing the library on city-owned property instead of juggling short-term leases. Long-term thinking… imagine that.

As for next year, no major changes for me. I’ll still be fighting for the citizens of Molalla to make sure big government doesn’t stomp on your rights and freedoms. I am, however, hoping for a slightly calmer 2026—something like “medium chaos” instead of “full chaos.”

There are some bigger things potentially starting to take shape toward the last quarter of 2027, but I’ll keep those under wraps for now. Stay tuned—I promise it’s not a cliffhanger ending.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year.

And as always—Go Ducks! 🦆