By Don Murtha
After a lifetime of community service, Mount Angel’s former Mayor Rick Schiedler is ready to sit back and enjoy playing with his four grandchildren, working in his woodshop and being outdoors.
“I’ve always been involved since I was a kid and picked corn for my parents for the Oktoberfest booth,” Schiedler said. “It was my parents’ philosophy to help out in the community whenever you can.”
For more than 24 years Schiedler has been a volunteer in Mount Angel, including serving on the budget committee, the planning commission and the city council. For his dedication to the city, the community awards committee of the Mount Angel Chamber of Commerce selected Schiedler as the Mayor Margaret Hoffer Community Service Award recipient for 2012.
Schiedler attended Mount Angel schools from elementary to high school, where he played football, basketball and baseball.
After high school, he attended Central Oregon Community College in Bend. For the next six years he worked for a logging company in Sweet Home.
“Being involved was a way to get to know people,” he said. “I made a lot of friends in Sweet Home.”
He then went to work for PGE as a meter reader. He has been with the company 30 years and is now an estimator.
In addition to grandchildren, Schiedler and his wife, Cindy, have three daughters: Sara, Jessica and Allison.
Since moving back to Mount Angel he served on the planning commission for nine years then on the city council for two years. He was mayor for four years, deciding not to seek another term in 2012.
Among the achievements he has seen in the city, he listed street paving on Elm and Taylor streets, sidewalks going along several streets and improvements to parks, including Saalfeld Family Park and Ebner Park.
“We also hired a new city administrator, Susan Muir,” he said. “We have been blessed to have her here. Things really ran smoothly and things got done.”
He decided not to run because “things have gotten to where my plate is too full.” Between his job at PGE, mayoral responsibilities, his family and other interests, he said he felt over scheduled.
“It is actually trying at times to leave my job in Salem and come here for meetings and do what it takes to be mayor,” he said “I want to be with my four grandchildren, my wife and (do) other things I enjoy.”
But he said community involvement will continue to be among his activities. “It feels good to help out in the community any way you can,” he said.
Mount Angel City Administrator Susan Muir said Schiedler worked hard to the benefit the community.
“Rick always offered sound advice, thoughtful guidance and a helpful community perspective,” Muir said, “He was a hands-on mayor and a creative problem solver.”
Twyla Blatchford, a friend and neighbor, said the former mayor is a hard worker who gives “150 percent.”
“I’m sure his children and grandchildren will say he is a great dad,” she said. “He is a great neighbor and is always very helpful. I can’t say enough good about him.”
