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Commission. L illie stated that according to the last minutes that this is exactly what was said. M argo stated
that she has worked for Costco and she knows their wholesale market as far as marketing a perishable
product and she feels that we can’t make this move because o f the commitment we made w ith a broker by
the way o f a gentleman’s agreement, not w ith Averi & Brann, but w ith Bruce, which is tied in w ith them.
M argo stated even though we don’t want to deal w ith them she feels we need to keep them under harness,
but doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go to Costco with them. M argo stated that we are not making an agreement
w ith them on paper o r otherwise until we make an agreement with Costco and at that tim e then it should
be hashed out. Margo stated that she disagrees w ith Curt when he said that we can get in the door w ithout
them. M argo stated that from a consultant’s point o f view that this is the best option C urt could come up
w ith, but this does not mean it has to stay like this. Curt stated that this can go another way, once we hire
a manager. C urt stated that it has never been an exclusive agreement w ith Averi & Brann. C urt stated
that they have never got involved in all the fish sales. C urt stated that they have lined up some sales
guidelines. Curt stated that for the tim e being, they have arranged these sales contacts, which we need
desperately. L illie asked who authorized Curt to go ahead w ith this. John stated he thinks that these
meetings were set up before it came to the Commission. T im stated he believes that it goes back to the
com m itting o f 60 ,00 0 # pounds o f inventoty, which was based on the premise that we could go to Costco
ourselves. T im stated that w e committed to inventory based on not using Averi & Brann and that we would
go to Costco ourselves and now it is being said that we can’t. M argo stated that she does not know that
we can’t because we have not been there to find out. John stated that a ll these meetings was.set up before
the Commission became involved. Bud asked if Averi & Brann was involved w ith the rest o f the meeting
also. C urt stated that they are. L illie stated that we should break our ties before we get in any deeper w ith
these people. L illie stated that what these consultants presented to us was that they wanted us to go
overboard immediately and that we do not even have the capacity to even think about doing something like
this, but feels that i f we can get up to breaking even, then we can start to expand. L illie stated that we need
a M anager to make this thing go. Bud stated that he feels it is im portant that to find out i f there is a
T rib a l member who can do this, this is what we need, and is disappointed that it was not in the T rib a l
newsletter because this person may be among us. John stated that we also need to look at o u r cost o f labor.
Kevin Strickler stated he would like to make a proposition. Kevin proposed to have T rib a l Council pull
money out o f the Stock M ark e t and bring this money back over to S T E D C O to finance these sales and loan
it to S T E D C O arid then have S T E D C O pay this back with interest. M anuel stated that he doubts very
much i f they would do this. Bud stated that we would have to prove ourselves to the T rib e first. Bud stated
that his opinion is we have been spending too much money on consultants and feels we have to treat our
businesses as a small business and be sure that each business is accountable for itself. John stated that he
feel that these businesses has the potential to make a profit. Curt stated that he believes that what A veri
& Brann told us was true, that we have to get big if your going to profitable and because o f o ur costs we
have to be able to bring these costs down and the way you bring costs down is spread it over production.
T im staled that the Commission decided that this is not true. T im asked what the im plication is if we go
to Costco and attem pt to get the sale ourselves and cancel the meeting w ith A veri & Brann and we
reschedule for S T E D C O & Costco. C u rt stated that this would take 3 weeks to reschedule. Jack staled that
we need to try to set up a meeting w ith Costco on our own to see if they w ill see us and at this point in
tim e then we w ill find out if we need a broker. Bud stated that we need to start cutting costs. C u rt stated
that the training period is done and these people were finished on Friday the 7th. Bud asked if the people
are aware o f th is / C urt stated that they are. Bud stated that this w ill help considerably. Bud asked C urt
about Steve and the T rainin g M anual. C urt stated that Steve has this done and that his contract is over
at the end o f September. T im asked Curt i f two weeks prior to the end o f Steve’s contract could they
receive the manual. C u rt stated yes. Curt asked i f the Commission just wants to do away w ith A veri <&
Brann. T h e Commission stated that yes, right away, w ith the exception o f the IG A order. Bud asked if we
need another motion on this. C u rt stated that no, he would phone them as soon as this meeting is over.
Bud stated that he believes this enterprise can work w ith the right management. John stated that we need
to g e r O a n d le On'the production costs. T im asked what the expected shipment fo r the m onth o f September
is; C u rf stated that it is less than 2 ,0 0 0 # , 1,000# if the IG A o rder goes through and 5 0 0 # to o th er sales.
Bud asked M argo i f she knew the General Manager o f Costco. M argo stated that she knows the President
on down on a first name basis. M argo stated she tried to contact them last week as a previous employee.
M argo stated that she has not tried to push anything because she feels that there is not a com plete package
to give to them. Bud stated that a brief statement about our enterprise, on o u r letterhead, w ith samples
should be presented to Costco. M argo stated that this already has been done. M anuel stated that he can’t
see a salesman/manager being able to work as one person. C u rt stated that A veri & Brann is over. T h e
Commission stated that yes they are, except the IG A order. Curt stated that now we are to set up o ur own
meeting w ith Costco. T h e Commission stated that yes we are. C urt asked about the com m itm ent to the
fish purchase o f 6 0 ,00 0 # . T im asked if there is a written document on IG A . C urt stated that there is not.
M O T IO N # 6 - T im Viles moved to rescind the motion on purchasing 60 ,00 0 # o f chum and authorize the
purchase o f 30 ,00 0 # o f Chinook. Seconded by Jack Retasket. M o tio n approved 5 - yes, 0 - no, 0 - abstain.
Bud stated that he has received a letter Bom a T ribal member w ith some concerns .
needs to develop a letter o f response fo r this.
Bud stated that he
.
Bud stated that C u rt is due for a job evaluation, that his 6 month probation period is up on the 13th o f
September. Bud stated he feels that since the other 2 Commissioners are not present that he recommends
that we extend the probationary period for another month until the next S T E D C O meeting. John asked
i f this would be a closed evaluation. Bud stated that yes it would.
Jack stated that maybe w ith the advertisement that goes out there should also be a letter from the
Commission letting T rib a l members know the process o f how to let the Commission know about these
concerns (in a w ritten request 10 days p rior to a Commission meeting) and to advertise this in the T rib a l
Newsletter and send this to a ll T rib a l Offices. Bud asked if C urt could develop this. C urt stated that he
could.
Discussion on the Charter:
Commission member vacancies: Bud stated that it is stated that these are to be filled in 6 0 days and feels
we need to do this. Kevin Strickler stated that this is his concern. Bud asked C urt i f this was re-advertised
as stated at the last meeting. C urt stated that it has always been advertised, but the problem is that we are
not getting anyone that wants to be on it. Kevin stated that he wants to be on it and his application has
been in already. C urt stated that Kevin was one o f the two that is felt there is a conflict o f interest, but
Kevin feels that he does not have a conflict. Bud stated that C u rt said he had talked to Kevin about this.
C u rt stated that Kevin wants to describe his feelings. Bud suggested that maybe Kevin could present himself
later in the meeting.
M O T IO N # 7 - T im V iles moved that w ithin the next three months that we set aside a planning retreat
w ith the S T E D C O Commission to develop a F Y 91 budget for S T E D C O and operational policies w ill be
included w ith this. Seconded by L illie Butler. Discussion: M anuel asked i f this would be a 5 quarter then.
Bud stated that it w ill have to be. M otion approved 5 - yes, 0 - no, 0 - abstain.
Purposes and Objectives: John stated that he feels we are not doing the part o f listed as # 5 (T o stimulate
T rib a l members’ opportunities for private economic activities). L illie stated that some o f this is covered
from the E D A grant. L illie stated that we are supposed to be given them individual enterprise expertise
in on this. Byd stated that the Economic Development workshop we had was excellent. John stated that
Curt also had a business one here. Curt stated that he had a starting your own business seminar in July.
Bud asked if it was successful. Curt stated that eleven people attended which all but two were tribal
members. Bud stated that he would hope to have it so that when a tribal member came in w ith a good idea
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December 1990 -
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that we could help that tribal member walk through the process, w ith the feasibility and the marketing
studies and the business plan studies. T im asked if the Charter was a'T rib at Council document. John stated
that yes it is, that it was the one they developed to start S T E D C O . T im stated that with A rticle I I I , he
would like to ask the question o f what is expected o f S T E D C O . Bud stated he feels we need the meeting
w ith T rib a l Council. T im stated that he feels this is a sound document. L illie stated that it was the T rib e ’s
intention when this was set up, was to hâve tribal owned businesses and to still help these individuals.
Bud stated that he feels we need to do both. C urt stated that this can happen through Wes Patterson from
the College through the small business association. Curt stated that Wes Patterson already does this, that
he is already working w ith G rande Ronde Tribe and he would like to be working w ith us, also. C urt stated
that they would like to have more involvement w ith us. Bud would like to have Wes Patterson here at o ur
next Commission meeting to give a presentation.
G eneral Powers: T im stated that he feel this is vague.
A meeting w ith T rib a l Council needs to be set up. Bud staled that what needs to be done is that both the
Council and the Commission needs to w rite down what is to be discussed and then a t our next meeting we
can set up a tim e fo r the jo in t meeting.
T im stated that according to the charter we can, by amendment, increase o r decrease the num ber o f
Commissioners.
Managem ent Responsibilities: T im stated that he feels this needs to be discussed under operational policies.
L illie stated that she feels a lot o f this needs to be discussed after we receive the S T E D C O Review.
Joe L ane requested that the Commission would consider including in the policies some type o f statement
regarding the hiring o f contractors.
Joe stated he feels that T ribal member contractors be given 1st
preference w ithin the 10% lim itation and then the Indian non-tribal member should be considerate and then
offer to others. Joe Lane stated that the reason he is bringing this up is because o f the Fence Bid. Joe
stated that his com plaint is that the bid went to a non-Indian who did not base his bid on the same grounds
as his bid had to be based on. Joe stated that in the future he would hope that the contractors are qualified
w ith 1) that they are licensed 2 ) requiring them and advising them that they are to adhere strictly to the
law in protecting o ur people that work fo r them by providing a ll the coverage that the law requires.
Bud stated that w e do have four applicants for the Commission and requests a resume’ on these and then
at o ur next meeting we w ill appoint these tribal vacancies.
Kevin Strickler made a presentation on what he feels qualifies him to be on the Commission.
Bud requested the Commission terms for the next meeting.
Conflict o f Interest: This has been looked at by the T ribal Attorney.
Bud stated that we need to set a date for the next S T E D C O meeting. It was decided that the next meeting
w ill be on October 13th at 9:00 a.m.
M E E T IN G :
S T E D C O Commission M eeting
X T / 13’ 199“
PLACE:
STEDCO MINUTES
OCTOBER 13, 1990
S T E D C O Conference Room
S T E D C O C O M M IS S IO N E R S P R E S E N T .
Bud Shoemake, Chairm an
D an V a n O tten, Secretary
T im Viles
Jack Retasket
L illie Butler
John M ille r
S T E D C O C O M M IS S IO N E R A B S E N T .
Pat M o rre ll
O TH E R S PRESENT.
C u rt M ad er, T a m i M in e r, Peggy M edina, F rank Rilatos, G ene Russell, Jay Christensen, M argo N o rton ,
George Muschamp, Judy Muschamp, M o n te Kentta, Kevin Strickler, Leonard Flanaiy, Jeff W arner, Stan
N iem iec & David Petrie
Bud Shoemake called the meeting to order at 9:15. R o ll call was taken and a quorum was established w ith
6 members present and 1 mem ber absent.
M O T I O N # 1 - John M ille r moved to approve the minutes o f 9/8/90.
approved 6 - yes, 0 - no, 0 - abstain.
Seconded by T im Viles.
M o tio n
M A N A G E R S REPO RTS:
Peggy M edina, Fiscal M anager presented the Commission w ith a proposed administration budget to take &
review and included the rental income statement w ith this. T im stated that this budget should include all
enterprises. Peggy stated that the Managers o f each enterprise would present their own budgets. T im stated
that they should still be included in one together. Peggy presented a list o f S T E D C O purchases fo r the
period o f M arch 1990 through September 1990: Jantzi property (Bud stated that this purchase is credited
to the T rib e fo r what we ow e), Dundas property & a vehicle. Peggy presented figures that w ere reinvested
monies back into S T E D C O Enterprises in the period o f M arch 1990 through September 1990. T im asked
when a consolidated report would be available. Peggy stated that she could have this in the next week.
L illie asked if we were changing to a Calendar Y ear. Peggy suggested that we leave the Fiscal Y e a r as it
is because it would be costly to change it to a calendar year. T im asked why it would be so costly to change.
Peggy stated that it is the programming in the computer. D an asked why we would be changing the fiscal
year. T im stated that because o f the lack o f preparation there is no operating budget ready for F Y 91. D an
stated that the issue o f the no operating budget should be addressed as a free standing issue and does not
feel that it is not a good idea to start changing systems to deal w ith a disfiinctioning issue. D a n feels that
it would be confusing i f you w ere to have a program fiscal year that overlaps w ith a federal fiscal year.
L illie asked if the E D A <& A N A are staying at a fiscal year o r calendar year. C urt stated that they are fiscal
year. Bud asked who the consultant was for the Solomon System. Peggy stated that it is Ron M cC allister
a C P A Consultant out o f Portland. Bud asked i f he was any good. Peggy stated that he is. Peggy stated
that he also works w ith the Solomon people as an advisor. Bud asked Peggy if she feels we should stay w ith
what we have. Peggy stated yes. T im asked what we are operating on now. Peggy stated that at this tim e
there is no budget in place. T im stated that we need to have an operating budget in place how.
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