2
M M ST1999
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
From: Delores Pigsley
It hardly seems like a year has passed
since the Pow Wow but we will be celebrating
another year in just a few weeks. It's a time we
all come together and celebrate, have reunions
and wish each other well. This year we will sadly
miss many who have celebrated in the past.
Among those who we will miss is Pauline Ricks.
Pauline stood tall during the restoration of our
Tribe. She was one of our outspoken members.
She served the Tribe for many years on the
Tribal Council and continued to serve as a
representative whenshe was not on the Council.
When I was first elected we traveled and roomed
together, she always represented the tribe with
enthusiasm, determination, fierce loyally, dignity
and most of all, with dedication. She believed in
what she did, was a team player, and as a result
our Tribe accomplished restoration in 1977. She
continued her work with the Pow Wow and
encouraging young children to participate, she
was always the back bone of our Miss Siletz
Pageant. Pauline served for many years as our
Whipwoman until her health finally wouldn't let
STEDCO Report
From Phil Rilatos, Sr., Executive Director
First let me say, it's nice to be back
home again (for good). That 700 mile drive
every weekend will not be missed.
I started as the Executive Director of
STEDCO on June 19, 1995. I knew what I was
getting into, so there weren’t very many
surprises! You don't get much accomplished
complaining about the past, so I have put
STEDCO on a fast track to recovery and we'll
overcome whatever the past has left us.
We're working on about 12 projects
right now. Some very exciting ones.
We have been negotiating with ROSS-SIMMONS
HARDWOOD LUMBER COMPANY, a top notch
hardwood lumber production organization. I was
informed on Monday that their Board of
Directors have given the OK to a joint venture
with STEDCO to run the small log mill. They will
put up the additional money and equipment to
improve the production of the small mill and run
the mill. W e'll split the profits. Anyone that
knows the lumber business knows Ross-
Simmons. They are a fast precision lumber
production company and know how to make
money in the hardwood business.
In addition to that, we will construct
the dry kiln. Ross-Simmons will supervise that
construction and put up any additional funds to
constuct the kiln. They tell me it takes about 3
months from start date to completion. It will
probably take that much time to get the Natural
gas to the site. The dry kiln will increase the
lumber profits.
We are also going to construct a pallet
plant. The small mill will be producing pallet
stock so we'll have the material. Ross-Simmons
her. DI not forget the hard times, the sad times
and the good times we shared. This year we will
name the Pow Wow grounds in honor of Pauline
Ricks.
At our most recent Tribal Council
meeting I recommended that Mary Fisher fill the
Council seat that Phil Rilatos vacated in June
when he accepted the position of Executive
Director of STEDCO.
Phil was an asset to the Tribal Council
when elected in 1994. Even though he lived and
worked in Washington, he was an active Council
member, contributing his expertise in business
and management. Phil has a huge challenge
before him in managing a new and re-organized
STEDCO. We'll miss him on Council.
When I was elected to Tribal Council I
took an oath to uphold the Tribal constitution and
abide by all the rules and procedures of the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz. I don't take that
responsibility lightly. I was faced with making a
nomination to the Tribal Council of someone who
agrees that the pallet plant is a good idea.
We will keep the big mill to cut the big
alder when needed and have it ready to go for
the fir lumber market if it ever comes back and
reasonably priced mill logs become available.
Incidently, the joint venture wirh Ross-
Simmons is not giving Ross-Simmons 50% of
the mill. STEDCO will retain 100% ownership.
Ross-Simmons will run and manage the mill.
They have agreed to honor the Tribal
preference in hiring. They will have their own
core-crew consisting of a mill manager, log
buyer and a couple of other supervisors. They
will re-hire most of the current mill crew back
and will have to hire additional people since
they plan on running two shifts.
SMOKEHOUSE;
We have started into the
tourist
season, so the Smokehouse is doing OK in dally
sales. Dan Lundy has been working with
WALMART on a Christmas Package. If they
accept, that will put the Smokehouse back on
the map. We are planning on a inventory
reduction sale sometime in August with prices
slashed to the bone. We will try to get the date
set as quickly as we can and get it out to the
Area O ffice Newsletters. Normally, Tribal
Members and staff receive a 30% discount on
purchases at the Smokehouse. Because we are
marking the items down so low, the 30%
discount w ill not apply to the Inventory
reduction Sale.
NEW ENTERPRISES:
We have several large projects in
progress. Unfortunetely, I can't tell you about
them right now because we are negotiating with
the sellers now and they have asked that we
disclose the information now. I assure you, the
projects are "dynamite" and if they go through
you can bet I'll be shouting about them from the
could fill the vacant position. I have had to do
this many times over the past years. These
nominations are always highly controversial no
matter who is nominated. I considered all the
former candidates as well as those who dedicate
their time serving on committees. In thé p ast!
have nominated and Council has approved: Jane
John, Manuel Rilatos, Bud Lane, Pat Morrell,
Mike Darcy, Lori Johnson and Buck Downey to
name a few. Many have run for office at different
times and many have successfully been elected.
I selected Mary Fisher as my choice to
fill the vacant position for many reasons. She has
served many years on the Council and has gained
a great deal of experience in Governmental
Affairs. She has been elected many times, has
always been willing to serve on committees and
willing to travel when necessary. I had to take
into consideration all of the above when putting a
name forward to the Council. The Tribal Council
can then accept or not accept by majority vote. I
know Mary will serve the Council and
membership well.
roof tops!!! I can tell you we just purchased the
land for the one project so that project Is not a
question of "if", it's "when".
We are in the process of developing a
fish waste compost business also at the mill
site. If you have read the local paper about the
problem s w ith fish and shrim p compost
problems in the area, we can solve that problem
for the county with a professional compost
business partner. We will joint venture with
Thorp's Valley Farms, Inc. out of Eugene.
Thorp's Valley Farms has a n . established
compost business established in Eugene with a
very good reputation.
Some of the other projects we are
working on are the Fun Center for Chinook
Winds Gaming Center, a security business, mini
storage, and we are looking at a service station
with a convenience store, smoke shop, etc.. We
are also considering reviving the mini-mall
project that was scrapped a few years back.
Jay is about to complete the Long
Prairie timber sale. That should be sold in
August.
We're playing a waiting game on the
Salem site. When the court makes whatever
decision they make, that will dictate our next
move. There is a study and plan developed for-
ari RV park there. There is also speculation on a
possible BINGO site there. So, the Salem site is
kind of up in the air yet.
STEDCO doesn't have much of a staff in
terms of numbers. We've only got a few, but
they hit the ground running and all are doing an
excellent job getting things in shape and on the
move. I really appreciate these guys.
So, as you can see, we've got things
moving around here. I hope that what I see
happening with STEDCO, you will also see and
hear of it happening.