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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1995)
yXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX>CTXXXXXX>OtXXXJ<XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Gaming Report by: Jessie Davis, Ad Hoc Gaming Chairman Official Kick-off: Chinook Winds Gaming and Convention Center An official ceremony was held on the site of the Chinook Winds Gaming and Convention Center in Lincoln City on Friday, September 22, 1995. The event was sponsored by Comstock, the managment company for our permanent facility and PLC, our construction company. Wearing hard hats, representatives of the Tribal Council, the Gaming Commission, and Comstock, each took turns digging a shovel of dirt to symbolically launch the construction. Completion of Architectural Design Except for certain design issues involving the kitchen and a few other parts of the facility, all major construction issues have been resolved. The Tribal Council approved both the exterior and interior structural design of the facility. The steel fabrication has been ordered and site preparation and foundation work expected to be completed before winter sets in. Final Environment Assessment Our final meeting with Jim Kurtz of Tierra Environmental Services was held on Tuesday, September 19th. All issues identified in Tierra's Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) were commented on by Tribal Council members and Consultants. Transportation (traffic) issues required many meetings with Tom Schwab of Kitfleson Associates. The final report was received on September, 27th and will be sent by certified mail to the National Indian Gaming Commission by October 1st. With the submission of the EA, all required documents for NIGC review and approval of the Managment Agreement will have been submitted. Our plan is to send tribal representatives to meet personally with the NIGC staff to discuss the EA and status of our Managment Agreement. Costs to be assessed the Tribe for improvements to the.traffiic system will be negotiated as a separate issue with the Oregon Department of TransDortation. Amendment to the Tribal/State Com pact A problem has been created by the State of Oregon over the Blackjack issue. We have been told that state approval of Class III Blackjack is dependant on the Tribe's paying for state enforcement services. It is not a question whether it is legal or not legal for the Tribe to conduct Class III Blackjack. The State has already determined that it's legal. The Tribe considers the legality of Class III Blackjack and payment for enforcement services to be completely separate issues. Enabling the Tribe to * conduct Class III Blackjack should not be contingent on the payment of fees. Furthermore, we believe the amount the State claims tribes must pay into the fund is unreasonable - has no rational basis. We anticipate some tough negotiations ahead to resolve these issues. National Gaming Issues The anti-Indian gaming campaign at the national level continues unabated. Senator Slade Gorton of Washington, long time foe of tribal sovereignty, who fought against Indian fishing rights, has been leading the fight to tax Indian gaming. The bill, if adopted, is not only financially devastating to tribes, it is an invasion of tribal sovereignty. The bill passed the House and is now before the Senate. NCAI and NIGA are actively campaigning against this and other bills detrimental to Indian tribes. We have joined this fight. A Star Is Born I I hope by now everyone has seen the ads of Chinook Winds shown on all major T.V. networks. These prime time T.V. "spots" will be shown numerous times from now through December. Many thanks to the following Siletz tribal members for their participation. We're all proud of your fine performances! Buzz Berry, Selene Lynch Rilatos, Louis Keene, Todd Butler, Fish Martinez. Chinook Winds Bulletin Tribal members: Look for the next issue of the bulletin; a lot of good information about job openings, training, shuttle service between Siletz and Chinook Winds, etc. etc. General Council Minutes August 5, 1995 Transcribed and Submitted by Margo Norton, Council Secretary TRIBAL COUNCIL PRESENT: Delores Pigsley, Chairman Jessie Davis, Vice-Chairman JoAnn Miller, Secretary/Treasurer Bensell Breon Lillie Butler Mike Darcy Mary “Dolly” Fisher Reggie Butler Rosemary Landis TRIBAL COUNCIL ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT: Connie Plagmann, Executive Secretary Margo Norton, Council Secretary (See attached List) Chairman, Delores Pigsley called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Invocation by Wilma Strong. Roll Call was taken with 9 present and 0 absent. MOTION #1 - Phil Rilatos moved to approve the Agenda with and addition of introduction of the Siletz Royalty. Seconded by Dolly Fisher. Motion Carried. Ed Ben said that there was an omission in the May minutes. He was quoted in them on Hunting and Fishing rights. His comments were in regards to a previous response from a gentleman. The gentleman’s question was not indicated in the minutes. Reggie Butler stated he was misquoted. His correction should read; As long as everything is going the Tribal Attorney’s way it is a good court system, but as soon as things went against him, the court system was no good. 9CT99U1995 MOTION # 2 - Ed Ben moved to approve the May 1995 General Council Minutes with corrections. Seconded by Shirley Walker. Motion Carried. Jessie Davis introduced die Siletz Tribal Royalty candidates, Litde Miss Siletz Margaret Norton and Junior Miss Siletz Darcy Jones. Margaret said, “Good afternoon, my name is Margaret Norton. I am running for little Miss Siletz, I hope you can make it to the Pow Wow next week and I hope you have a good day”. Darcy said, “Good afternoon, my name is Darcy Jones. I am running for Junior Miss Siletz 95/96, I hope you can make it to the Pow Wow, Have a nice day. ” Mike Darcy introduced the employees that were nominated for awards for the 2nd Quarter. Brenda Bremner, Bristo Bayya and Patrick Downey were nominated for Superior Accomplishment. These employees donated about 30 hours of free labor to build a deck and handicap ramp for a disabled tribal member. Outstanding service award went to Dan Rilatos, Sammy Bayya, Bristo and Lenny Simmons for their outstanding work in Salem on die Salem Head Start Center. Outstanding service award went to Sonya Moody for going out of her way to understand each of the Salem programs to better serve tribal members, she has done this on her own. Outstanding service award went to Rose Erwin for her help with the elders when they went to Reno. She was awarded for her coordination with the elders and trips. Outstanding service award went to Rose Bremner who was exceptionally helpful with shortage of staff and filling in a multitude of positions. Outstanding service award went to Tammy Hickel for her efforts towards the JTPA demonstration automated data reporting project. Siletz was die only pilot entity to submit a 3rd quarter report on this that was completely free of errors and exceptions. Tammy did such a good job that she was invited back to the National JTPA Conference to share her expertise with other tribal grantees. Superior Accomplishment award went to Cheryl Lane for her strong leadership role as a new supervisor and has brought strength to the tribes internal audit controls. Cheryl takes on any and all tasks that is assigned to her. Outstanding service award went to Elizabeth James because of extra duties for the Springfield Area Office during open house and cooking and shopping for this event. Employee of the quarter went to Tina Retasket for second quarter. Tina has been working at the Clinic as the acting Administrative Officer for about two months. In die time she has been there she had done an outstanding job in communicating with the employees and administration. Many positions at that time were vacant and were being filled with new employees. Tina has done a great job during this transition time. Dee thanked all employees for doing a good job. TRIBAL MEMBERS CONCERNS Gladys Bolton said that she wanted to talk about our tribal attorney. In the minutes that were just sent out, he talks about a court case she had. It is not confidential now because it was published in the minutes. He stated , in tribal court there is an outstanding contempt order on Nelsen Witt, Kristi Martin-Bayya and Arliss Chatterson regarding the Green case. There was a $500 fine against each of them. He stated that the bases of the Green case, that the petition that was filed on December did not exist. He said that he (Continued on page 12)
