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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1982)
U.S. Postage Bulk Rate Penult No. 2 W arm Springs, O R I STORICAL S PARK AVE . OR 97205 ■ p ily a y T y m o « v _______________ :_______________ VOL 7 NO 15 AUGUST 6,1982 WARM SPRINGS, OREGON 97761 New Water Treatment plant in o Deration Open house is planned sometime in September for the new water treatment located at the mouth of Dry Creek. The new plant one of the finest water work? in the northwest is p r o d u c in g c r y s ta l c le a r drinking water to the entire Warm Springs area and the Kah-Nee-Ta resort. The public will be able to v ie w a 11 new m o d e r n equipment being used in the facility. One of the features the public will see is the three teepees at the bottom of the 12 foot deep finished water well. If you cannot see the three teepees clearly than the water is not suitable to drink. For years Warm Springs has been supplied with water from the Shitike Creek. This water system was originally installed to serve the Bureau of Indian Affairs buildings and personnel residence with-in the campus area. As time passed changes were constantly occuring, additional homes were built, ' later in years the mill was added j to the water supply list alone with other developments. The water system was just not sumcient to handle everything. There were oither obstacles to handle, one of the major problems was the 1964 flood which wiped out the entire water system for Warm Springs and Kah-Nee-Ta causing the residents to be without water for days. A lth o u g h stu d ie s w ere started years back by U.S.G.S. and other private firms, it w a sn ’t u n til 1977 w hen everything started rolling by the order of the clean water act set forth by congress. This was an act to provide for water pollution control activities in the Public Health Service of the Federal Security Agency ad in the Federal Works Agency, and for other purposes. The objective of this Act is to restore and m aintain the c h e m ic a l, p h y s ic a l, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. From the studies made the site at the mouth of Dry Creek was chosen as most suitable. The date for the open house has not been officially set, but when it is the public is urged to visit the plant. Tribal delegates testify in favor of tax bill by Donna Behrend W a rm S p r in g s t r i b a l representatives traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to testify before the Senate Finance Subcom m ittee on Taxation and Debt Manage ment on Senate Bill #1298. The bill would extend to federally recognized tribes the same tax benefits as cities and states presently enjoy. Warm Springs Secretary/ Treasurer RalpTi Minnick, who testified on behalf of Warm Springs, was part of a four-man panel consisting of Minnick, T ribal C ouncil C hairm an Weather July 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 31 Aug 1 2 3 HI 92 82 82 88 93 99 , 97 95 99 102 90 90 91 LOW 55 56 43 48 52 57 64 65 72 66 73 71 77 52 45 44 68 54 D e lb e r t F r a n k , N e ls o n Wallulatum and tribal attorney Dennis Karnopp that appeared b efo re th e su b c o m m itte e chaired by Oregon senator Bob Packwood. A second panel, consisting of representatives from NCAI, CERT, NARF and NTCA, also testified in favor of the bill. The bill also received endorsement from the Treasury Department and the Department ot the Interior. The bill, if signed by the President, will have a three fold effect. 1) It will allow exemptions for various items in the existing tax code, such as federal excise tax on gas and tires. For instance, the Tribes currently pay taxes on gas and tires purchased for its fleet. When the bill is passed, the Tribes will no longer be required to pay taxes on these items, just as the state ot Oregon does not pay taxes on such items. Also, charitable contribu tion would be deducted from federal taxes. According to a W ashington spokesperson, there are a half-dozen or more provisions in the tax law ch an g es th a t w ill a p p ly favorably to tribes. D u rin g his te stim o n y , Minnick suggested that tribal employees be eligible for a similar tax deferment benefit as state employees. S en ato r Packwood was very favorable to this idea and suggested it be included in the new law. The second effect applies to tribes that tax on-reservation businesses. Many tribes in the United States tax businesses on reservations and this second provisions clarifies the tax and its deductibility from federally taxes. It does not mean more income for tribes but helps ease the impact a tribal tax would have on businesses. The third facet of the new law w ould allow trib a l governments to issue tax- exempt bonds, such as cities and states presently do. Issuing bonds is just one way for cities and states to raise money and the advantage ot this is that the interest gained on such bonds is tax-exempt and offers a tax break for both the bond issuer and purchaser. P ackw ood, who is co sponsor of the bill with Senator Mark Hatfield, cautioned the two panels to be careful about use of industrial development bonds. These bonds can be used for economic develop ment but can put a drain on m oney co m in g in to the treasury. T e s tim o n y b e fo re th e subcommittee is just the first step, other than introduction, in passage ot a bill. T he bill goes from subcommittee to full-committee for “mark-up” where the bill is literally marked up with any changes necessary. The bill, alter this, goes to the Senate floor for approval and then to the H ouse. The H ouse goes through the same process and after House approval, the bill will be presented to the Ways and Means and the Select Revenue Measures commit tees. The House and Senate must pass identical measures before the bill goes to the President for approval. Thè entire process could take two months. Kah-Nee-Ta is bustling Even with the existing poor economic conditions, Kah- Nee-Ta Resort is bustling with business. Visitors from all over are visiting the resort, soaking up sun, relaxing and enjoying the quiet nature of Warm Springs. Resort Manager Garland Brunoe says that the average occupancy for June and July of th is y e a r is 8 2% , up considerably from last year. Brunoe attributes the higher occupancy to the special rates th a t are cu rrently being offered. If a guest stays a m inim um of tw o nights, lodging per night for two people is $39, children under 18 stay free. This rate applies only to weekdays, weekend rate return to the regular rate of $67 per night. K a h - N e e - T a ’s b u s in e s s , compared to other resorts in Oregon, is good, says Brunoe. All say occupancy is holding its own or up slightly. “However, p e o p le a re b e in g m o re conservative.” Kah-Nee-Ta is not offering rafting this year, but other amenities have been improved. The tennis courts have been resurfaced with earth-tone co lors, helping to blend the courts into the surrounding environ ment. “Golf is up,” said Brurtoe. He explained that each year there is an increase in course play. A special event scheduled for August 13 and 14 is an autograph party for Chuck Williams, author of the book “The Bridge of the Gods.”
