U.S. Postage
Bulk Rate Penult No. 2
W arm Springs, O R
I STORICAL S
PARK AVE
. OR 97205
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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.”