Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
July 17, 2019 - Vol. 43, No. 15
July – Pat’ak-Pt’akni – Summer - Shatm
PO Box 489
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
State bill includes $7.8 million for water work
The Oregon legislature has ap-
proved $7.8 million in funding to
the Confederated Tribes for three
key water projects on the reserva-
tion. With Gov. Brown’s signature
the bill becomes law.
The $7.8 million is part of 2019
House Bill 5030, a so-called ‘Christ-
mas tree’ bill, allocating more than
$270 million for many projects
across the state.
The $7.8 million is apparently
much more than the tribes have
ever received in a state bill of this
kind.
The revenue comes from the
Oregon Lottery. The state plans
to issue the Lottery bonds for the
HB5030 projects in 2021. For this
reason the funding would be avail-
able sometime after the bond is-
suance.
Still, the appropriation to the
tribes could be used now as a
match to leverage other funding—
from federal agencies or other
sources—for the reservation wa-
ter system. And in occasional rare
cases—based on immediacy of
need, for instance—some of the
state funding could possibly be
made available before the actual
2021 bond issuance.
Oregon Sen. Cliff Bentz and
Rep. Daniel Bonham were advo-
cates for the tribes’ inclusion in
HB5030.
Sen. Bentz, R-District 30, and
Rep. Bonham, R-District 59, rep-
resent the reservation area in the
Oregon legislature.
They’ve been aware of the
tribal water situation for some
time, corresponding with tribal
Chief Operations Officer Alyssa
Macy. In a letter earlier this year
to Sen. Bentz and Rep. Bonham,
Ms. Macy summarized the situa-
tion:
“The Confederated Tribes has
been challenged for decades with
aging water and sewer systems
which are major barriers to eco-
nomic and community growth,
housing development, and job cre-
ation on the Warm Springs Reser-
vation.
“While there has been progress
to address major deficiencies at
the Warm Springs Water Treat-
ment Plant and the Wastewater
Treatment Plant, large capital in-
frastructure investments are
needed in order for the tribe to
have a strong utility foundation to
build upon.”
Ms. Macy listed five of the most
important projects—Downtown
public works, industrial park pub-
lic works, a wastewater treatment
plant update, the water meter
project, and the water distribution
project—with a total cost of $13
million.
HB5030 provides $7.8 million
for three of these projects:
The wastewater plant update
($1.3 million); the water meter
project ($2.5 million); and the wa-
ter distribution project ($4 million).
Clearing way for small business incubator center
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
T he tribes and Community Ac-
tion Team are getting ready for
the move of the old Commis-
sary building, from its current
location beside the police station
to the new site by Highway 26.
Through a series of grant
opportunities, the Community
Action Team has secured fund-
ing to move and then wholly re-
model the structure, creating the
Warm Springs Small Business In-
cubator center. There will be oc-
cupancy space for artists, a cafe,
and other local small businesses.
Another component of the in-
cubator is the adjacent food court;
and WSCAT is now recruiting for
a person to manage the future
court, and train potential new food
The Warm Springs Construction crew removed the trees from
the future home of the Small Business Incubator building.
court vendors.
The food cart trainer and man-
ager will be responsible for provid-
ing training to Warm Springs tribal
and community members in how
to operate a food cart.
The position is a contract posi-
tion, at 35 hours per week. Fund-
ing for the position is in place
through June 30, 2020.
This Community Action
Team project is made possible
by a grant from the East Cas-
cades Works Workforce Devel-
opment program. (Job descrip-
tion continues on page 8.)
The water distribution problem
in the Agency area has become the
most noticeable, especially since last
fall. And then in May a worst-case
scenario happened with the 14-inch
water-line break up Shitike Creek.
The break was the most critical,
though not the only major problem:
The old water pressure regulating
system serving the area is a related
element of the overall situation.
The Agency area water meter
project has been an idea for the last
few years, with a preliminary engi-
neering report complete in 2017.
Metering and a rate system can
be required in order to obtain fund-
ing for water improvements; and
metering would help resolve the
extensive water system leakage.
Conserve,
boil water
The Branch of Public Utilities
continues this week was continu-
ing work on repairs at the George
Street station.
As work continues, residents
can continue to expect low water
pressure, and potential water out-
ages. For this reason the tribes
stress the importance of water
conservation.
The boil water order for the
Agency Water System remains in
effect, and burn restrictions are in
place on the reservation.
The water distribution station
is open at the former elemen-
tary school library area Monday
through Friday from 7:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m.
In order to conserve, please re-
frain from watering lawns or wash-
ing cars, and take steps to ensure
that all outdoor faucets at your
residence are shut off.
The Warm Springs Agency
water system has been unstable,
as Utilities staff and the tribes
worked last week with engineers
to identify another failure in the
George Street station.
This resulted again in water
pressure reduction and water flows
from the Tewee Reservoir to the
South East reservoir.
In a related topic:
Consumer Confidence
Reports
Thousands of gallons of bottled
water fill classrooms (above
and below) and hallways at
the former elementary school.
The water for now looks
plentiful but could run out in
about a month.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
The Early Childhood Education Center remained closed to children this week. Due to low water
pressure and potential water outages, the center was unable to allow the children to return as
earlier planned. Staff returned this week, though. Some of the ECE teachers had been helping out
at the water distribution center, at Emergency Management. On hand last week helping distribute
bottled water were Johnson Bill, Paulette Henry, Angelina SiJohn, Alaina Jones and Chris Talifson
(back row from left); and Dot Thurby, Marella VanPelt and Tiana Northrup (at table from left).
The 2018 Water Quality Re-
ports for the Simnasho-Schoolie,
Sidwalter and Warm Springs Wa-
ter Systems are available.
These reports are available on
the the tribal website; and in this
edition of the Spilyay Tymoo (see
pages 10 and 11).