April 15, 1997
SMOKE SIGNALS
4
voOlb&o ies
Open meeting
There will be an open meeting to discuss concerns
expressed at the April General Council meeting about
Grand Meadows Manufactured Home Park. The
meeting will be held on Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at
the Tribal Community Center.
Grand Meadows
Lots are still available in the Grand Meadows
manufactured home subdivision in Grand Rondc.
Tribal members who are interested in homcownership
in this development are invited to call Bryan Lan-,
gley at the Tribal Housing Authority to obtain infor
mation andor applications. Financing is available to
qualified applicants through Fundcrs Mortgage. Cop
ies of the Rules and Regulations are also available
from the Authority. Call toll free at 1-800-422-0232,
or 503-879-2467.
Results of Elder
housing survey
The Tribal Housing Authority surveyed all Elder
households in January to determine the amount of in
terest in various types of housing to be developed in
Grand Ronde. As reported earlier, the response rate
was excellent at 51!
Of the total respondents to the survey, 72 are inter
ested in moving to Grand Ronde, 21 are undecided at
this time, and 57 are not interested. Thirty-six re
spondents currently own their own home, and 27 rent.
Thirty-eight would consider purchasing, 25 would
consider renting a single family home, and 25 would
consider renting an apartment or duplex. Some of
the more desired amenities in housing included: front
porches, covered parking, large kitchen and living
areas, and garden space.
One of the main reasons for the survey was to de
termine the need for an Assisted Living Facility in
this area for tribal Elders. An Assisted Living Facil
ity is a building which would provide private living
areas for each resident, along with common areas for
dining, socializing, and recreation. Someone would
be on duty at all times to assist residents with medi
cations, meals, mobility, personal grooming, etc. Sur
prisingly, the interest in this type of facility was lower
than anticipated. There were only about 10 tribal
members immediately interested, and approximately
17 said they would consider it in the future if they
required the level of care to be eligible. Because of
the high cost of building and operating such a facil
ity, there would need to be a higher level of interest
to make it financially feasible at this time.
As the Authority begins to plan and design hous
ing for the Elders, public meetings will be held to
obtain input from them. Many respondents indicated
that they would like to have their suggestions consid
ered in the design in housing.
Tf Election
VJ terms defined
Here are some key terms about the Tribal
Council election process that you need to
know for the May General meeting.
Every year the Election Board is inundated with ques
tions from tribal members who for one reason or another
do not have the voting information they need to participate
in the Tribal Council election. Here are a few terms that
may help.
COUNCIL ELECTION: The election of three Grand
Ronde Tribal Council members held in September of each
year.
TRIBAL COUNCIL: The Grand Ronde Tribal Coun
cil is a nine member governing body, established by Ar
ticle III of the constitution, which provides that no member
of the Tribal Council shall be an Election Board member.
CONSTITUTION: The Constitution of the Confeder
ated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
POLLING PLACE: The designated location where in
person voting takes place on election day. The Election
Board determined the polling place shall be the Tribal Com
munity Center.
ELECTION NOTICE: The official notice that the elec
tion of Tribal Council members will be held on a specific
date established by the Election Board.
POLL OFFICIAL: An Election Board member or any
additional appointee to the Election Board serving at the
polls on election day.
QUALIFIED VOTER: Any member of the Grand
Ronde Tribe who will be at least eighteen (18) years old on
election day and who is duly registered.
DULY REGISTERED: To be duly registered, a person
must meet the following qualifications:
1. Be at least eighteen (18) years old on election day.
2. Complete the necessary form to effect registration as
required by Section (C) of the Election Ordinance.
REGISTERED VOTER: One who is qualified to vote
by meeting all the requirements listed above under "duly
registered."
ABSENTEE BALLOT: Ballot sent to qualified voters
by mail. Voters are given an opportunity to vote and regis
ter to vote by mail, or discard the absentee ballot, and vote
in person at the polling place on election day.
SIGNATURE CARD: Each tribal member who decides
to vote in a tribal election must have a signature card on file
with the Election Board andor Enrollment office. The voter
registration card is provided with registration materials, and
shall include the members' signature and enrollment num
ber, and be verified by the seal of a notary public. It is the
responsibility of the voter to ensure he or she is registered
and that they have a signature card on file in the Enroll
ment office.
CANDIDATE: Any enrolled tribal member who will
be eighteen (18) years old or older on the date of the elec
tion is qualified to be a candidate. The General Council
shall accept nominations at its regular meeting in May of
each year. Only eligible voters may nominate a candidate
from the floor at the May meeting. The nominee must be
present at the meeting to accept or decline the nomination.
NOMINATIONS: Tribal Council nominations will
be held on Sunday, May 4 at the Community Center.
Please remember, all nominating persons as well as the
nominees must be at least 18 years old and an enrolled
member of the Tribe. All nominees must be present at
the meeting to verbally accept or decline the nomination.
Questions at meeting
Continued from page h -
ily services. Linda Olson reminded members that there is a
new division within the Tribe the Community Resources
Division which is managed by Jon Spence. It includes
the Family Action Program, JOBS, and foster care services.
These departments were all a part of Health and Human
Services until a few months ago. Sheila Elliot, Linda Olson,
and Pam Warren spoke about general assistance, the JOBS
Program, and AFD eligibility. They want members to feel
free to seek assistance and inquire about the possibility of
transitional help from the Tribe. Sheila said that the JOBS
program is the only Native American program in the state
and it has helped a lot of people.
Michael Mason said that Council has approved the
changes to the Enrollment Ordinance, and that it became
effective on April 2. The major changes to the Ordinance
are amendments stating that all applicants must have a par
ent on the tribal roll, and if currently a member of another
tribe, the applicant must wait a period of one year after
relinquishing from that tribe before becoming a Grand
Ronde member. For a detailed application, please contact
the Enrollment office.
Recent Council actions
The Grand Ronde Tribal Council typically meets every
Wednesday evening, barring unforeseen circumstances that
prevent a quorum from being able to attend. Meetings be
gin at 5 p.m. and are held in the Tribal Council chambers.
Please note that on all resolutions, the Council Chairperson,
does not vote, except in the case of a tie. ;
MARCH 12, 1997
Cliff Adams was at the meeting to present two Executive
Summaries for timber sales on the reservation. The two pro
posed sales Sharkey's Bend and Itswoot, were adopted
by two separate resolutions: Resolution No. 018-97 and
Resolution No. 019-97 passed by a Council vote of 8-0.
David Harjo submitted a proposed budget for Council
consideration that would allow for the construction of a
dry storage shed to accommodate records from the Casino.
David said that office space for the retention of files and
records is limited. The shed would be 7,000 square feet, for
a total cost of $349,365. Mark Mercier moved, and Ed Pears
all seconded a motion to approve the request for a dry stor
age shed. The motion carried.
Tribal Attorney Michael presented a draft resolution for
Council consideration that would amend the Trust Funds
(Housing, Health, and Education) to clarify the Tribal
Council's authority to pledge or encumber the social funds.
Ed Pearsall moved, Mark Mercier seconded a motion to
adopt Resolution No. 020-97, approving the amendment as
presented. The motion carried by a vote of 8-0.
Joe Smith, Director of the Gaming Commission, noted
that the Commissions' budget had been submitted to Coun
cil. He briefly described the changes that have been rec
ommended, (10-15 increase) and asked for Council's ap
proval. Ed Pearsall moved, Bob Haller seconded a motion
to adopt Resolution No. 021-97, approving the Gaming
Commission budget as presented. The motion carried by a
vote of 8-0. ,,- M-
MARCH 26, 1997, , vy
Pam Warren, Chairperson of the Kwelth Talhkie Cultural
and Heritage Board, along with board member David
Brummitt, submitted the Board's quarterly report to Tribal
Council. Additionally, Pam requested Council approve the
Board's recommendation to amend the charter to appoint
two new members to the Board. They are tribal members
Shawn Hostler and Wesley West. Council approved by
consensus.