4
January 20, 1998
SMOKE SIGNALS
General Council meeting Questions raised at meeting answered
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 1998
Natural Resources Division gave its program report at
the last General Council meeting, held on January 11.
Each department within the division updated Tribal Coun
cil and the membership on the different areas the Divi
sion manages.
Jeff Kuust spoke about the tribal timber harvest and
other accomplishments for 1997.
"For the calendar year of 1997, we harvested 3.7 mil
lion board feet of timber from the reservation. Our an
nual allowable cut is 5.7 million board feet," said Kuust.
"Although we did not meet our goal this year, we still
managed to bring in $2.5 million dollars is revenue. The
main reason why we did not reach our goal is that one
of last year's sales will not be completely cut until this
year."
Jeff Nepstad, Silviculture and Protection Specialist
spoke about the forest work accomplishments in his de
partment which included: pruning 23 acres; slash burn
ing 85 acres; precommercial thinning of 101 acres; fire
trailing of 19,000 feet or 117 acres; slashing 117 acres;
netting 58 acres; budcapping 1 1 0 acres; and planing 1 1 0
acres. Mike Wilson, Lands Coordinator, discussed land
acquisition activities from 1997, and intended activities
for this year.
"This year we initiated discussions with the Forest
Service and the BLM concerning the possibility of en
tering into a stewardship agreement with the Tribe. One
goal for 1998 is to complete this agreement. Also, our
plans are to aggressively pursue the lands in our Forest
Acquisition Plan," said Wilson.
Kelly Doerksen, Fish and Wildlife Coordinator, said
that his department continues to conduct surveys re
garding all the wildlife and protected species on the res
ervation, including deer, elk, and the spotted owl. Kelly
is responsible for supervising the summer youth crew
and working with Kathleen Feehan on environmental
quality issues.
"Through use of new equipment, we can monitor the
temperature of every stream on the reservation," he said.
Marce Norwest, the reservation patrol officer, said
that he continues to enjoy his job patrolling the roads of
the reservation. He clears the roads of tree blow-downs,
monitors hunters, forest fires, and woodcutters, helps
and assists tourists who are visiting the reservation, and
replaces signs and mile markers.
Finally, Cliff Adams, Division Manager, wrapped-up
the report by saying, "We have a very fine staff and
1997 was an interesting year for us. We finished the
year by moving into our new facility on Hebo Road. I
know we would all like to thank the membership, Tribal
Council, and the committee members for helping to com
plete such a beautiful facility for our Division."
Door Prize winners were as follows: Camille Mercier
won $75; Suzie Mooney won $75; and Ken Gregg won
$100, which he donated to the Elders' Committee.
1998 budget approved;
increase in Elders' pension
Tribal Council has approved the operating budget for
1998, which was previously published in Smoke Signals
for tribal member review and comment. The budget
includes an increase in the Elders' Pension Fund, which
will move from $300 to $400 per month for every tribal
member age 55 and older.
During the November 9 General Council meeting, tribal members presented Council with a series of questions
regarding specific tribal issues. Because the Tribe recognizes the importance of these issues, these questions and
their answers are being printed in Smoke Signals so all members can receive this important information.
Tribal Council wishes to remind all members that General Council meetings are held for the purpose of helping
members become more aware of the current issues that affect them, and encourages members to call or write
ahead of time with their questions, or attend a subcommittee meeting to present a particular question or concern.
Remember, according the Grand Ronde Tribal Constitution, tribal members should act as advisors to Tribal Coun
cil, and help them to understand particular issues that affect us all. Article II, Section 1, part (f) reads, "...Make
advisory recommendations to the Tribal Council upon a majority vote of those usually voting." A copy of the
constitution is printed in your Tribal Resource Directory, or you may obtain a copy by calling the tribal offices.
Tribal Council encourages all members to be active participants in their tribal government.
1. DO TRIBAL MEMBERS NEED TO WORRY tend this event to determine if new products can in-
ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOB IF THEY SPEAK UP?
Tribal Policy: The conduct of all employees of the
Tribe are guided by the Tribal Ethical Standards Ordi
nance, the Personnel Management Ordinance and the
Human Resources Manual. Ordinances are Tribal Laws
that have been reviewed by the General Membership and
adopted by the Tribal Council. The Human Resources
Manual are the policies issued to comply with the Tribal
Law. As long as tribal employees comply with Tribal
Laws and approved policies when they raise issues or
speak up they should not worry about loosing their job.
Any employee who is concerned about this issue should
review the Tribal Ethical Standards Ordinance, the Per
sonnel Management Ordinance and the Human Re
sources Manual. The Human Resources Division, the
Executive Office and the Tribal Legal Division are also
available to employees should they have questions re- .
garding Tribal Law or the Human Resource Manual.
Spirit Mountain Casino Policy: Although we encour
age all of our employees to resolve problems at Spirit
Mountain through normal, company channels, no one
will lose his or her job or incur other disciplinary action
for "speaking up." Our policy states as follows: "904.1:
It is the policy of Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. that
employees should have the opportunity to present their
work-related complaints and to appeal management de
cisions through a dispute resolution or grievance
procedure...Employees are not to be penalized for proper
use of the grievance procedure."
2. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SENT TO LAS
VEGAS AND WHY?
Twenty-five Spirit Mountain employees attended the
World Gaming Congress and Expo. Four Board mem
bers and a few Council members also attended the con
ference. There are two primary reasons why our em
ployees must attend this conference: education and re
view of new products.
a. ) Education: This was the largest and most sophisti
cated conference in the gaming industry. The speakers
are the leading experts in their fields and the subjects
cover every aspect of the gaming business. Because
we are located in a non-gaming jurisdiction, many of
our employees do not have experience in the gaming
industry and this conference was the place to acquire
this knowledge. Las Vegas is the closest and least ex
pensive place to go for this conference. The confer
ence addressed political and other issues that are impor
tant for Council members to stay up on and the general
overview helped educate our Board members, none of
whom are from the gaming industry.
b. ) Product review: This is the exposition where ven
dors roll out their new products. All of our directors (5
people) and most of our managers (9 people) must at-
crease revenue. In the gaming business, products can
generate thousands even millions of dollars in ad
ditional revenue and profits. For example, at last year's
Las Vegas Expo we found a new video slot machine that
we believe will generate about $100 per day, per ma
chine in additional revenue for our casino. With only 20
machines, that is about $700,000 in additional revenue
per year. We have to research new products and this is
the most efficient and cost-effective way to do it.
3. WHY CAN'T TRIBAL MEMBERS STAY ON
THEIR OWN LAND?
Certainly, if a tribal member has title to hisher own
land they are entitled to stay on that specific property.
The reservation, however, is land where the title is in the
name of the United States Government held in Trust for
the Tribe. The reservation has been granted for the ben
efit of all tribal members and not specific individual tribal
members. The Tribe regained 9,811 acres of the origi
nal reservation when President Ronald Reagan signed
the Grand Ronde Reservation Act into law on Septem
ber 9, 1988. The characteristics of the 9,811 acres is
forest land and very little, if any, would be acceptable
for homesites. The availability of water, sewer, elec
tricity, and road systems do not exist and would not be
feasible to construct on this acreage. Recognizing the
need for homesites and housing, the Tribe has been ac
quiring lands in the Grand Ronde area for the specific
purpose of developing housing. These newly acquired
lands are being converted to trust and do have water,
sewer and electrical service to the site and road sys
tems relatively close. The Housing Authority is cur
rently working with the Department of Housing and
Urban Development on developing these sites into mul
tiple housing units. Once these units are completed they
will be available for occupancy to Tribal Member fami
lies. Many of you who live in the Grand Ronde area are
aware of the current moratorium on new water hook
ups. The Grand Ronde Community Water Association
controls the current water system and the association is
not a tribal organization. The Association is developing
new sources of water in hopes of providing adequate
supplies in the future. ,
4. WHY ARE VETERANS LOSING BENEFITS
MONEYS BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE TRIBAL
MONEY?
The Veterans Administration is operated by the United
States Government and operates under specific Federal
Law enacted by the United States Congress. Veterans
who receive benefits from this agency of the Federal
Government are required to report all income to the
agency. This is Federal Law and not Tribal Law. The
amount of benefits that are provided to the veteran by