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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1998)
OR. COLL. E 7a ' Smoke Signals OCTOBER 1, 1998 .06 S66 I October I 1, 1998 I A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe Umpqua Molalla Rogue River Kalapuya Chasta Dispute with Grand Ronde Water Association will be settled in circuit court By Tracy Dugan Tribal attorneys are currently in the discovery stage of a pending lawsuit between the Grand Ronde Tribe and the Grand Ronde Water Association. The lawsuit was filed by the Tribe as a final alternative to a year-long dis agreement between the Tribe and the Association over the cost of a water hook-up for the Tribe's Grand Mead ows Housing Project. , When initial building at Grand Meadows began, the Tribe ap proached the Water Association in order to seek water service to the home park. The Association agreed to do so. The Tribe agreed to pay $2,500 for a new water hook-up, the amount the Water Association charges other members. But when Grand Meadows was completed, and the first home moved into the park, the Tribe received a bill from the Water Association for $92,500 - 37 times the amount other Water Association members are billed. Grand Meadows was designed to support 37 single fam ily dwellings, but the Association only installed one single service line in Grand Meadows. The Tribe paid all expenses of running the water lines to the residents of the park. "The Tribe acknowledges that it is a large user of water in this commu nity," said Rob Greene, Tribal At torney. "We use more water, and we pay for the water we use. Our monthly water bills have always been paid. But this is a hook-up fee that has nothing to do with water use. We just want to be charged the same as everyone else." The Tribe tried to solve this dis pute informally, and was unsuccess ful. Tribal attorneys then proposed arbitration, which was rejected by the Water Association. On March 26 of this year, the Tribe mailed the Association a check for $10,020, to cover the cost of the hook-up fee for Grand Meadows, and other domestic and fire line fees. This was the amount that officials and The 3rd annual community HEALTH AND SAFETY FAIR was held on September 18, despite the heavy downpour of rain which prevented LifeFlight from landing. The Health Fair was created as a result of a need to give free immuniza tions. All Grand Ronde stu dents and the 3rd graders from Willamina attended. PHOTO: Gayle White from Polk County Mental Health, demon strates the importance of bi cycle helmet safety. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Rnnuested ! Olivers PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Sor-lf "Sity of Orenrm I ih.L Rprmvnfl ,,. ..... 'y ' v..u yf, J, (J (J J . Smoke signals -98 attorneys intended to pay, and be lieved the Tribe owed to the Associa tion. The check was returned with a letter from the Association's attorney, Jerry Brown. After the payment was returned, the Association notified the Tribe that all water to the Grand Meadows home park would be turned off within ten days if no payment was received. Tribal attorneys then filed a restrain ing order with Polk County prevent ing this action, and the Tribe was granted a Preliminary Injunction that prevents the Association from turn ing off the water to Grand Meadows. Finally, in June, the Tribe filed a Declaratory Action in Polk County Cir cuit Court. The court date is set for December 2, 1998 in Dallas, Oregon. Residents of Grand Meadows do not have to fear that their water will be turned off. A judge will decide which party should be held account able in this matter. "The Water Association must fol low its own by-laws. It is their gov erning document, and they are act ing inconsistently with those by laws," said Kim D'Aquila, one of the Tribe's attorneys. "The Association has refused our attempts to informally and formally arbitrate this matter." On September 10, the Water Board held a meeting to discuss proposed changes to their by-laws, which As sociation members approved by a vote of 27-4. Tribal officials are con cerned that some of these changes may adversely affect many Associa tion members, as they relate to fees and new and existing service charges the members are paying. "We are concerned about the nature of these changes and how they will be applied to the Tribe," said D'Aquila. Council member Ed Larsen, who also sits on the Water Board, has re cused himself from participating in discussions about the lawsuit with the Tribe, but continues to serve on the Board in regard to all other business. Native applicants sought for fellowship Intern will serve in Washington, D.C. The Tribe has announced that ap- fice," said Senator Wyden. plications for the Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellowship are now open. Each year, the Hatfield Fel low will be selected from Native American applicants to serve as an intern for a member of Oregon's Congressional delegation. This year's intern will serve in Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's Washington, D.C. office. The Fellowship honors Mark Hat field for his accomplishments as a U.S. Senator and Governor of Or egon and for his mentorship of many members of his staff who became leaders in their own communities. "Following in Mark Hatfield's foot steps as Oregon's senior Senator is an incredible honor. and challenge. The Mark Hatfield Congressional Fel lowship will give young people from our state's American Indian commu nity the opportunity to help make a difference for all Oregonians, and I am extremely proud to have the first of these fellows working in my of- Applicants must be enrolled adult members of federally recognized In dian tribes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, with preference given to the nine federally recognized Oregon tribes. Highlights of the fellowship include: The Hatfield Fellow will be rotated every year between the House and the Senate members of Oregon's delegation. Each Hatfield Fellow will serve for nine months and will receive a stipend, moving and travel ex penses, and participation in a spe cial American Political Science As sociation Orientation. Application packets may be ob tained by contacting Amber Russell at Spirit Mountain Casino. Call 1-800-760-7977 and ask for extension 3608. The deadline for completed Fellowship applications is 5 p.m. on October 2, 1998. Announcements of the first Hatfield Fellow will occur on October 13, in Portland.
