Smoke Signals
2
General Council meetings resume
Continued from front page
redeem points for cash. The Casino
is also gearing up for a Restoration
Celebration in November with an
expanded Native American menu,
n Lodge
Spirit Mountain Lodge has been
doing extremely well with full occu
pancy on the weekends. SMDC is
starting to analyze and research how
profitable it would be to add more
rooms and possibly conference space.
B Gaming Issues
Anti-Gaming initiative ballot mea
sures in Oregon will be a big issue
for the Tribe and Casino within this
next year. It is important that tribal
members educate themselves and
vote on these issues in 2000.
Spirit Mountain is facing competi
tion from gaming establishments in
southwest Washington, just a short
drive from Portland.
D Spirit Mountain Development
Corporation (SMDC)
The Tribe owns all the economic de
velopment projects. The biggest is
SMDC, which owns Spirit Mountain
Gaming, the retail centers, a residen
tial real estate subdivision, a con
struction management company, and
Grand Ronde Industries (GRI).
SMDC oversees the following busi
nesses for the Tribe: Russellville Com
mons, an apartment complex in Port
land; and Spirit Mountain Environ
mental Services (SMES), an environ
mental remediation services company.
GRI update: Hewlett Packard con
siders SMDC a premier supplier, and
has offered another potential busi
ness opportunity a 3rd party ware
house and shipping company. HP
would like to hire a company to house
and ship aprons and gloves they use
in their factories.
The Albany Lakeview residential
real estate subdivision is exceeding
its projection to sell 3 lots a month.
With a profit of $10,000 a lot, just
under 30 lots have been sold.
Russellville, the Tribe's project that
SMDC oversees, is making the Tribe
a great return of over 17. The
apartments are selling as fast as they
are being built.
SMES, a company formed in part
nership with an environmental
remediation firm, (ranked in the top
15 in the country) to do projects pri
marily for the government.
HOUSING UPDATE
In July, the housing staff was hon
ored at the National Indian Hous
ing Conference in Seattle for its in
novative, proactive approach to
providing housing to tribal members
and their families.
Last year, $771,000 in direct
grants and loans were administered
by the Housing Authority. Tribal
Council has generously funded the
down payment program, with 70
grants expected to be given by the
end of the year. At this time, the
maximum waiting time is 6 months.
Grand Meadows Home Park was
the first step that Grand Ronde
Tribal Housing Authority (GRTHA)
took in providing housing opportu
nities for tribal members.
The second step is the 38-unit in
dependent living Elder Housing
project. The construction schedule
is right on target with completion for
August 2000. The units are du
plexes, triplexes, and four-plexes,
each with 900-square feet and all are
handicap accessible. All Elders in
terested are encouraged to apply to
the waiting list now.
For applications or more informa-
tion on the housing program, please
contact Bryan Langley at 1-800-422-0232
or 879-2467.
D Housing Survey
The third step will be a 32-unit
project for families. All housing de
velopment plans are based on the
housing surveys. The last survey
was taken in 1995. Because the Tribe
has grown and many needs have
changed expect to see the next
housing survey within the next few
months. It is very important that
members fill out their housing needs.
The meeting closed with the door
prizes: $50 to June Sell-Sherer; $50
to Butch LaBonte; $50 to Violet
Zimbrick; $100 to Kathy Pattersen;
and Randy Travis concert tickets to
Billey Mann.
Constitutional Amendment
approved by BIA
The Constitutional Amendment to the tribal enrollment criteria was
approved by the Northwest Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs on September 14, 1999. The amendment is effective as of this
approval date. The Regional Director sent the following memorandum
to the BIA office with responsibility for the Tribe:
DATE: September 14, 1999
REPLY TO ATTENTION OF: Northwest Regional Director
SUBJECT: Grand Ronde Constitutional Amendment
TO: Superintendent, Siletz Agency
We have received the results of the election held on July 27, 1999, by
the qualified voters of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon. The election was called in accordance with an
order issued on March 19, 1999, by the Portland Area Director, which
permitted the qualified voters of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
to vote on the adoption or rejection of the proposed constitutional amend
ment pertaining to Article V, Section 1, Membership.
As evidenced by the completed Certification of Results of Election, the
amendment which shall be numerically numbered Amendment No. 1
to the Constitution of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity of Oregon, was duly adopted in the election in which at least 2
3 of the 1,440 members registered and entitled to vote cast their ballots.
There was one challenge to the election, which was denied by the Elec
tion Board Chairman on August 4, 1999.
Amendment No. 1 to the Constitution of the Grand Ronde Commu
nity of Oregon is hereby approved pursuant to the authority granted to
the Portland Area Director by the Deputy Commissioner of the Indian
Affairs.
FAREWELL WISHES
Councilmen recognized by staff
Councilmen Leon Chip Tom and
Mark Mercier were celebrated for
their contributions to the Tribe.
v - n
Chip
Before a room of fifty tribal employ
ees, Janell Haller said, "I think some
times Council has a tough job. Any
time you have to make a decision for
more than two people, it is a no win
situation."
The "thank-you" celebration was
complete with a cake for each man,
presents and remembrances from
friends and family members. Chip's
new Pendleton jacket fit perfectly,
and with a chuckle he said, "I'll be
able to keep warm while I'm sitting
around." Mark Mercier was given a
Pendleton blanket.
As laughter from the crowd qui
eted down, Chip continued, "It's
been great working with you folks.
When I first came here we were
across the fields in the mobiles.
We've come a long way, not because
of Council, but because of you
people. We were just implementing
your wishes. Sure, we made mis
takes, but you have to look in four
directions before you do anything
and when we sit down to the table
and we all don't agree well, that
takes some discussing. All and all, I
want to thank each and every one of
you, I just want to say thank you."
At the September General Council
meeting, Chip and Mark spoke to the
membership, saying they really en
joyed their time on Council, and en
couraged folks to acknowledge their
Council.
Standing next to Chip, Mercier who
has served on Council for fifteen and
a half years, said, "We have the po
tential to do a lot more, it just takes a
lot of hard work. Let's eat cake!"
: With that conclusion to the formal
speeches, the crowd laughed and
.tit- ' 1
It
Mark Mercier
clapped and the cake was cut and
passed it out to the crowd.
Best of luck to Chip and Mark
in whatever opportunities the
future brings.