APRIL 15, 2000
5
General Council Highlights
5:05 p.m. Meeting called to order by Ed Larsen, Tribal Council Vice-Chair.
With the exception of Kathryn Harrison (excused), a full Council was present.
Bob Haller moved, Bob Mercier seconded to approve the previous Febru
ary 23, 2000 Tribal Council meeting minutes as submitted. Motion carried.
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE
D Project Priority List Indian Reservation Roads. Bob Mercier moved,
Val Grout seconded to adopt Resolution No. 020-00 approving the Fiscal
Year 2000 Project Priority List for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Res
ervation Roads funds program. Motion carried 7-0-0.
D Enrollment Voluntary Relinquishment. Bob Haller moved, June
Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 021-00 approving the En
rollment Committee's recommendation that Barbara Jean Gibbons, 1116
be granted relinquishment as requested. Motion carried 7-0-0.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
O YCAP Bowling Blitz Donation. Val Grout moved, Ed Pearsall sec
onded to approve a donation of $500 towards Community Action Program of
Yamhill County (YCAP) Bowling Blitz. The funds are being raised to help
needy families in the area. Motion carried 7-0-0.
SMMCI: Consent to 401(k) Plan Adoption. Ed Pearsall moved, Val
Grout seconded to adopt Resolution No. 022-00 authorizing Spirit Moun
tain Management and Consulting, Inc. to become a participating employer
under the Tribe's Retirement Plan. Motion carried 7-0-0.
D SMMCI: Release of Claims. Bob Mercier moved, Ed Pearsall seconded
to adopt Resolution No. 023-OO authorizing the Chairman of Spirit Moun
tain Gaming, Inc.'s Board of Directors to sign a release of claims on behalf of
the Tribe which releases Bruce Thomas, Terry Contreras, Jeff Realander
and Chuck Galford from any and all claims arising prior to their separation
from employment with Spirit Mountain Gaming, provided, however, that
those individuals provide the Tribe with an identical release of claims. Dis
cussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-0.
D SMDC: Compensation of Key Spirit Mountain Personnel. Val Grout
moved, Butch LaBonte seconded to adopt Resolution No. 024-00 approv
ing salary increases for the following Spirit Mountain Development Corpo
ration andor Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. personnel as recommended by
the Spirit Mountain Board of Directors: David Blum, Chris Elliott, Shelley
Hanson, Bob Robbins, and Brian Werner. The Committee further recom
mends that the salary increases be effective as of January 1, 2000. Motion
carried 7-0-0.
B Compensation of Health Authority Board of Commissioners. June
Sell-Sherer moved, Bob Haller seconded to adopt Resolution No. 025-00
authorizing the Tribe to compensate each Commissioner on the Health Au
thority Board of Commissioners at a rate of $100 for each meeting the Com
missioner attends. Motion carried 7-0-0.
RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE
D Natural Resource Management Plan. Bob Mercier moved, June
Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 026-00 directing the Natural
Resources Department to include only the lands as described in PL 100-425,
as amended, in current and future Reservation Management Plans. Motion
carried 7-0-0.
ANA LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT GRANT APPLICATION
D June Sell-Sherer moved, Ed Pearsall seconded to adopt Resolution No.
027-00 authorizing an application for funding through the DHHS, ANA
Language Grant Program. The project's object is to provide language edu
cation training and curriculum development and emersion education for Head
Start, Before & After School and adult language classes. Further, that the
Tribal Council authorizes the Executive Officer andor his designee(s) to sign
all related grant application, award, modification, and program documents.
The project budget will not exceed $125,000 with additional matching funds
of 20, to be matched with existing Tribal budget expenditures. Motion
carried 7-0-0.
HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE
O IHS Dental Disease PreventionHealth Promotion Grant. Ed
Pearsall moved, Bob Mercier seconded to adopt Resolution No. 028-00 au
thorizing the submission of an application for funding through the Indian
Health Service (IHS) Dental Disease PreventionHealth Promotion Grant
Program. The project's object is to increase the number of decay-free chil
dren ages 0 through 14, from 37 to 41; through a program of education,
re: tooth-brushing, diet, and fluoride treatment. Further, authorizing the
Tribal Chairperson, the Executive Officer andor his designee(s) to sign all
related grant application, award, modification and program documents. The
project budget will not exceed $33,000 in grant funding and with additional
matching funds from outside sources and with existing Tribal budget expen
ditures. Motion carried 7-0-0.
By Brent Merrill
The April General Council meeting
was held on Sunday, April 2. Here
are the highlights.
GAMING UPDATE
Spirit Mountain Casino's top In
terim Executive Officer Bob Watson
updated the tribal membership on
the latest news from the casino.
D Watson began his report by
thanking the membership for sup
porting him in his work at the ca
sino. Watson said he is thankful for
the opportunity. He talked about the
Tribe's long-term development in
vestment fund as well as updating
members on the Tribe's equity fund.
Watson said the Tribe is building an
increasingly valuable asset base and
looking at safe long-term invest
ments with a long-term future and
security.
"I would say, rest easy," said Watson.
"These are wise investments."
D Watson detailed some of the Tribe's
projects through the Spirit Mountain
Development Corporation (SMDC),
including a Portland-based invest
ment in the city's business district
called "The Gregory." The project is
a joint venture with Portland-area
developer John Carroll to build resi
dential, office and retail space in the
city's Pearl District. The project is
scheduled to be complete in 2001.
"It was a wise move that is really
paying off," said Watson of the Gre
gory project.
There are two sources of funding
for projects like "The Gregory" ac
cording to Watson.
"The largest of the two is a line of
credit," said Watson. "This is drawn
from as a loan and has been used
primarily for real estate projects. It
has been used to buy into projects
with other investors on several real
estate projects."
The second source of funding is a
long-term development investment
fund called an equity fund.
"SMDC uses the fund to buy eq
uity that is recoverable ownership
and is the Tribe's property during
and after the project. It is found in
all categories of SMDC's investment
ventures," said Watson.
B Watson took a moment to applaud
the good work being done by Grand
Ronde Industries (GRI) at their com
plex in Tangent. GRI is expanding
their services to their main client
(Hewlett-Packard) because of the
At last Wednesday's Council
meeting, Tribal Council honored
former Smoke Signals Editor
Tracy Dugan
for her
eight years
of dedicated
service to
the Tribe.
Good Luck,
Tracy.
"Many good words were written
and shared during your time
with the Tribe.9
Tribal Chair Kathryn Harrison
Your talents were greatly
appreciated. You did quality
work for us.
Tribal Council member Val Grout
quality of the work already being
done by GRI staff.
B There are currently 151 tribal
members employed at the casino,
Watson said.
B Members asked Watson about his
job status and how long he would con
sider staying on the job.
"Although I was happily retired and
walking on the beach with my wife a
lot, we felt this (leading the casino
through a transition in top manage
ment) was too critical an opportunity
not to participate," explained Watson.
"It is our intent to keep things flow
ing smoothly at the casino. I'm com
mitted to finding someone (as a pos
sible replacement) who really is an
expert in this business. I will be here
until that happens.
B Marketing consultant Len
Bergstein then introduced Jack
Peterson of the casino's ad agency.
Peterson showed the membership a
first look at the casino's new televi
sion advertisements.
SOCIAL SERVICES UPDATE
B Social Services Director Anthony
Gagliardo gave a program update.
He introduced Indian Child Welfare
Program Supervisor Dana Leno to
the membership.
Leno, who said she had been with
the Tribe for five years, administers
a program that currently has 75
tribal children in foster homes. Leno
said half of those children are in
volved with the Tribal Court system.
Leno said the program is in des
perate need of tribal member foster
parents.
B Tribal Employment Coordinator
Patsy Pullin informed the member
ship of a new employment services
information center called a kiosk,
which is now located in the social ser
vices modular.
fl Gagliardo introduced each mem
ber of his staff and they gave their
individual program reports.
"We have an outstanding team in
social services," said Gagliardo. "We
take care of each other."
DOOR PRIZES
Ed Pearsall won $50 and donated
it back to the Elders, Leon "Chips"
Tom won $50, Patrice Gray won $50,
and Ila Dowd won the $100 door
prize. Leonette Galligher won the
5050 Royalty drawing and donated
it back to the Royalty Committee.
m i u j-w-k w a i v ii
gglheb
V
TRIBAL COUNCIL
NOMINATIONS
Anyone interested in making
a nomination must:
Be 18 years old.
An enrolled member of the Tribe.
Must make the nomination in
person at the meeting.
Tribal members accepting
a nomination for Tribal Council
must also be present
at this meeting.