10 FEBRUARY 15, 2003
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AMERIND Risk Management Corporation
2003 National Fire and Home Safety Poster Contest
It's time for children within the six county service area to sharpen
their crayons and dip their paintbrushes.
All submitted posters must illustrate a "fire safety" or "home safety"
theme.
Children in K-8 are eligible to participate. All entries must be origi
nal and created by crayons, markers or paint. Posters must be on
8.5" by 11" paper.
This year's winner can select one of two prizes $1,000 or a trip to
AMERIND'S 17th Annual Meeting and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada in
October 2003.
Entry forms are available through the Tribal Housing Authority.
Contact Shawn Kennedy at 503-879-2401 for entry forms. Entries
must be submitted to the Housing Authority office no later than April
30, 2003.
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Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority
Down Payment Grants Available
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority's budget for 2003 is in
place and grant dollars are now available to assist qualified Grand
Ronde Tribal members with the purchase of a home. ,
The upper income limit for participation in this program
has been removed, with the lower income limit remaining at
a minimum of $15,000. This, combined with last year's pro
gram changes have made the Down Payment Grant process
efficient and accessible to more Tribal members. There no
longer are waiting lists for applicants. Grant awards are
driven by the applicant's eligibility and readiness to buy and
by the amount of grant dollars available. The Down Pay
ment Grant can be used anywhere in the 50 United States or
the District of Columbia. Grants range from $10,000 to $12,500,
depending on the Tribal member's contribution toward their
home purchase.
Current economic conditions have provided an active sales market
and low home loan interest rates. If you have been thinking about
purchasing a home, these conditions make it an excellent time to take
advantage of our Down Payment Grant Program.
This program assisted 66 Tribal families in 2002 with the purchase
of a home. With the new expanded program parameters, the Hous
ing Authority looks forward to assisting many more Tribal members,
with the fulfillment of the dream of homeownership.
If you have any questions, or would like to apply, contact Nancy
Holmes, Homeownership Coordinator, at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2445,
or direct at 503-879-2445.
Tribal Housing Landscape Maintenance
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority desires to contract for
services for landscape maintenance and mowing services at the fol
lowing locations in Grand Ronde, Oregon:
1) the GRAND MEADOWS MANUFACTURED HOME SUB
DIVISION and WETLANDS; and
2) the ELDER HOUSING RENTAL SUBDIVISION.
Proposals must be received by the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing
Authority, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 no
later than 4:00 p.m., February 17, 2003.
Contact the Authority at 503-879-2401 for further information or a
proposal packet.
NWIHA SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRIBAL YOUTH
The Northwest Indian Housing Association annually provides schol
arships to Tribal youth, defined as individuals ages 24 years old, or
younger. The intent is to provide financial awards to youth for educa
tion and training programs at schools, colleges, job training organiza
tions, sports camps or other worthwhile organizations. Traditionally,
individual awards have not exceeded $1,000. Applications are avail
able by contacting the Housing Authority at 503-879-2401. Applica
tions must be turned in to the Housing Authority by April 24,
no later than 5 p.m.
Proposed Tribal Council Ordinance Revisions
The Tribal Council in consultation with the Tribal Attorney's Office has
proposed revisions to the Tribe's Tribal Council Ordinance. The first read
ing of the proposed Ordinance revisions was on January 15, 2002.
The proposed revisions establish a single Legislative Action Committee
("Committee"), comprised exclusively of the nine-member Tribal Council
members, for the purpose of studying, developing appropriate legislation
and making recommendations on issues, requests, and other matters be
fore the Tribal Council.
The proposed revisions are intended to replace the existing council com
mittee structure under the Ordinance.
The revisions provide that the Tribal Chairperson shall appoint members
of the Tribal Council to serve as chairperson for one or more meetings of the
committee. The revisions further provide that:
(1) the chairperson may participate in the discussion of any issue
before the committee and vote on a recommendation of the commit
tee; (2) the times and places of committee meetings shall posted in the
Tribal Governance Center in a location generally accessible to the
Tribal membership;
(3) committee meetings shall be open to the Tribal membership ex
cept that the Committee may discuss matters in executive session in
the same manner as the Tribal Council; and
(4) the committee may recommend items for the Tribal Council agenda
to the Tribal Council Chairperson by and affirmative vote of five mem
bers of the committee.
For a copy of the proposed Tribal Council Ordinance revisions, please
contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664 the Tribal Council in
vites comment on the proposed revisions. Please send your comments to
the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR
97347.
Comments must be received by March 15, 2003.
Proposed Election Ordinance Amendments
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney's Office, has
proposed amendments to the Election Ordinance. The first reading of the
proposed amendments was made at the January 29, 2003, Tribal Council
meeting.
The purpose of the amendments is to make various technical updates and
substantive changes to the ordinance to provide for an efficient election pro
cess. The proposed amendments include, but are not limited to, the follow
ing: Reducing the number of Election Board members to three and the num
ber of alternates to two
Clarifying the role of alternates
Clarifying the roles of the Election Board and the Election Administra
tor B Modifying the composition of the voters address list to include the names
and addresses of all adult Tribal members except those who have stated on
their Signature Verification Form that they do not want their name and
address released to candidates
Providing a ten-day period following the election for voters to cure re
jected absentee ballots if the number of rejected absentee ballots could
affect the outcome of the election
Modifying the times when returned absentee ballots will be retrieved
from the Post Office from at least twice weekly to not more than two days
before and election and after noon on the day of the election
This cure period would be triggered if the number of rejected absentee
ballots (absentee ballots returned unsigned or with a signature that does not
match the Voter's Signature Verification Form) is equal or greater than the
difference in the number of votes between the third and fourth place candi
dates in a Tribal Council election, or between the number of votes cast for
and against a measure. In such instances, the Election Administrator would
mail the rejected absentee ballots to the respective voters by certified mail
with a notice that the voter has ten days from the date of mailing to correct
the deficiency and return the absentee ballot to the designated Post Office
Box. When triggered, the cure period would postpone the posting of the
results and certification of the election.
For a copy of the proposed Election Ordinance amendments, please con
tact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal Council in
vites comment on the proposed amendments. Please send your comments to
the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR
97347.
Comments must be received by March 14, 2003.
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