Smoke Signals 5
MAY 15, 2004
Engineering and Community Development
Reports During May General Council Meeting
By Ron Karten
The May General Council meet
ing was held on Sunday, May 2, at
the Tribal Community Center in
Grand Ronde. Here are the high
lights: Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno
called the meeting to order; Tribal
Council member Jan D. Reibach
offered the invocation.
The report from Eric Scott, the
Tribe's Engineer, included a look at
some of the major projects com
' pleted last year and those expected
to be completed in 2004 and 2005.
Among those for 2003, Scott cited
the Spirit Mountain Water Treat
ment facility, the Grand Ronde Sta
tion and convenience store, new RV
and valet parking lots, the Yoncalla
Creek bridge replacement that
opened up two more miles to migrat
ing salmon, the Rogue River bridge
replacement, a Natural Resources
equipment shed and the Ft. Yamhill
access road and bridge design.
In progress for this year and next
are: the Grand Ronde Road widen
ing and sewer main upgrade, a day
use public park on the Tribal cam
pus that will feature camp grounds,
access to the river in two places and
restrooms, the Fort Yamhill access
road, design work for improve
ments at the Highway 22Ft.
Yamhill intersection and the 15.4
acre Chemawa Station project, a
campus-style business park Trib
ally owned in partnership with the
Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
Indians, and the Spirit Mountain
lodge expansion, due to be com
pleted in March of 2005.
Tribal Council member Val Grout
said that the sadness brought to the
Tribe in recent weeks by much ill
ness and many deaths perhaps
called for a little break, which she
said was inspired by Eric Scott's
discussion of the road-widening
Eric Scott
Tribal Engineer
plans for Highway 22 where it
passes by Kissing Rock.
"How many recall parking at
Kissing Rock?" she asked. Some
how, the names and red faces of a
few Elders emerged. On the heels
of that pitch, Grout asked the
same question about Bloomers
Lane.
"We've had so much sadness,"
she said into the laughter. "We
needed a good laugh."
Tribal member Gene LaBonte
and members of the Veterans'
Memorial Ad Hoc Committee
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raised $1,500 in a garage sale that
will be used to add names to the
West Valley Veterans' Memorial.
Tribal member Candy Robertson
asked whether Tribal Council ap
proves or edits information passed to
the public through the Tribe's Public
Information Office. Generally, but
not always, replied Tribal Vice Chair
Reyn Leno. Often, the whole coun
cil discusses issues and proposes or
approves official Tribal replies to the
public.
Tribal member Linda Olson
sought to have implementation of
the Public Safety ordinance post
poned until October, following pub
lic meetings, because many Tribal
members were not yet aware of its
provisions and fines.
Parts of the ordinance have been
in effect since 2002, according to
Tribal Attorney Rob Greene. Some
amendments, however, are new, he
said.
Tribal member Betty Bly asked for
clarification about the Tribe's deci
sion to delay payments to the Com
munity Fund until after an official
audit next year, as specified in the
Tribe-State Gaming Compact.
"There was a lot of miscommuni
cation" about the roles played by
Tribal Council and the Community
Fund Board of Directors, said Tribal
Vice Chair Leno. "We believe we
have it back on track and the board
will again be disbursing money in
the near future."
Discussion followed about the cost
to the Tribe of disbursing money
monthly vs annually and the nega
tive publicity the misunderstanding
generated.
"We didn't make a mistake," said
Leno. "When we're bleeding, we've
got to stop it."
"The Tribal Council is not per
fect," said Tribal Council member
Val Grout, "but I don't think we
made a mistake. We're just trying
to save money for the Tribal mem
bership." "People are saying they have to
wait a year for this money," said
Tribal member Arlene Beck. "We
waited 150 years for help and we
survived."
Door prize winners included $50
winners: Tribal members Shaylyn
Shandy, and Tribal Elders Clarice
Ellison and Charles D. Haller; and
the $100 winner was Dennis Hicks.
Dolores West won a cedar chest
raffled by the Elders' Committee.
Other announcements:
The last of three Community
Meetings seeking input and ideas
from the membership will be held
from 6 8:30 p.m. on May 25 at
the "Community Center in Grand
Ronde. Memorial Day Dinner is
scheduled for Saturday, May 29,
2004 at noon in the Tribal Commu
nity Center; a Memorial Day cer
emony is scheduled for Monday,
May 31, 2004 at the Tribal Cem
etery followed by the unveiling of
some 150 names to be added to the
West Valley Veterans' Memorial;
nominations for Tribal Council will
be heard on Sunday, June 27, 2004
at 11 a.m. at a Special General
Council meeting in the Community
Center; and the next general Coun
cil Meeting will be Sunday, Septem
ber 12 at the Tribal Community
Center.
Commitment
Tribal member Gary
and his wife Linda
LaChance (left)
danced at their 37th
wedding anniversary.
Tribal Council member
Jan D. Reibach per
formed the ceremony
where the couple also
renewed their wed
ding vows. Dozens of
family and community
members were on
hand to help the
couple with the
celebration, held in the
Community Center on
Saturday, April 17.
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