4 OCTOBER 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
Wednesday August 31, 2005
5:07 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Vice-Chairman,
Reyn Leno. A quorum was present.
Present was Angie Blackwell, Jack Giffen, Jr., Reyn Leno, Chris Mercier,
and Jan D. Reibach.
Excused was Cheryle A. Kennedy (business travel and personal leave),
Valorie Sheker-Robertson (business travel and personal leave), June Sell
Sherer (business travel and personal leave) and Wesley "Buddy" West
(personal leave).
Invocation was done by Jan D. Reibach.
PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVEAMEND
Angie Blackwell moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to approve the Au
gust 17, 2005, Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0-1.
By a full consensus of Tribal Council, authorization was given to amend
the August 3, 2005, Tribal Council meeting minutes as follows:
New Business, Item la. Tribal Debt Collection Ordinance Enactment
The minutes amended to reflect the voting not as "Motion carried 7-0-0"
but as "Motion carried 6-1-0. Chris Mercier voted no."
H Acting Secretary Appointment. By full consensus of Tribal Council
present, Jan D. Reibach was appointed as "Acting Secretary" for this meeting.
ing the Veterans' Special Event Board Bylaws to include section 3.7 which
provides the authority to select volunteers, who are Veterans, to attend
various events when board members are unable to attend, and that bud
geted lodging and mileage expenses may be paid by the board at the same
rate approved for board members. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Chemawa Station LLC Capital Contribution Amendment. Jan
D. Reibach moved, Jack Giffen, Jr. seconded to adopt Resolution No.
139-05 amending the capital contribution of $1,329,038 to Chemawa Sta
tion LLC previously authorized by Tribal Council Resolution No. 041-05
to authorize a capital contribution in an amount not to exceed $1,235,000
to Chemawa Station LLC from the Tribe's FY2005 Budget. Motion car
ried 3-1-0. Chris Mercier voted no.
Loaned Employee Agreement. Jack Giffen, Jr. moved, Angie
Blackwell seconded to adopt Resolution No. 140-05: 1) approving the
proposed loaned employee agreement between the Tribe and Spirit Moun
tain pursuant to which the Tribe shall make the services of Larry Kovach,
CTGR Finance Officer available to Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. (SMGI)
on an interim basis so that Mr. Kovach may perform the functions of Spirit
Mountain Chief Finance Officer (CFO); and 2) approving a 5 percent in
crease in Mr. Kovach's current salary during the time he is serving as
interim CFO of SMGI. Discussion followed. Motion carried 3-1-0. Chris
Mercier voted no.
NEW BUSINESS
LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE
H Annual Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Grant
Application. Jack Giffen, Jr. moved, Angie Blackwell seconded to adopt
Resolution No. 134-05 authorizing the Tribe's application to the Depart
ment of Health and Human Services for Low Income Home Energy Assis
tance Program (LIHEAP) grant funding, and authorizing the Tribal
Council Chairwoman or, in her absence, the Tribal Council Vice-Chairman
to execute all documents required for this application. Discussion
followed. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Application.
Jan D. Reibach moved, Jack Giffen, Jr. seconded to adopt Resolution No.
135-05 authorizing the Tribe's application to the Administration for Chil
dren & Families for a Family Violence Prevention and Services grant fund
ing to conduct a family violence prevention program and authorizing the
Tribal Council Chairwoman, or in her absence, the Tribal Council Vice
Chairman to execute all the forms required for this application and avail
able funding. Motion carried 4-0-0.
0 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians DelegateAlternate and
Membership Dues. Jack Giffen, Jr. moved, Angie Blackwell seconded
to adopt Resolution No. 136-05: 1) authorizing the payment of $2,000
to cover Tribal membership and 2) appointing Wesley West as Affiliated
Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) delegate and the remaining council
members as alternates, instructing them to become members in good stand
ing with ATNI in order to fulfill their responsibilities as official delegates
to ATNI and each will continue in this capacity for a period of one year
from the date of the appointment. Motion carried 4-0-0.
B National Indian Gaming Association: DelegateAlternate Ap
pointments and Membership Dues. Jan D. Reibach moved, Chris
Mercier seconded to adopt Resolution No. 137-05: 1) authorizing pay
ment of $25,000 (based on the gross annual gaming revenue of the Tribe),
and 2) appointing Jack Giffen, Jr. as the Tribe's Representative to NIGA,
with Angie Blackwell as Alternate for September 2005 through Septem
ber 2006 andor until replaced by council. Motion carried 2-0-2. Jack
Giffen, Jr. and Angie Blackwell abstained.
B Veterans' Special Event Board Bylaws Amendment. Jack Giffen,
Jr. moved, Chris Mercier seconded to adopt Resolution No. 138-05 amend-
Grand Ronde Enters Hood To Coast Relay
On the weekend of August 26-27, the Grand Ronde Road Run
ners, a team from Grand Ronde, were allowed the privilege to
participate in the 2005 Hood to Coast Relay. Tribal member and
Public Works Director John Mercier organized the team. Tribal
Council sponsored the team and allowed them to use Tribal vans
for transportation.
The runners included John Mercier, Mark LaBonte, Mike Wil
son, Connie Lopez, Nic Wilson, Mike Ryan, Terrence Gasca, Ariah
Fasana, Dan Maust, Angie Harrit, Maria Ramirez and Rebecca
Knight. Barbara Mercier, Melanie Ebensteiner, Denise Harvey
and Denna Diaz drove the vans to each destination.
The Hood to Coast Relay is the longest relay run in North
America. It begins on Mt. Hood and finishes in Seaside, Oregon,
a total of 197 miles. A total of 1,000 teams are accepted each year
for the relay and there are 12 people on each team.
The Grand Ronde Road Runners finished with a total time of
30:45:05 with an average pace time of 9:23 per mile.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Council members attending... Listed in BoldItalics)
B National Congress of American Indians 62nd Annual Conference and
Elections is scheduled for October 30 through November 04, 2005, in
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Registration, airline, and room arrangements need to
be made. Jack Giffen, Jr., Jan D. Reibach and Wesley "Buddy" West.
NOTICES
B Council member Blackwell reminded drivers to watch for children on
the community roads as the Willamina Schools are back in session as of
August 29, 2005.
B A Tribal member asked council to consider more transportation options
for Tribal children traveling to and from school.
B The University of Oregon extends an invitation to the Tribe to help
the university to welcome Wilma Mankiller as the 25th occupant of the
Wayne Morse Chair of Law and Politics beginning during the fall quar
ter, 2005. On November 10, 2005 the university is hosting a program
on Women in Tribal and Community Leadership with a roundtable dis
cussion. R.S.V.P. requested.
OTHER BUSINESS
B A Tribal member inquired as to the opening date of the Tribe's Adult Care
Facility and as to whether or not a director had been hired. General Man
ager Cliff Adams identified the opening date is anticipated around the 1st of
November. The Tribe is the process of setting up interviews for a director.
B Several Tribal members raised concerns over the negative campaign
ing during this year's Tribal Council election. Discussion followed.
B A Tribal member inquired as to hiring practices at Spirit Mountain
Casino, alleging that the casino's hiring policy is not being followed. Dis
cussion followed. Vice-Chairman Leno advised that council and the Spirit
Mountain Gaming, Inc. Board will look into the matter. In addition, the
Tribal member inquired as to a fee for attendance at the September En
rollment Training here in Grand Ronde. General Manager Adams will
review and advise the member.
5:49 p.m. Angie Blackwell moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to ad
journ the meeting. Motion Carried.
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Grand Ronde Road Runners finish the Hood to Coast Relay in Seaside, Oregon.