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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2007)
JANUARY 15, 2007 1M L A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe www.grandronde.org FDD9 ClhiDeffTirDggoirs FaDso ADaorinn) By Siobhan Taylor A recent article in The Oregonian Newspaper falsely claimed that fire safety at Spirit Mountain Casino is an issue. The article quoted claims from the West Valley Fire District Chief Eddings that the lack of a hook and ladder truck for his department meant that lives at the casino were in imminent danger. The claims couldn't be further from the truth according to casino management, the Executive Director of the Gaming Commission and outside fire safety experts. When the issue of fire safety at the casino was first raised in 2004, by the local fire chief, the Commission met with the Oregon State Police, Department of Justice and both the State Fire Marshall and the West Valley Fire Chief. They mutually agreed that an independent fire risk analysis would address the concerns and selected HYT Corporation, an independent fire engineering firm skilled in evaluating fire and life safety systems and compliance with National standards. HYT's findings unequivocally state, that the Spirit Mountain Casino and lodge represent a model facility in regard to the fea tures and programs in place for fire and life safety to protect employees and patrons from injury or death. After their report was issued, the lo cal fire chief began to list complaints about HYT and their results with the state. HYT's response to that said, "It is unfortunate that the West Valley Dire District appears to have reviewed the analysis outside of the context and scope in which it was developed. It also appears the fire activated and the building is evacu ated. Their job would be to perform mop-up, and that doesn't require a hook and ladder truck." Prior to The Oregonian article, Tribal General Manager Chris Leno addressed Chief Eddings concerns in a letter. In the letter Leno reas sured the chief about the Casino's fire i n : - district may be attempting to use the analysis as a basis for the pursuit of other goals or agendas." That outside goal or agenda became obvious in The Oregonian article. West Valley wants a hook and ladder truck. But Lynn Hillman, Executive Director of the Gaming Commission for Spirit Mountain Casino, points out that a hook and ladder truck would be of no value to the casino fire effort. "By the time West Valley ar rives the fire suppression system has system. "This system is so effective that if a fire emergency were to occur the casino and lodge, patrons and employees would be efficiently evacu ated and the fire likely suppressed before the arrival of fire suppression services." The Oregonian article and Chief Eddings complaints have also come under fire by Tribal Council and Tribal members. Tribal Chairman Chris Mercier points out that the Tribe has chosen to work with the community in a variety of ways when it comes to public safety. The Tribe's Spirit Mountain Community Fund, which donates 6 of the profits from the casino to non-profit organizations in an 11-county area, has given over $350,000 to West Valley for equip ment needs. The Tribe also supports the Polk County Sheriffs Office through the community fund. The sheriff sub-station is housed, without charge, on Tribal land and the fund supports six full-time deputies. To date the community fund has given over $36 million to local non-profits. "Our Tribe is exemplary when it comes to government-to-government relations," said Tribal lobbyist and Grand Ronde Tribal member Justin Martin. "We have an award winning government relations program, we have agreements with Polk County Sheriffs office and other governmen tal agencies. The Tribe works with ODOT, the DEQ and more." Hillman agrees and says if there was an issue about fire safety it would have been brought up during compact negotiations and the gover nor would never have approved the new gaming compact. "The bottom line is that fire and life safety at our casino is NOT an issue. It's just unfortunate that the local fire chief is trying to make it one." r i v'r?, ). BJ 'fMw?7 'Wf fl 'w :f:?;$Sr At:-- M" mr ' ' : -;-"Ba ffifj Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 OR NEWSPAPER PROJ. UO LIBRARY 1299 UNIUERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE OR $7403-1205 Grand Ronde Tribal Council Begins Feasibility Study By Siobhan Taylor The Grand Ronde Tribal Council is continuing its ongoing conversa tion about ways to improve fire and emergency response time for Tribal lands and the surrounding commu nity. On Thursday, January 4 the Tribal Council instructed Tribal Director of Economic Development, and Tribal member, Pete Wake land, to draw up the parameters to an emergency call here. Under good conditions that drive time is 18 minutes, that's too long when lives are at stake," said Tribal General Manager, Chris Leno. Leno and Spirit Mountain Ca sino Gaming Commission Director, Lynn Hillman has been involved in discussing the issue of fire response time for well over a year. Hillman's outreach has included conversations The study will examine a number of options including building and staffing a Fire De partment on Tribal lands and enhancing and staffing the current West Valley Fire District's Grand Ronde sub-station. of a feasibility study. The Tribe is evaluating and seeking discussions with West ValleyFire District about the current situation and ways to improve it. The study will examine a number of options including build ing and staffing a Fire Department on Tribal lands and enhancing and staffing the current West Valley Fire District's Grand Ronde sub station. "There's been an on-going concern in Grand Ronde about the length of time it takes West Valley to respond with the West Valley Fire District Chief about the possibility of a full time substation in Grand Ronde. Now, that discussion will also look at the possibility of building a brand new substation on Tribal lands. "Right now we're preparing a writ ten framework for the study," said Wakeland. He expects the frame work to be ready and presented to Tribal Council within the next three weeks. After that review the council will determine what avenue they want to pursue.
