8
S moke S ignals
MAY 1, 2017
Tribal Council OKs grant applications for EPA funds in jeopardy
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council approved three
grant applications during its
Wednesday, April 19, meeting, in-
cluding one to the Environmental
Protection Agency that might be in
peril considering the Trump admin-
istration’s announced plans to scale
back funding for the federal entity.
Tribal Council approved applying
for a two-year grant that would,
if approved, bring the Tribe ap-
proximately $248,000 annually
to help ensure clean water on the
Reservation.
The grant funds would be used
for staff wages, equipment, sup-
plies, materials, environmental
stewardship actions, water quality
monitoring and staff development.
The Tribe has received the grant
since 1998.
However, in response to Tribal
Council member Denise Harvey’s
question during the Tuesday, April
18, Legislative Action Committee
meeting, Fish and Wildlife Program
Manager Kelly Dirksen said the
funding might disappear if Pres-
ident Trump’s proposed federal
budget, which slashes funding to
the agency, is adopted by Congress.
“Anything related to water quali-
ty is slated to be cut,” Dirksen said.
Not knowing what will happen
with Trump’s proposal, Dirksen
said it is prudent for the Tribe to
apply for the grant just in case
some or all of the funding remains
in place.
Tribal Council also approved
applying for a grant not to exceed
$255,000 to the Environmental
Protection Agency to continue the
Tribe’s involvement in the Portland
Harbor Superfund cleanup process.
The money will fund the work of
the Tribe’s technical consultant,
Tribal employee participation and
Tribal employee expenses, such as
mileage.
The other approved grant appli-
cation was to the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department’s Recre-
ational Trails Program that would
award a maximum of $33,367 to
help fund the Natural Resources
Department’s summer youth crew.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved the Portland Harbor
Phase 2 funding and partici-
pation agreement because the
Tribe is a trustee on the Natural
Resources Trustee Council;
• Appointed Alex Drake as the
Tribe’s remote pilot in accordance
with the new Unmanned Aircraft
Systems policy (See story on Page
1 for more information);
• Appointed Monty Herron to Trib-
al Court’s Tribal Member Review
Board;
• Approved the Natural Resources
Department purchasing a new
Kenworth dump truck chassis
and Lane dump box to replace
a 1998 Peterbuilt dump truck
that is becoming too expensive to
maintain;
• Approved letting the Tribe be
responsible for any costs and
assessments, including road
maintenance, to the Doumard
Association with its acquisition
of the Rattlesnake Butte property
in Lane County. The association
is responsible for maintenance of
the northern access route to the
property;
• Approved a memorandum of un-
derstanding with the University
of Oregon that will establish a
process for government-to-gov-
ernment consultation between
the school and Oregon’s nine
federally recognized Tribes;
• And approved the enrollment of
one infant into the Tribe because
the child meets the enrollment re-
quirements outlined in the Tribal
Constitution and Enrollment
Ordinance.
Also included in the April 19
Tribal Council packet was a staff
directive declassifying a July 2015
staff directive that provided former
Economic Development Director
Titu Asghar with up to $25,000 in
Tribal funds to pay for legal fees
when he sued Tribal member Ann
Lewis, who used to work for him in
Economic Development and was a
vocal critic during public meetings
and on social media.
“The Tribe has historically sup-
ported employees who have been
sued in the course and scope of
their employment,” the July 2015
directive stated. “Tribal Council be-
lieves employees who are harmed by
personal attacks based on their em-
ployment should also be supported.”
The packet also included an
authorization to proceed that ded-
icates $20,000 to the Willamina
School District that will fund staff
development for handling students
with high behavior needs.
Cultural Resources staff mem-
bers Bobby and Jordan Mercier
were joined by Jade Unger in per-
forming the cultural drumming and
singing to open the meeting.
The meeting, in its entirety, can
be viewed on the Tribal website,
www.grandronde.org, by clicking
on the News tab and then Video.
Ad created by George Valdez