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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2018)
S moke S ignals OCTOBER 15, 2018 Dog days Tribal Council OKs 2019 housing plan By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Tribal Elder Frank Norwest and his son's dog Spike enjoyed a quiet afternoon outside of their Blacktail Drive home on Thursday Oct. 4. ‘It’s been pretty stressful’ PLATFORM continued from front page 8 City on Wednesday, Oct. 3, to offer moral support and view the process. “This platform will be extremely meaningful to the Tribal members to be able to catch fish the way our ancestors did,” Bobb said. Natural Resources employees, under the watchful eye of Fish & Wildlife Program Manager Kelly Dirksen, began the tedious process of hauling supplies across the river. “It’s been pretty stressful,” Dirk- sen said. “I really care for the crew that we have and want to make sure we get them home. I want to thank Tribal Council because they have not spared any expense on this to help us be safe.” Dirksen and his crew donned dry- suits to keep from going into shock should they slip into the river and they wear lifejackets at all times. They also wear special boots with felt on the soles for increased trac- tion on slippery rocks. Several staff members also have been trained in swift water rescue. On Wednesday, they were joined by Utility Maintenance Supervi- sor Joe Loomis, who was tasked with documenting the process via photos and videos, as well as Hous- ing Maintenance Technician Nick Kimsey. Kimsey, who coaches his son’s football team, said that he was missing team picture day to help at the falls, but it was worth it. “My sons will be able to dip net off this platform someday,” he said. “My grandpa, Marvin Kimsey, re- cently passed away and he was one of the original people who restored this Tribe. This is my way of doing a minute amount of what he did for our people. It makes me feel good to be here.” Engineering & Public Works Department Manager Jesse White spent the day scaling slick rocks to scout for the safest route to get the materials across. The platform, to be constructed of an aluminum frame and wood decking, will be re- movable, but the bolts, to be drilled into basalt rock, will be permanent. General Manager David Ful- lerton, who ferried employees to and from the site, is hoping the platform will be completed by the end of October and that fishing will commence shortly after. As of Smoke Signals press dead- lines, drilling for the anchor sys- tems had been completed and installation of the anchors and baseplates was expected to be fin- ished by Saturday, Oct. 13. The platform deck is scheduled to be erected the week of Oct. 22, White said. “Construction is underway and is progressing very well,” he said. Health & Wellness Center Entrance Reminder: The drive-through entrance at the Health & Wellness Center is for loading and unloading only. The entrance was built with our Elders and those with mobil- ity issues and their ease of access in mind. If you are coming to the center to pick up prescriptions, please park in one of our regular parking spaces. Thank you, Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center Administration 9 Tribal Council approved the 2019 Indian Housing Plan during its Wednesday, Oct. 10, meeting that will bring the Tribe approximately $6.68 million in federal funds. During the Tuesday, Oct. 9, Leg- islative Action Committee meeting, Housing Department Manager Shonn Leno and Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger briefed Tribal Council on the fund- ing plans for 2019. Among the projects planned for next year are: • $107,942 to operate, administer and maintain 20 Elder housing units; • $476,291 to operate and maintain 148 assisted rental units; • $1 million to build an addition- al eight one- and two-bedroom apartments; • $221,217 to fund 20 Down Pay- ment Assistance Grants that average $10,000 each; • $276,889 to provide approximate- ly 30 home repair and medical ad- aptation grants for up to $10,000 each to Tribal members living throughout the country; • $210,259 to rehabilitate an esti- mated 10 housing units contam- inated by drug use; • $105,461 to rehabilitate an esti- mated five rental housing units; • $250,000 to provide rental assis- tance to an estimated 25 eligible families through area public housing authorities; • $482,651 to fund student rental assistance for approximately 150 enrolled Tribal members nation- wide; • $55,547 to provide housing ser- vices to Tribal members; • $301,564 to fund crime preven- tion activities in Tribal housing; • $167,000 to provide a match for the Behavioral Health Center addition; • $167,000 to provide a match for the Early Childhood Education preschool addition; • $1 million for a resident’s center adjacent to the apartment com- plex development; • And $1 million to develop Elders low-income housing. Leno said that $1.9 million in federal housing funds allocated to the Tribe are distributed directly to Tribal members. The Tribe’s Indian Housing Plan is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment no later than Oct. 18. In other action, Tribal Council also approved the enrollment of seven infants into the Tribe be- cause they meet the requirements outlined in the Enrollment Ordi- nance and Tribal Constitution. Also included in the Oct. 10 Tribal Council packet was an approved authorization to proceed to move forward with a constitutional amend- ment vote that would allow the enrollment of applicants who have enrolled brothers or sisters by the same Tribal parent(s) who were enrolled before Sept. 14, 1999, and who meet the pre-1999 constitutional enrollment requirements and meet the five-year relinquishment require- ment if enrolled in another Tribe. During the Sept. 8 Tribal Council election, voters favored the amend- ment 839-365, for a 69.7 percent majority, which is greater than the percentage needed to successfully become an approved amendment to the Tribal Constitution. The entire meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribal website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the News tab and then Video. You’ve Been Summoned To Attend Our HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 10.26.18 5:30 P.M. Youth Education Building Light dinner and snack Costumes required for an extra raffle ticket Thank you for respecting Grand Ronde’s Tribal Community & Culture by not displaying gang affiliation or bringing drugs alcohol or weapons to this event.
