Tribal Council approves sending financial information to members

Tribal Council adopted amendments to the Public Records and Fiscal Management ordinances at its Wednesday, Sept. 28, meeting that will, in combination, allow the Tribe to send audited financial information to Tribal members.

According to the approved resolutions, no comments were received from the Tribal membership regarding amendments to the Public Records Ordinance while two comments were received regarding amendments to the Fiscal Management Ordinance.

“Tribal Council believes it is appropriate to permit the mailing of audited financial statements to Tribal members,” the resolutions state.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved an agreement with the state Department of Human Services that will allow the department to continuing making foster care maintenance payments, special rate payments and guardianship and adoption assistance payments, and reimburse eligible administration and training costs for Grand Ronde children under the jurisdiction of Tribal Court or who are voluntarily placed out of the home by or with Tribal participation;

• Re-appointed Portland businessman Sho Dozono, former Oregon congresswoman Darlene Hooley and state Rep. Val Hoyle of Eugene to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees for two-year terms. In addition, Tribal Council appointed Tribal Council member Denise Harvey to the Board of Trustees to serve out the remaining term of former Tribal Council member Ed Pearsall;

• Removed Pearsall as an authorized signer on Tribal bank and investment accounts and added newly elected Tribal Council member Kathleen George, as well as authorized a Tribal credit card for George’s use in her role as a council member;

• Appointed Tribal Council member Tonya Gleason-Shepek as a delegate to the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians with remaining Tribal Council members as alternate delegates, and authorized the paying of $2,400 in dues;

• Appointed Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi as the Tribe’s delegate to the National Congress of American Indians and authorized paying $25,000 in dues;

• Appointed Tribal Council member Kathleen George to the Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. Board of Directors with a term ending in June 2018;

• Approved a memorandum of understanding between the Tribe and the Willamina School District for the 2016-17 school year. The Tribe and school district have had an interagency agreement since 2003 and it has been renewed annually;

• Approved the agenda for the 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, General Council meeting that will be held in the Tribal gym. The presentation in executive session will be a financial report by Robert W. Baird Inc. representatives;

• Approved the enrollment of 16 non-infants and two infants into the Tribe because they meet the requirements outlined in the Enrollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution;

• And approved two Restoration Roll corrections.

Also included in the Sept. 28 Tribal Council packet were authorizations to proceed to demolish the house on the Rhodes property that used to be the Men’s Transition House and for staff to develop and present costs for the full build-out of the Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center.

Cultural Resources employees Jordan Mercier and Brian Krehbiel led the ceremonial 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.