Tribal Council approves Grand Ronde multi-use path study

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved a feasibility study for a multi-use path from Grand Ronde to Spirit Mountain Casino during its Wednesday, Dec. 3, meeting.

During a Tuesday, Dec. 2, Legislative Action Committee meeting,  Tribal Engineering & Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb said the study would explore different options for a multi-use path. Currently, those without transportation who want to travel from Grand Ronde to the casino must walk along a narrow shoulder on Highway 18.

“I think in 2018, 2019 or even 2020 there was an advisory vote by the membership that they would like us to explore a multi-use path, a better connection, really a safer connection between the Grand Ronde community and the casino,” he said. “So, this is the really the first step in that project…to really look at where the preferred alignment will be…By having this feasibility study completed, we’ll be able to go after further funding for design and construction of this.”

The $268,000 study by Kittelson & Associates Inc. of Portland will be funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation Community Paths Grant.

“I think a lot of this feasibility work, as we have public involvement form the community and the casino, is understanding really a fundamental, ‘What is the function of this path? Is it a direct A to B type path or would people like more of a leisurely connection?’” Webb said.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved an agreement between the Tribal Engineering Department and Linn County to access the Linn County tax lot layer and also approved a limited waiver of immunity to provide that any disputes that arise will be settled in Linn County Circuit Court;
• Approved a $210,930 professional services agreement with Architectural Resources Group Inc. of Portland for the design of renovation work for the Grand Ronde Historic Railroad Depot;
• Approved harvesting of 72.1 acres of the Tribe’s qhwex qhwex logging unit for a project minimum value of $1.1 million;
• Approved three limited waivers of sovereign immunity for Cricut Inc., onXmaps Software and Unreal Engine by Epic Games;
• Approved an annual timber distribution payment of $570 and a quarterly general welfare distribution of $2,850, and declared Friday, Dec. 12, as the payment date for both. Tribal members without direct deposit may pick up checks in person from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12;
• And approved enrolling three infants and 27 non-infants into the Tribe because they meet the requirements under the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

Tribal Council also set the agenda for the Sunday, Dec. 7, General Council meeting. It will be held at 11 a.m. in a hybrid format on Zoom and in Tribal Council Chambers and feature a program report from Cultural Resources and Ceded Lands.   

To watch the entire meeting, visit www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.