Tribal Council OKs capital contribution to casino

Tribal Council approved a $302,060 capital contribution to Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. to replace aging ticket redemption machines in the casino at its Wednesday, Oct. 8, meeting.

Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Stan Dillon said at the Oct. 7 Legislative Action Committee meeting that the machines are reaching their "end of life," meaning manufacturers no longer make replacement parts and no longer support the software technology to operate them.

"We need to upgrade them," Dillon said.

The advantages to the casino and Tribe, Dillon said, are the ticket redemption machines make it easier for gaming customers to check out and it also reduces labor costs.

"We don't have to hire a lot of cashiers," Dillon said. "They save us money as well as help guests cash out quickly and efficiently."

"This was an unbudgeted item, but it was something that was needed," Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said, adding that the casino allocated $75,000 for the expense.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved submitting the Tribe's 2015 Indian Housing Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Native American Programs;
• Appointed Sarah Ross to the Cultural Trust Board;
• Appointed Tribal Council member Tonya Gleason-Shepek to the Chemawa Station LLC Board of Directors;
• Appointed Tribal Council member Ed Pearsall to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees;
• And approved final adoption of the emergency amendment to the Enrollment Ordinance that gives the Enrollment Committee final say regarding involuntary loss of membership cases.

Tribal Council member Jon A. George and Tribal employees Brian Krehbiel, Travis Mercier and Eirik Thorsgard performed the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting.