Tribal Council OKs grocery store study grant application

Could Grand Ronde support a grocery store?

The Tribe will study that issue if it receives a grant from the Native American Business Development Institute, which is part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Tribal Council approved a grant application for between $35,000 and $50,000 that, if received, would fund an economic development feasibility study during its Wednesday, June 29, meeting.

The Tribe’s recent survey of members found that 73.4 percent of local Tribal members responding were in favor of a grocery store being established in Grand Ronde. In addition, a grocery store has been on the Tribe’s Capital Improvement Plan projects list for several years.

“The grocery store appears to have the best potential for local job creation and to stimulate other economic development,” stated a staff report recommending applying for the grant.

At the Monday, June 27, Legislative Action Committee hearing, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said the Tribe issued a request for proposals for property on the north side of Highway 18 that is seeking a recommendation on the site’s highest and best use. Leno said that might be a good location for a grocery store.

“The Tribe has contracted for a highest and best use analysis for the parcel known as HR Jones/Round Valley, 24.33 acres located off Salmon River Highway in Grand Ronde,” said Lands Department Manager Jan Reibach. “The study will look at potential development options for the property that are economically viable.”

Planning and Grants Manager Kim Rogers said the BIA grant, if received, could complement the Tribal analysis of the property.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved the 2016 Right of Way Logging Unit timber sale as presented by the Natural Resources Department. It is expected to generate an estimated $91,600 in timber revenue;

• Approved the Natural Resources Department’s purchase of approximately $175,000 in crushed rock for forest road construction and maintenance for this year;

• Approved issuing a Tribal credit card for Natural Resources Silviculture and Fire Protection Technician Aaron Williamson;

• Approved applying to the Administration for Children and Families for a five-year Tribal Personal Responsibility Program grant totaling $327,867 in the first year and $300,000 annually in the other four years to continue funding the Tribe’s teen pregnancy prevention efforts;

• Approved an easement agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration allowing the agency access to transmission lines through two Tribal properties;

• Approved accepting title for the 14-acre Kilchis Point property near Bay City donated to the Tribe by Tillamook County in September 2015;

• And approved the enrollment of nine adults and two infants into the Tribe because they meet the membership criteria outlined in the Enrollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution, and denied the membership of one infant for not meeting the criteria.

Also included in the June 29 Tribal Council packet was a staff directive directing Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin to work with Member Services to research how many people relinquished their membership in another Tribe and waited five years to enroll in Grand Ronde. However, a staff directive to research blood quantum statistics failed to garner five signatures.

There also were authorizations to proceed that directed staff to adopt the Tribal Match Home Repair Program, adopt an Admissions and Occupancy Policy for the Housing Department, apply for a $150,000 Spirit Mountain Community Fund grant to help pay for a preschool addition to the Early Childhood Education building and authorize Finance Officer Chris Leno to transfer $2,000 into the Human Resources budget to establish an anonymous tip line, which is being established as a result of instituting a whistleblower policy.

Reibach joined Culture Department employees Jordan Mercier and Bobby Mercier, Ceded Lands Manager Michael Karnosh and numerous other Tribal members in performing 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.