General Council briefed on Spirit Mountain Casino in virtual executive session

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Stan Dillon and Spirit Mountain Casino Executive Marketing Director Shawna Ridgebear gave the first presentation of the new General Council meeting cycle on Sunday, Sept. 13, via the Zoom teleconferencing program.

The presentation before approximately 80 Tribal members was in executive session, which Smoke Signals was not allowed to attend.

Spirit Mountain Casino, the Tribe’s primary economic engine, has been open since June 1 following an unprecedented 74-day closure that started in mid-March.

September’s meeting marked the second time that General Council has been held virtually. The April General Council meeting scheduled to be held in Eugene was canceled after the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic erupted in Oregon and the May General Council meeting was held using Zoom.

Large indoor gatherings are still being discouraged because of the continuing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

In other action, Election Board Vice Chair Michael Mercier delivered the Tribal Council election results from Saturday, Sept. 12, that saw all three incumbents – Chris Mercier, Michael Langley and Lisa Leno – re-elected to three-year terms.

The next General Council meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in the Tribal Community Center or, more likely, using the Zoom teleconferencing program.

General Council opened with an invocation delivered by Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George.

The non-executive session portion of the meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the Government tab and then Videos. Tribal members wanting to see the executive session portion should contact Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez at stacia.martin@grandronde.org or by calling 503-879-2304.