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Robertson, Van Slyke vote for new tribal trust deal, cancel advisory vote; Kittelman votes against both.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners this morning approved 2-1 an agreement that Commissioners Doug Robertson and Dan Van Slyke said would ease concerns about land transfers by the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
At the same time, the board voted 2-1 to rescind the advisory vote that had been slated for inclusion on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman, who originally suggested the idea, voted against both measures.
The advisory question would have asked Douglas County voters whether there should be a cap on the amount of land the Tribe can take off the property tax rolls and put into tribal trust.
Commissioners engaged in a heated discussion this morning over the tribal trust issue.
Commissioners Doug Robertson and Dan Van Slyke spoke in favor of reaching middle ground with the Tribe and supported a new cooperative resolution.
Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman challenged their actions.
“Let the people of Douglas County tell you whether they want to move on or not. Let the people be heard,” she said.
Van Slyke said that he wanted to find ways “not to fight, but to fix.”
Robertson said it was time to “see if we can heal this open wound and put it behind us.”
Robertson read the resolution at the meeting this morning, after first speaking of the need to move past the “divisive and contentious” issue that was facing the county. He said that a softening of the position of Van Slyke allowed the process to move forward.
After Van Slyke indicated his desire to move beyond the current impasse, Robertson said tribal officials responded they were willing to seek middle ground as well.
The new resolution is a non-binding agreement that the Tribe will meet with any taxing district that could be affected by moving land off the tax rolls and into tribal trust.It will not prohibit any individual or entity from responding to any land transfers.
The resolution, which recognizes the status of the Tribe in federal and state laws, was signed by Cow Creek tribal chairwoman Sue Shaffer.
Van Slyke added that he didn’t think the resolution could have been written any better and that it was tremendously important.
Kittelman said that she saw nothing negative in the resolution itself, but pointed out that it isn’t binding, and doesn’t say the tribe will take any action to mitigate financial impacts.
Kittelman maintained the results would give the commissioners guidance in how to approach the tribal trust issue. Critics said the federal government has jurisdiction over Indian law and treaties and the vote would have no practical effect.
Robertson met with tribal officials over a period of weeks to come up with the agreement. Van Slyke had suggested such an agreement but because of strained relations between him and the tribe, Robertson acted as the go-between.
Efforts to craft the agreement were bolstered last week when U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith sent the commissioners a letter asking them to resolve their differences with the tribe over the land transfer issue.
The past close working relationship between the county and the tribe had been touted as a national model and the senators said they hated to see that jeopardized.
<<< History of the Cow Creeks>>>