Tribes want to have voice in CSEPP direction

This story was published Wed, Aug 16, 2000

By Mary Hopkin
Herald Oregon bureau

IRRIGON - The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation want to have a voice in the management of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

The tribes were granted a nonvoting seat on the new board that will oversee CSEPP operations. But at the first board meeting held Tuesday night in Irrigon, tribe representative Armon Minthorn made it clear they want to be able to vote on board actions.

"We are the same as the counties, or the mayors, or any of those groups," Minthorn said. "We have more than $4 million in equipment, facilities and staff, so we have a vested interest. I think it is imperative that the tribes be considered a voting member."

But Morrow County Commissioner John Wenholz said the tribes don't have the same responsibilities.

"The governor said the counties have the responsibility," Wenholz said. "The program in the past hasn't worked, and the responsibility ends with the county commissioners. We don't need to make the board any larger."

Seven voting members have been appointed to the board: Bev Vernel of Oregon Emergency Management, representing the state; Morrow County Commissioner John Wenholz; Umatilla County Commissioner Dennis Doherty; Irrigon Mayor Linda Fox, representing local cities; Tom Johnson of the Oregon Health Department, representing the medical community; Hermiston Fire Chief Jim Sterns, representing first responders; and Bob Flournoy of the Community Action Committee, who is serving temporarily as the board's at-large community member until the board can solicit a member of the community who would like to be on the board.

Four nonvoting members also will attend meetings and join in discussions: Barry Anderson of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Depot Commander Lt. Col. Tom Woloszyn; and Minthorn, representing the tribes.

The board has four basic functions: to improve state, county and community emergency management capability and response; to develop the Oregon CSEPP budget; to provide leadership and accountability in the program; and to promote public confidence and trust.

Preliminary plans call for the board to hire a program manager to coordinate the activities of the separate agencies involved. The program manager will answer directly to the board and be held accountable.

The idea is to have more coordination among agencies with less redundancy in duties, saving manpower and increasing efficiency within CSEPP.

Doherty said the board will have the authority to act for all the agencies involved in Oregon CSEPP, which didn't make Minthorn happy.

"I have a concern about the board acting on my behalf," Minthorn said.

Doherty said the board would consider Minthorn's request.

 

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