Kayenta to issue bonds
Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau
KAYENTA, Ariz. — If everything goes as planned, Kayenta will
beat the Navajo Nation to the use of tax exempt bonds.
According to The Bond Buyer, a trade newsletter for the bond industry,
Kayenta will borrow independently of the Navajo Nation next month.
Kayenta will split the bond issue into $4 million for a juvenile detention
center and $1.2 million for street lights. Newman and Associates Inc.
will serve as the lead underwriter.
"This is groundbreaking and it's been difficult to get it to
this point," said Dennis Smith of the Native American Financial
Services Co. Inc. "It was difficult merging Native American thinking
with Wall Street municipal requirements."
The deal is so unusual that the financial team at Newman doesn't know
whether to structure the bonds as general obligations or revenue bonds.
Kayenta has a secure and solid revenue stream to pay down the debt,
because it has been collecting a 2.5 percent retail-sales tax since
1997. The township collected $600,000 from the sales tax and leasing
revenues in its last fiscal year, which ended in May.
The sales tax provides a double-barreled security pledge because there
also may be lease-revenue backing, said Beth Cascadden, Kayenta's
project manager and legal counsel.
She wants to structure the debt as lease-revenue bonds, using a lease
fee to pay the debt service for the juvenile center and the street
lights in the subdivision currently under construction. The sales
tax will cover any shortfall.
Cascaddan will hire separate bond counsel and is deciding between
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Dorsey and Whitney.
The deal will need close scrutiny, because Kayenta is a local government
financially independent from the Navajo Nation and the state of Arizona.
Yet it is recognized by both.
Kayenta's tribal connection may require a ruling from the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service that would take several months.
While the debt is too small for big investors, it could be the start
of more bonding, since the Navajo Nation is using Kayenta as a testing
ground for local governance.
The Navajo Nation has been looking at issuing its own tax-exempt bonds
since the 1980s and is now, according to tribal officials, in the
last stages of bringing a $100 million bond proposal to the council
for approval.
| Top |
Ex-worker claims racial harassment
Lawsuit says natives teased by co-workers
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A former employee who claimed fellow workers made fun
of him because he had lived on the Navajo Reservation has filed a
$100,000 lawsuit in federal district court in Albuquerque.
The lawsuit alleges harassment and discrimination and was filed against
Petrie Motors of Albuquerque.
Alex Wilson, 44, a Navajo, claims he was continually harassed with
racially derogatory comments and slurs made by his supervisors against
him and other Native American employees and customers during the four
years he worked as a salesman at the dealership.
Wilson said he asked the managers to stop using insulting and offensive
language when talking to Native Americans and about them, but the
complaints were ignored.
As a result, Wilson filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
complaint. When the EEOC notified Petrie Motors of the action, Wilson
was questioned, harassed and then put on leave, leading to his termination.
The EEOC investigation, however, determined that Wilson had, indeed,
been "subjected to a racially hostile work environment."
The EEOC report stated that racial, derogatory and offensive name
calling and comments by management officials occurred on a daily basis.
Mark Patrick Geiger, legal counsel for Wilson, said more than half
of the Petrie employees interviewed confirmed the allegations of racially
offensive language and joking as part of the daily routine.
Another former employee, Edward L. Wynn, said in an EEOC affidavit
that during his employment at Petrie there were no posted or printed
policies regarding EEOC practices, including information on antidiscrimination
policies based on race.
Wynn also cited details of a scene in the sales office when Wilson
negotiated with a manager on behalf of a Native American customer.
The manager said to Wilson: "(Expletive deleted) Indians, can't
buy anything. Why don't you bring me a real customer?"
Wynn said other managers allegedly stated that Native Americans were
"deadbeats who can't qualify for loans."
Wilson had also been ridiculed for living on the Navajo Reservation
as well.
On a daily basis, according to the affidavit, Wilson was asked if
he and other Native Americans living on the reservation had sexual
intercourse with sheep. As a result of the inference, Wilson and other
Native Americans were called offensive names derived from the references
to animals.
When he tried to intercede and asked the management to stop the offensive
behavior, Wynn said, he was ignored.
Affidavits from several Petrie managers confirmed that name calling
and racially slurred jokes were part of the business day, but the
comments were made in a joke-telling atmosphere, adding that Wilson
had participated as well.
According to an affidavit by another employee, Petrie had been a better
place to work until General Manager Anthony DeMarco changed the sales
rules. The atmosphere became a "dog-eat-dog situation trying
to take customers." Fistfights in front of the manager's desk
were also cited in the report.
Sexually harassing remarks and discrimination involving females, African
Americans and Hispanic employees were also reported.
Personnel at Petrie Motors were unavailable for comment.
| Top |
Time runs out on bill to fix county schools
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature ran out of time Thursday
to decide a bill important to the fight by McKinley and Cibola county
schools for more money for school construction and repair.
The Legislature ended its work Thursday but faces a special session
to work out budget problems.
The lack of action on the school construction bill left at least one
usually mild-mannered and unflappable Gallup lawmaker furious.
There had been high hopes for a last minute Senate vote on a bill
that would have gone a long way toward fixing school construction
money problems. But those hopes were drowned under a flood of words.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ken W. Martinez, D-Cibola, McKinley and
Sandoval, was for a constitutional amendment allowing the state to
tap into the Permanent Severance Tax Fund to help solve long-range
problems with school construction and repair. It was a crucial part
of the package of bills meant to meet the demands of Zuni, Gallup-McKinley
and Grants/Cibola schools in their lawsuit against the state. It already
had passed the House.
But a Republican senator talked it to death as the clock ran out on
the legislative session at noon Thursday.
Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Dona Ana, Otero and Sierra, miffed because
he and other Republicans felt shortchanged as the 30-day session drew
to a close, talked and made political jabs until the time ran out.
At one point in his rambling discourse, he even suggested a statewide
property tax, a strange suggestion for a tax-hating Republican to
utter in public.
Rep. Dave Pederson, D-McKinley, called what Rawson did in killing
the bill "one of the most reprehensible things ever done in the
Legislature. He put his own ego ahead of the poorest and neediest
children in this state." Pederson was visibly angry as he spoke
Sen. Bill Davis, R-Bernalillo, has filibustered sessions into oblivion
several times in past years. "Davis has caused a lot of trouble,"
Pederson said, "but the things he did pale in relation to what
Rawson did."
Senate Pro Tem Manny Aragon, D-Bernalillo, said Rawson's action put
the state in a dangerous position with the court.
House Speaker Raymond Sanchez, D-Bernalillo, complained about Republican
"individuals" who have "taken it upon themselves"
to derail Legislative sessions. "In this case, he (Rawson) has
put us in jeopardy of a court decree," Sanchez. said.
Rep. Max Coll, D-Santa Fe, said, "Zuni and the other districts
need that money."
Pederson said many lawmakers don't seem to understand that the public
school capital outlay suit has been won by the McKinley and Cibola
school districts and that their lack of action could put the funding
process under the control of District Judge Joseph L. Rich.
Rich mentioned the possibility of the constitutional amendment in
a memorandum filed in the case in January. He used the memo to encourage
lawmakers to "follow through on the proposed short and long term
solutions which includes a constitutional amendment outlined to the
court."
Gallup-McKinley School Superintendent Robert Gomez sat in the gallery
watching Rawson drain the clock and doom the bill.
"In 10 days we have to report back to the judge" on action
taken or not taken by the Legislature, Gomez said. "What is the
alternative (to the permanent fund amendment)? That's our question."
Gomez said the Legislature's inaction preserves the status quo of
inequities plaguing the current public school capital outlay system.
"The problems of poor districts like ours are not being addressed,"
he said.
Two short-term bond bills that would produce about $75 million passed,
but they were meant to take up the slack before the permanent fund
money became available.
Gov. Gary Johnson, when asked about the death of the constitutional
amendment allowing use of the permanent fund, said he was "glad
the bill didn't make it through." He opposes use of the permanent
fund, even in the face of the lawsuit.
When asked about failed attempts to fix the problems raised in the
lawsuit, he said, "It's fixed, isn't it?"
In all likelihood, the judge will not see it that way. He has given
the state until late July to come up with a solution to the capital
outlay problem.
There is a chance the legislative package might be resurrected for
the special session.
| Top |
Bidders chosen for marina
Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau
PAGE, Ariz. — Five developers have been chosen to submit construction
bids for the long-delayed resort and marina project at Antelope Point,
which has been in the planning stages for more than 30 years.
The developer will be chosen by September, and the tentative date
for groundbreaking is early next year, said Herman Tso of the Antelope
Point Team. Eight developers were considered by the team, and five
of them were found to have the money to construct and run the resort.
The five will be requested to submit proposals in April.
The developers are: KOA Campgrounds of America; Forever Living Resorts;
Delaware North, which operates facilities at the Grand Canyon and
Yosemite National Park; Aeromark, which operates the Wahweap Lodge
and Marina, and GMS Inc., which operates marinas on large lakes in
Arizona...
| Top |
Officials seek clues to fire at Navajo
School
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
NAVAJO, N.M. — More than 500 boys and girls here received two
extra days vacation from school as investigators sorted through the
charred remains of what had been the local public elementary school's
library, computer lab and two classrooms.
No injuries were reported at Navajo Elementary.
Firefighters from five departments assisted the local Navajo Pine
Fire and Rescue Department in containing, then extinguishing, the
three-hour blaze which was reported to the Metro Dispatch Center in
Gallup about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday...
| Top |
Seniors flex muscles at Quad race
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — As members of Los Coyotes speed by them Saturday, some
quadrathletes may feel the way the hare did when the ol' tortoise
zipped passed him in that famous race.
The members of Los Coyotes are at least 60 years old and all are from
the Grants area. This means the team has the oldest members in the
17th Annual Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon, a grueling 44-mile bike
ride, foot race, ski trip and snowshoe run from downtown Grants up
the side of the mountain and back again.
Since the race goes from an elevation of 6,500 feet in Grants to 11,301
feet at the pinnacle of Mount Taylor, the race is not for the faint-hearted...
| Top |
For the good men of Pinedale
Duane A. Beyal
Staff Writer
Daryl and Mike are humble men.
You don't hear them broadcasting their virtues. You don't see them
on the covers of magazines. They don't want your vote.
Neither will you hear about them messing around like current and former
presidents.
No one keeps soiled dresses as souvenirs of encounters with them.
They don't flash cash. They don't drive Corvettes...
| Top |
St. Michael girls run away with victory
Ariz. state tournament
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
CHANDLER, Ariz. - The St. Michael Lady Cardinals had an easy time
eliminating Tucson Green Fields 53-32 Thursday afternoon during the
Class 1A state quarterfinals at the new Hamilton High School gym.
St. Michael, now 28-6 overall, will have played the winner of the
St. David-Phoenix Day School for the Deaf game early this morning
in the state semifinals. Should St. Michael win that game, the Lady
Cardinals will advance to Saturday's state finals at the America West
Arena at 2 p.m.
"Coaching games like this is very hard," said St. Michael coach Joey
Rollings about the mismatch in the first round. "It's hard to keep
the girls intense..."
| Top |
Wingate enjoys easy win over Tohatchi,
64-46
Bears clinch at least a tie for No. 1 seed in district
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
WINGATE — It was a festive night at Wingate High School Thursday
and the Bears made sure it stayed joyful.
The Bears jumped out to a 25-9 first quarter lead and then rolled
to a 64-46 victory over the Tohatchi Cougars to remain unbeaten in
a District 6AAA boys basketball game.
"We're 6-0 in the district with two games to go, so I couldn't
be happier," Wingate head coach Peter Viola said. "We need
to win one more to clinch first place going into the district tournament
which is a different ballgame where everyone has a new chance. That's
another season. Right now, 6-0, I'm very happy and I'm very happy
because it's taken a lot of hard work..."
| Top |
Bear wrestlers going after state glory
N.M. state wrestling
Robert Arrieta
Staff Sports Writer
WINGATE — Four Wingate wrestlers will be putting their season
on the line today as they compete in the state tournament at Kirtland
Central High School.
The three seniors and one sophomore are all first-year wrestlers and
will have their work cut out for them in a competitive class.
According to coach Ronald Keevama, the Bears' 125 pound wrestler,
Erwin Smith, has a good chance to place...
| Top |
Deaths
Naglenhah Samuel
FLATROCK, Ariz. — Services for Naglenhah Gorman Samuel, 106,
will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at St. Michaels Catholic
Church. Father Meldon Hickey, O.F.M., will officiate. Burial will
follow at Flatrock.
Samuel died Feb. 14 in Chinle, Ariz. She was born Dec. 25, 1893, in
Woodspring, Ariz., into the Yucca Fruit People Clan for the Bitter
Water People Clan.
Samuel was a rugweaver and medicine woman (hand trembler). In 1959
she worked in the fields pincking sugar beets and tomatoes.
Survivors include her sons, Fred Gorman Sr. and Hoskie Gorman, both
of Nazlini, Sam Gorman of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Deswood Gorman
of Flatrock; daughters, Yeakashab G. Dedman of Nazlini, Frances G.
Smith of Sandy, Utah, and Annie Mae Begay and Mary R. Wilson, both
of Flatrock; brother, Edward Tsosie of Flatrock; sister, Mary Tsosie
of Flatrock; 44 grandchildren, 98 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren.
Samuel was preceded in death by parents, Hosteen and Nasbah Tsosie;
Charley Brown, Mike Tsosie and Anna Jones.
Pallbearers will be Carl Dedman Jr., Fred Smith, Chad Begay, Brent
E. Smith, Marcus Begay and Loren R. Gorman.
The family will receive relatives and friends at the Nazlini Chapter
House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
| Top |
All contents property of the
Gallup Independent.
Any duplication or republication requires consent of the
Gallup
Independent.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to
gallpind@cia-g.com
E-mail the webmaster at
martyr_dom@hotmail.com
