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From the President's Desk - Febuary 15th 2008 edition
March 11, 2008 2:17PM
By Joe
Another edition, I missed a few because the mail ruined some.
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I hope everyone is well and in good health.
SENECA NATION, NEW YORK STATE, CITY OF SALAMANCA AGREE ON PLAN TO REOPEN CENTER STREET BRIDGE IN THE CITY OF SALAMANCA
The Nation, State and City seek to ease difficulties for whole community.
I have important news for you regarding the Center Street Bridge in Salamanca, N.Y. I realize that the closing of the bridge is causing inconvenience, especially long delays for people having to take a much longer detour to reach their destination.
On Feb. 8, 2008 – The Seneca nation of Indians hosted a meeting with the sate, county and city officials that led to a proposal to lay a temporary bridge over the closed Center Street Bridge in Salamanca and repoen it in six months.
“We wish to thank the state, county and city officials as well as their consultants, for a productive meeting on this problem that affects all our constituents,” said Maurice A. John Sr., president of the Seneca nation of Indians, “This shows that we can have a unified effort and come together for everyone's mutual benefit.”
The meeting involved the New York State Department of Transportation, the City of Salamanca, the Nation's Transportation Department, Cattaraugus County, and consultants involved in the project. About 40 people attended the meeting at the Seneca Alleghany Casino & Hotel, including Nation Council members Richard Nephew, Todd Gates, Tina Abrams, Robert Pierce, Michael Williams and Don John; also Seneca Nation Senior counsel Rober Porter; and also N.Y.S State Senator Catharine M. Young. R-Rlean, and Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Olean. A representative of U.S. Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Olean, also attended.
State DOT officials presented 10 options and the group's unofficial consensus was for the state to use $1 million in mostly federal funds to lease a temporary bridge that would lie on top of the present platform.
That bridge can be in place this summer, officials said after ramps are constructed on Center Street leading to and from the bridge. They are needed because a temporary bridge would raise the permanent bridge deck's level by several feet. A decision on proceeding with the idea awaits final engineering studies to make sure the existing bridge can support the temporary one.
While this temporary fix will only allow one lane of traffic to cross at a time, it would support the bridge's full load, allowing emergency vehicles, buses and commercial vehicles to use the bridge again.
Dot officials also said that the state has moved up by two years plans for a full replacement bridge. Bids on that would go out in the fall of 2009, with completion in 2011.
The state Dot announced Jan. 18 that it would close the bridge. The steel truss bridge is on of three crossing the Allegany River in Salamanca. It is the city's West End and is owned by the state, but is on Nation property. Last fall the bridge, which carries Route 353 or Center Street over the river, was reduced to a 15-ton limit and one lane.
President John, who hosted the meeting and delivered brief opening remarks, said the Nation will work closely with those involved to get necessary legal agreements in place to reopen the bridge.
Last fall, a city consultant estimated the repairs to the bridge would cost $1.5 million.
There are several entities involved in the bridge's governance, including the city, state and Nation, but also the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. This group has successfully worked out maintenance and repair issues on more than a half-dozen bridges in the city. Arrangements to repair this bridge were also confused by it being on a federal repair list more than 10 years ago. “The Nation played no role in closing this bridge, or causing it to be closed,” John explained. “But we are especially pleased that Nation and city residents will soon be able to again use this vital river crossing.”
SENECA NATION AND SENECA CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CORPORATION PARTICIPATE IN NATION 8(A) CONFERENCE
President Maurice A. John, officials of the Seneca Nation, and executives of Seneca Construction Management (SCMC) attended the first National 8(a) conference in late January. The conference was held in Weehawken, NJ on the banks of the Hudson River across from Manhattan and was attended by Alaska Native Corporations, Native corporations, and non-Native business executives from across the Nation. The purpose of the conference was to encourage tribes and tribally owned businesses to participate in the federally sponsered 8(a) national program.
President John opened the conference, welcoming the participants from across the country in extolling the accomplishments of the Seneca Nation in developing successful companies like Seneca Construction Management. President's John's welcome speech was followed by a demonstration by Seneca singers and dancers (by a group of men and women from the Allegany and Cattaraugus territories).
The 8(a) program enables companies to enter into negotiated sole source contracts with government agencies. To participate in the program, a company must be certified by the US Small Business Administration. Requirements for certification are that the company be owned by a member of an economically and socially disadvantaged group. Tribes and tribally owned business are eligible to participate in the 8(a) program. A number of Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal organizations have enjoyed great success in the 8(a) program, developing companies with extensive operations throughout the US and overseas.
The Alaskans and other Navies provided advice and support, encouraging the Nation and SCMC to become certified in the 8(a) program and take advantage of its enormous potential. President John has encouraged Nation officials and SCMC to further explore the possibility of Nation participation in the 8(a) program. SCMC is a tribally charted corporation managing the construction of Nation projects, including the Niagara Falls Sap Hotel, Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel, and the Buffalo Creek Temporary Casino. SCMC is currently managing construction of the permanent Buffalo Creek Casino, and several project for the Seneca nation Capital Improvements Authority.
RODNEY KEYES APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY
We would like to welcome Rodney Keyes, who has recently been appointed Chief of Staff for the Cattaraugus Territory. Rodney, enrolled Seneca, member of the Heron Clan, was born and raised in the “Bucktown” area of Cattaraugus Territory. He is the eldest son of the late Karen “Annie” and Robert “Boots” Keyes. He is 46 years old.
Rodney volunteered for the U.S. Air Force in 1980 where he server honorably for 11 years. At the time of his discharge, he received the Meritorious Service Medal. He then worked for MBC Engineers in San Antonio, Texas from 1991-2000 as an Engineering Technician.
He moved back home in 2001 and has been running the Keyes family business since then. In 2004, he married Shelly John and together have a daughter, Ruth Anne. Combined, they have 6 children, 3 grown and 3 at home.
Currently, he is serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Nation's Import/Export Commission.
Rodney said, “I am a proud member of the Seneca Nation and believe we have to do everything in our power to protect and preserve our sovereignty for future generations.”
Rodney Keys can be contacted at the William Seneca Building, Cattaraugus Territory, at XXX-XXXX extension XXXX.
UNITED SOUTH & EASTERN TRIBES (USET) MEETING IN WASHING, D.C.
USET will hold its annual “Washington Impact Week” this month. A small delegation of Executives, Councilors and Program Directors will attend the General Assembly sessions and committee meetings. This will be an opportunity to listen to Federal agency program representatives make reports of various federal programs in the fields of health, education, housing, economic development, to name just a few topics. Executives and Councilors will travel to the “hill” to meet with Congressmen and women, and Senators regarding various topics. In addition, we will meet with various tribal leaders from the South and Eastern tribes to discuss our similar issues. Joint resolutions will be enacted to be sent to Congress. Delegates from 26 tribes will participate. Overall, it will be a very busy week.
CONCLUSION
In closing, we are very busy with day-to-day matters, putting forth all our efforts to not only protect our sovereignty, but also to ensure economic success results for the members of the Seneca Nation. We are working diligently to complete our building program that was reported in the last edition of the Newsletter. I wish for everyone the best of health.
Maurice A. Jon, Sr.
President
SENECA NATIOIN OF INDIANS