Amador County – Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians tribal Chairwoman Rhonda Morningstar Pope criticized Amador County Aug. 22 for delay of her liquor license application and also the makeup of a tribal-county committee, before being asked to leave the podium.
Pope spoke at the outset of the Aug. 22 Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting, during “public matters not on the agenda.” Pope said: “I guess I’ll pick on you, Chuck,” telling County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley she was not happy to hear the county had already selected members of an Intergovernmental Services Agreement committee, and included Supervisor Richard Forster.
Pope said she did not want Forster on the committee because of a conflict of interest. She said she had “requested that Mr. Forster recuse himself because he is adamantly against the project.”
Forster said if he should recuse himself for a conflict, then “you would probably have to have the other three committee members recused.”
Sherry Robinson, board clerk said Wednesday that the Buena Vista-Amador County Committee includes Forster and Supervisor Vice Chairman Boitano, but County Counsel Martha Shaver said the Buena Vista tribe’s members are not known because they have not been appointed by the tribe.
The Intergovernmental Services Agreement (ISA) is on the County website, and was part of the Buena Vista Me-Wuks’ “last best offer,” which an arbitrator ruled into effect in June 2008. That came after Amador County declined to participate in arbitration or even testimony, and did not present its own last best offer. Supervisors failed to approve an ISA on a 2-2 deadlock, with Plasse and Forster against, and Supervisor Brian Oneto recused due to family property owned near the tribe’s proposed “off reservation” casino project, on Coal Mine Road, in Forster’s District 2.
On Aug. 22, Pope said Buena Vista Rancheria has a liquor license pending, and wondered why it had not been approved. She asked if all liquor licenses were treated the same way, or if “you simply oppose ours and do not oppose others.”
Since the ISA committee was already formed, Pope said she wanted to know how the ISA “Community Funds” are allocated. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said allocations are “at the full discretion of the Board of Supervisors.”
After several overlapping exchanges and interruptions passed between Pope and Supervisors, then Plasse said: “Miss Pope, your three minutes are up.” When she continued speaking, Plasse adjourned the Board to closed session. Pope then left the podium, and Plasse reconvened the regular session.
Amador County has a federal lawsuit pending against the tribe and its casino project.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
