KINGMAN - Questions are being raised about the management of Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk - especially after the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation board of directors indicated to the Hualapai Tribal Council that it was considering a plan to borrow more than $20 million.
The Tribal Council has scheduled a community meeting on the topic for 5 p.m. Tuesday in the tribal gym at Peach Springs. Calls to the council chair and vice chair were not returned.
According to a fact sheet attached to the meeting announcement, the Tribal Council temporarily suspended the board of directors for Sa' Nyu Wa, Inc and the GCRC on Sept. 22.
"The council's action is only a suspension of the directors' authority (and not an outright removal of the directors) and is only temporary (to deal with an emergency). It is intended that the authority of the directors will be reinstated once this temporary period has passed," the fact sheet states.
"This action was not due to any concern about wrongdoing by any director, officer or employee of SNW or GCRC. Many factors indicated that there was inadequate management control of the business, requiring urgent action by the council."
The fact sheet goes on to list several factors requiring action by the council, including:
• A number of SNW and GCRC board members resigning.
• Lack of a permanent chief executive officer.
• The failure of the SNW and GCRC to adopt bylaws until recently, despite repeated requests from the council.
• Meeting minutes of both SNW and GCRC boards were not prepared or approved.
• Financial statements for SNW and GCRC were not presented to the council despite the two boards having two or more accounting firms on retainer to audit such records.
• SNW has not presented a 2009 budget to the council despite repeated extensions of time to prepare one.
• The tribe has not received any dividends from SNW and GCRC for 2008 or 2009.
• Reports of a marketing dispute between SNW and GCRC.
• Possible issues with the contract between GCRC, SNW and David Jin's company. Jin is a Las Vegas businessman who helped to fund the Skywalk project.
• GCRC allegedly permitting some vendors to operate without contracts, making it difficult to determine if sales tax was collected for the tribe.
• Communication problems between GCRC and vendors.
The Skywalk is a glass-bottom structure which suspends visitors more than 4,000 feet above the floor of the Grand Canyon. It extends 70 feet from the edge of the canyon. It was completed in March 2007.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Article comment by:
HAPPY 2 B HERE
TO CAPT. NICE!
Hello, as you write the things you do about Native Americans and SOVEREIGNTY....well U MUST B WHITE! And yes you elaberate on tax payer's money.....well, let me inform you on something that may not have crossed your mind. As a sovereign nation where do you think we go to shop YES THATS RIGHT out side of the SOVEREIGN NATION the "REZ" and YOU too live off of and make earnings off of the NATIVE AMERICANS "SOVEREIGN PEOPLE" So you too cannot live without us and the whole Columbus story is not a myth! Native Americans were here FIRST! Now you have taken from native american people STOLD what was ALL Native Americans and built your wealth. Our money shopping for the simple necessities are taxed and that's what builds YOUR world. We are not all that dumb as you make us sound! So in most people opinions what makes WHITE people suerior than others.
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Article comment by:
DB
TO CAPT. NICE.
If you're so resentful to the Hualapai's, why do you work for them? They put food in you and your family's mouth, don't they?
Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Capt. Nice
If the Hualapai is a sovereign nation how come they are completely dependent on tax payers money? To me a sovereign nation creates their own wealth, has their own armies and navies and can operate on their own, so where does this sovereign thing come from? I think it is more a tongue and cheek thing!
Please don't come back with "We owe them" because I hear that to much on the rez.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Ann
Why is it such a big deal to kingman residents what is happening on an indian reservation where you have no business in, so you can have reason to hate the native american even more, isn't enough what you put our elders through to take our country away, that is our reservation, any time a minority moves up in this world, the white man just can't handle it.
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
MB
That's what happens when you get in bed with the Las Vegas shysters.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
patricia
for individuals interested in the truth concerning the Hualapai Tribal government and the Tribes corporation concerning tourism and skywalk, we invite you to hear from the people themselves. The Tribal Councils Chairman has publicaly invited community members/interested individuals to a community meeting On Tuesday November 10,2009 at 5:00 p.m. at the tribal gymnasium. DIRECTIONS: as soon as you hit peach springs take a right in front of the Hualapai Lodge, cross the tracks and take a left after the bridge and youll see the gymnasium to your right. The suppporters of HAPC "Hualapai's Against Political Corruption will be there. Come hear whats really going on and how most tribal members are getting a raw deal.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Capt. Nice
None of this comes to any suprise to me because I see first hand how the Tribe runs the affairs in Peach Springs.
Our country has created a monster, creating reservations and now we have to live with what we have done or do away with them and I doubt if any politician would have the guts to do it. One thing I would like to know is if a reservation has a very successful casino are those profits deducted from the tax payers money that is given to run the reservation? Knowing how our government operates, I doubt it because Indians are voters.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
MB
Who cares? You reap what you sew.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Counselor
Since the Hualapai Nation is a sovereign natioin there can be no appeal to any court, not even the Supreme Court, nor under portion of the U.S. Constitution. All Indian nations are sovereign and thus exempt from such appeals and suits for relief.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Gary L Slominski
As a former employee of Grand Canyon Resort Corporation I'm not surprised at any problems at Grand Canyon West. I've witnessed a systematic disregard for environmental, health and safetly regulations by upper management, while employed there. For example the septic systems seep sewage to the surface because they are the wrong type for that environment. I've personally witnessed thousands of gallons of raw sewage pour onto the ground's surface. There's even a disregard for US Constitution rights. The Tribal Counsil demands, as a condition of employment, employees have to give up any rights to a court trial and all disputes are to be settled by the Tribal Counsil giving them what amounts to dictatioral powers. A smart lawyer with, federal court experience, might be what it takes to straighten out all the problems I've seen.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Kingman Resident
Why does the newspaper not mention who is on the boards of both SNW and GCRC. Is it possible to get this information? This might explain why they are having problems.
