Navajo Nation Council Delegate Dwight Witherspoon and Hard Rock Chapter President Percy Deal reporting to Resources & Development Committee on Oct. 8, 2013, the need for a paved road from Pinon to Hard Rocks. Photo by Marley Shebala
Second revision of RDC proposed agenda, 10-8-13
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7xhIWpNuJXiMG93MFAtZWp3a0E/edit?usp=sharing
Navajo Council Delegate Dwight Witherspoon and former Council Delegate Percy Deal, who is the Hard Rock Chapter president, are making a report on a telecommunications appplication from Hopi for a right-of-way and in exchange the Hopis would approve a ROW for the paving of a road that criss crosses across the Hopi rez and Navajo rez. It also involves land that was under dispute betwwen the two governments, which if you look into the tragic 30 year history of the so-called Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute was created by Peabody Coal Company, the Mormons and the federal government.
The debate is over whether to get approal from the Hopi Tribe or to go around their land, which is more costly.
The RDC voted on its agenda, which is the proposed agenda. The $4.1 m for Navajo Transitional Energy Company is item (g). The proposed Energy Policy legislation is item (k).
There are four reports, including the one currently being given by Delegate Witherspoon and Chapter Prez Deal. There are no old legislation and so after the reports, RDC will go to new legislation. There are 11 pieces of legislation, including the $4.1 m and Energy Policy.
But the RDC also has the option of waiving its Committee rules and taking up the $4.1 m and then the Energy Policy or visa versa.
RDC CHAIRPERSON KATHERINE BENALLY tells Delegate Witherspoon and Chapter Prez Deal why the RDC is hesitant about approving a right-of-way with Hopi so Hopi would approve a right-of-way for Navajo for Navajo Route 8031.
“We don’t trust them. They’ve us rights-of-ways and then they take them back.”
Benally recognizes Hopi Telecommunications General Manager Carroll Onsae, who is the Hopi representative.
The RDC votes to accept the report from Witherspoon and Deal. They have moved to the next report by Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources Fred White on an exit report by Edward Dee about financial improprities at the tribal Monument Valley Park.
