Yavapai-Apache, Verde Valley leaders discuss gaming revenues

<i>Courtesy photo</i><br>
Pictured from left to right are: Doug Bartosh, Cottonwood City Manager; Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig; Gayle Mabery, Clarkdale Town Manager; Tribal Council Members Roberta Quail and Robert Jackson; Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens; Chairman Thomas Beauty; Tribal Council Members Nancy Guzman and Cora-Lei Marquez; Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis and Tribal Council Member Jon Huey.

<i>Courtesy photo</i><br> Pictured from left to right are: Doug Bartosh, Cottonwood City Manager; Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig; Gayle Mabery, Clarkdale Town Manager; Tribal Council Members Roberta Quail and Robert Jackson; Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens; Chairman Thomas Beauty; Tribal Council Members Nancy Guzman and Cora-Lei Marquez; Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis and Tribal Council Member Jon Huey.

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. -Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairman Thomas Beauty and Tribal Council members Robert Jackson, Roberta Quail, Nancy Guzman, Cora-Lei Marquez and Jon Huey met with Verde Valley Mayors Doug Von Gausig, Diane Joens and Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis at The Lodge at Cliff Castle on Feb. 20. The meeting amongst the Verde Valley leadership team stemmed from the recent distribution of the Proposition 202 Gaming Revenue funds to local towns, cities and counties by the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

The Yavapai-Apache Nation and Verde Valley leaders discussed community priorities and some of the challenges associated with the distribution of the Prop 202 Gaming Revenues.

Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig said, "As a municipality, the challenge of distributing these funds is that once it is distributed to our government, we are then requested to distribute funding to organizations and schools. The issue isn't with our leaders supporting education, youth programs or economic development, the challenge for us is the method of distributing the funds. While that is the challenge, we would like the opportunity to expend the funds in the spirit of the Nation's requests."

Together, leaders developed an action plan that identified a new process in the distribution of Prop 202 Gaming Revenues.

Tribal leaders and Verde Valley leaders agreed that every November, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, Mayors and County Supervisor will meet and discuss current community/county priorities, current issues and challenges and develop common projects that can be funded by gaming revenues that will be mutually beneficial to all Verde Valley residents and the tribal community.

Chairman stated, "I wanted to bring us all together today and not only discuss the Prop 202 gaming revenues for 2009, but to also discuss how we can move forward as a region in the future. The relationships and partnerships that the Nation has with each community is very important. We like the concept of discussing regional projects that will benefit all Verde Valley residents, including our tribal members."

Verde Valley leaders and tribal leaders recognize that while there are a few challenges in the current process and the recent distribution of gaming revenues, each community will attempt to honor the funding priorities of the Nation or will identify other key priorities within their own community for the use of the 2009 distribution.

"We are honored that Verde Valley leaders were willing to come to the table and discuss the challenges that they experience in the current process. The only way to continue to improve our relationships and processes is through communication," Beauty said.

"Our meeting is a true reflection of this concept. It makes more sense for us all to work closely as a leadership team within the Verde Valley and identify projects and causes that will impact everyone," he added.

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