Minutes: July 2, 2019

SAC AND FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA

Tribal Council Meeting- July 2, 2019, 5:00 PM

Sac and Fox Tribal Chambers

  1. Meeting called to order at 5:15 m.
  2. Roll Call

Presiding Officer: Anthony Waseskuk, Chairman

Tribal Council present: Adrian Pushetonequa, Vice-Chairman; Delonda Pushetonequa, Treasurer; Troy Wanatee, Apollo Davenport; Dawson Davenport; Jarvis Bear entered the meeting at 5:16 p.m.

Absent: none

Staff present: Bessie Scott, Executive Director; Oliviah Walker, Deputy Executive Director; Jay Finch, Attorney General; Bill Thurman, Comptroller; Yolanda Pushetonequa, Tribal Council Secretary; Lowella Balderas, Legal Assistant; Kent Scheid, Housing Director; Jacob Molitor, Chief of Police; Jon Keen, Realty Officer; Jarrett Pfrimmer, Natural Resources Director.

  1. Ascertainment of Quorum – A quorum was ascertained with 5 council members present at 5:15 m. Jarvis Bear entered the meeting at 5:16 p.m.
  2. Agenda approval

The Chairman asked for any changes or additions to the agenda. Yolanda states that original Item 7 d iii. Derek Poweshiek can be removed as we just received confirmation that he is rethinking his letter of interest. Jarvis Bear requests to add an item, a donation request as Item G. Motion made by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the agenda with the two changes. Dawson Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Minutes –
Motion made by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the minutes for April 24, 2019 and June 19, 2019. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. Reports – none
  2. New Business
  3. Natural Resources
    1. USGS Groundwater Model

Jarrett Pfrimmer, Natural Resources Director, is requesting a monitor to assess where drinking water is coming from, what direction etc. The ground water source is most likely the river, but this will be the definitive test. With the data gathered we will have justification to assert our right to comment on water issues such as upstream spills, other entities pulling water from the source, contamination issues, drought issues, drinking water issues, train derailments, FEMA programming, and other effects. It could help us have a say in setting standards for use of the Iowa River. We don’t currently have any science backed justification for any of these. This set of data will strengthen our cases and help project the water way from outside entities. Currently we are only able to access surface water funding because that’s what the last test covered. This would allow us to tap into ground water funding and projects. Once data is gathered, the tribe could use it to seek grants for coving a larger scale water analysis. The goal is to see the source of our ground waters. The tribe would need to pay 60% of the $70,000 for this preliminary test. The original project is $720,000 for a full investigation, but this is just a preliminary data gathering. We would be the first tribe to be able to create tribal water quality standards.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve funding for the groundwater model study. Dawson Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. EPA Regional Monitoring Network

Jarrett presents a proposal to do continuous data. Currently they go out once a month to collect samples. This would allow us to collect the ongoing fluctuations such as flooding events and other rain events. It will be a hobo unit that allows continuous data collection. The Region 7 of EPA will provide $18,000 worth of equipment to allow the processing of this information. Loading the live changes in data would be free due to the EPA equipment being provided. Currently we only collect on low water events, but this network would allow continuous assessment and collect info on large water events too. Some things such as cattle effects on our water during rain events would be captured. The equipment is good for 5-8 years. Need approval to participate in the Network and the EPA will come and set it up for free.

Motion by Adrian Pushetonequa to approve participation in the EPA Regional Monitoring Network. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  • Kinship Grazing

Jarrett Pfrimmer requests approval to enter into a contract with tribal members to graze their horses temporarily this year and next year in the kinship garden. Originally the plan was to have goats graze on it. The grazing is needed to curb growth for the two years. Using tribal members’ horses would save money. It’s for this season and potentially next season. The community members would be responsible for installing the fencing needed. Goats are mainly brush based species, cattle are harsher, and the horses would be a better fit.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve grazing on the kinship garden, with the stipulation that the horses must be owned by tribal members. Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. UFWS Pollinator Grant

Jarrett Pfrimmer requests approval to enter into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Dept of Fish and Wildlife. We had submitted two grants to US Fish and Wildlife. One was for white tail deer study and one was pollinators. For the pollinator one, this is one of the hardest to get, and they specifically pulled ours and wanted to straight fund it because they liked the grant so well. Environmental assessments, endangered species, benefits around community member gardens, identify areas to do more seeding and land improvements. The US Dept of Fish and Wildlife is willing to cover the costs of this and they can fund between $175,000 and $200,000. They also provide free training. It opens the door for recurring funding due to we will have been trained and have this base of pollinator work done. The cooperative agreement is different than a grant and that is what USDFW is proposing. This would begin Oct. 1. The community could take in the training too to identify pollinators.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve entering into a cooperative agreement grant with U.S. Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife for Pollinator Study. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. Tama Grass Fire Truck Release

Jarrett Pfrimmer presents a request to release interest in a fire truck that is available from city of Tama. The Tribe has the first right to refusal, and in order for the truck to be sold to anyone else, the Tribe must sign a letter waiving their interest in purchasing. Jarrett stated that there are better options and it’s recommended that we pass on this 1989 truck. Chairman would need to sign a letter stating the Tribe is not interested and release their interest in buying the truck.

Motion by Apollo Davenport to approve the release of the Tama Grass Fire Truck. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. Fiscal- Recreation Center

Bill Thurman, Comptroller presents a request to enter into contract agreement with ISG Architecture firm that has been selected by the Rec Center Committee. The

Motion by Jarvis Bear to enter into agreement with ISG for architecture services. Dawson Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. Executive Session – Problem Homes
Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to enter into Executive Session. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to exit Executive Session. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to exclude Nicholas Murty and Douglas Cadotte from the Meskwaki Settlement under Section 22-1205 Emergency Exclusion. Seconded by Troy Wanatee. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Adrian Pushetonequa to send notification to the residents of 165 Circle Ridge Drive and 654 Springs Road to appear before the Tribal Council to discuss their housing assignments on July 16, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively. Seconded by Vote: 5 yes, 0 no, 1 abstained (Delonda Pushetonegua). Motion carried.

Yolanda Pushetonequa states that a new board member for the County emergency board needs to be appointed to represent the tribe at the quarterly board meetings regarding 911 matters. The last appointee was Jeff Schrock.

Motion by Delonda Pusbetonequa to appoint Chief of Policie Jacob Molitor to the Tama County E911 Board. Seconded by Jarvis Bear. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  1. Realty
    1. Homes Needing Beneficiary Hearings

According to the new Housing Policy, whenever a homesite assignee passes away and do not have a surviving spouse or minor children remaining in the house, then a hearing must be scheduled between the Tribal Council and the immediate family members. There are so far about 35 homes that currently don’t have a new assignee after the original assignee had passed away, moved away, or otherwise left a home and someone else is living there. Tribal Council is asked how they wish to go about conducting and scheduling this large number of hearings. Tribal Council will wait until they can meet with Jon Keen and Housing Committee can have a work session with council on July 16.

  1. 110 E. Village Rd, Cheryl Wilson-Wright Home Site Assignment

Approval is needed for the homeesite assignment of 110 East Village Road to Cheryl Wilson-Wright. Motion by Apollo Davenport to approve the homesite assignment of 110 East Village Road to Cheryl Wilson-Wright. Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no, 2 abstained (Adrian Pushetonegua and Delonda Pushetonegua. Motion carried.

  1. Appoint Primary Member for Tama County E911 Board. This was addressed
  2. Schedule Next Tribal Council Meeting

The next Tribal Council Meeting will be July 17, 2019.

  1. Donation Request for RISE Program

Jarvis Bear presents a request for funding on behalf of R.I.S.E. He states that the R.I.S.E. program will hold a basketball camp and is requesting a matching contribution of half the expenses. R.I.S.E has $1,500 in their budget for this and would like to ask Tribal Council to contribute the other half, $1,500. Delonda Pushetonequa asks why the department is not here and if they submitted paper work for the request. Jarvis Bear stated that they asked him to present this on their behalf and he had a paper but left it. It will take place at the end of July. Delonda Pushetonequa states the department should be present for the request. Adrian Pushetonequa state that children are asked to present their own requests as well.

Motion by Apollo Davenport to table R.I.S.E.’s request until the next Tribal Council Meeting. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no, 1 abstained {Jarvis Bear). Motion carried.
  1. Adjourn
Motion made by Delonda Pushetonequa to adjourn. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no.

Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.