Minutes: June 28, 2018

SAC AND FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA

Tribal Council Meeting – June 28, 2018, 5:00 PM

Sac and Fox Tribal Chambers

  1. Meeting called to order at 5:04 p.m.
  2. Roll Call

Presiding Officer:  Anthony Waseskuk, Chairman

Tribal Council present:  Adrian Pushetonequa, Vice-Chairman; Delonda Pushetonequa, Treasurer; Troy Wanatee, Harvey Davenport, Jr., Apollo Davenport

Absent:  Jarvis Bear

Staff present:  Bessie Scott, Interim Executive Directors; Jay Finch, Attorney General; Yolanda Pushetonequa, Tribal Council Secretary; Allison Stewart, Enrollment Director, Azadeh Tavakoli, Human Resources Director.

Visitors: Leigh Lasley, Kay Waseskuk, Vestana Lasley, Terry Youngbear, Marian Davenport, Tonya Bear, Lynn F. Morgan, Amy Dye, Ramona Sanache.

  1. Ascertainment of Quorum – A quorum was ascertained with 6 council members present.
  2. Agenda approval

The Chairman asked for any changes or additions to the agenda. Apollo Davenport requests to add an Executive Session as Item E. Motion made by Jarvis Bear to approve the agenda as presented plus Item E. Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Minutes – May 2, 2018

Motion made by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the minutes for May 2, 2018. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Reports – Harvey Davenport reports that the Tribal Council has gone through the second draft of the housing policies and procedures and hopefully they’ll be done next week. Apollo Davenport reports he’ll be presenting in Item E. Executive Session

Jarvis Bear entered the meeting at 5:15pm.

  1. Old Business
    1. Meskwaki Settlement School – Technology Plan – Lisa Wunn presents a revisit to the Technology Plan. She introduces the topic with a review that the last meeting with the Tribal Council resulted in instructions for the school to get more info on making the Macs and iPads compatible with the Windows based operating system. The question is whether to purchase Macs or PCs. Numerous benefits for each type of device are discussed at length such as curriculum, user experience, staff hours required, quality, connectivity. A cost comparison is requested from MSS. The current budget is for the Dells. It just comes down to preference. Macs cost more, they’re a better computer. Harvey states that his official opinion and recommendation is to leave the decision with the school because they know best. Nick states that his recommendation is to stay with the current plan which is to purchase the Dell laptops (Windows OS) as planned Delonda states she agreed with Harvey. Nick and Lisa state they just need a motion. Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the purchase of Dell Laptops, Cases for the Dell Laptops, and Dell 3 yr Warranties as presented in the original budget, totaling $94,331.20 for the three. Seconded by Harvey Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  2. New Business

Item E, new addition to the agenda is conducted first per Tribal Council request. See item E title below.

  1. Vestana Lasley and Leigh Lasley present a current budget proposal for the Meskwaki Nation Day activities. They are requesting the approval of certain items on their list. $7,249.60 is the current updated amount after all other donations and adjustments. The committee this year is comprised of Vestana Lasley, Leigh Lasley, Kay Waseskuk, Amy Dye, and Harlan Brown.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve a tribal donation for Meskwaki Nation Day budget proposal in the amount of $7,249.60. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Jarvis Bear makes a motion to enter into Executive Session. Delonda Pushetonequa seconds. Tribal Council enters into Executive Session at 5:59 p.m. Vote: 6 yes 0 no.

Harvey Davenport left the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Apollo Davenport made the motion to come out of Executive Session. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Tribal Council exited Executive Session at 7:23 p.m. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no.

  1. Committees
    1. Enrollment
      1. Jarvis Bear makes the motion to table the dual enrollment issue pending investigate of Jesse Lasley and schedule an interview. Seconded Delonda Pushetonequa. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  2. Jarvis Bear makes a motion to have Luke Kapayou and Tysin Lasley to come in for the membership audit to represent Johnathan Youngbear and Gordon Lasley Jr. respectively. Delonda Pushetonequa. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  3. Housing Committee – New membership appointment – Leon Max Bear, Jr.

Jarvis Bear makes the motion to appoint Leon Max Bear, Jr. to the Housing Committee.  Troy Wanatee seconds. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no.

  1. Departments
    1. Human Resources – This item was handled at the beginning at the same time as item E.
  1. Realty – Approve land management practice on the Wacha property.

Jon Keen presents land management options for the Wacha property. Costs and benefits are discussed for various proposals.

 

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve Option 1 of the three choice presented for land management. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Harvey re-enters the meeting at 7:39.

  • Meskwaki Victim Services – Approval of Human Trafficking Strategic Plan. Kim Clair from Family Services presents a request to approval Resolution 9-2018: Approval of the Strategic Plan for Human Trafficking on the Meskwaki Settlement, which was discussed at a previous Tribal Council Work Session with Meskwaki Victim Services last week.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve Resolution 9-2018, Human Trafficking Strategic Plan on Meskwaki Settlement. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Fiscal – Loan Options Approval: Resolution 10-2018- Resolving to Enter into Loan Agreement for $45,000,000.00 With Great Western Bank For Renovation of the Hotel at Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel.

A work session held Tuesday night where the Tribal Council selected Option 1, which allows the tribe to enter into a loan with Great Western Bank. The option had an expected Return On Investment of $54.6M. Expected interest on the loan is $21.2M. Total Net Benefit to tribe is $13.9M.

Jarvis Bear makes a motion to approve Resolution Number 10-2018, Resolving to enter into loan agreement for $45M with Great Western Bank for Renovation of the Hotel at the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes 0 no. Motion passes.

  1. Other
    1. Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel.
      1. Hotel Renovation ROM Review and Approval. Dirk Whitebreast and Jon Papakee present a current Construction Cost Estimate Breakdown for the Pie and Medvolt costs to replace all copper piping. The budget presented today is showing an increase from the budget presented at the time of agenda request earlier this week. A fire protection wall and shelves in the hotel rooms for storage are added. Amount needed for this stage is $2380,756.10. Jon and Dirk explain the frequency and detail of weekly meetings, and the number of skilled MBCH engineering employees who do work very closely and do work in our protection. Jon states that the adjustment of adding the fire protection wall is very important for sound and fire safety. The last one we had was sufficient for sound but not fire suppression. This is included in the plan which is already been approved by the Tribal Council, but at this stage now we need the approval to use the cash to finish this stage. Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve the ROM presented today for the amount of $2,380,756.10. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  2. Generator Approval. Jon Papakee states the generator needs to be replaced because even without the renovation we would need to replace it due to EPA requirements. Before, the generator without having exact numbers form the vendor, we would need $1.1M per generator and we have 4 generators. MBCH has not entered the stage of getting detail budgets from a supplier/provider but the EPA wants us to move on it, and there is a certification that requires us to move on it. Even though we don’t have an exact budget, this needs attention and approval at some point from the council. Once an order is placed it takes 6 months to order a generator. For 4 generators, it may take 5 years. They get replaced 1 at a time. Two generators are twenty years old. Harvey asks if they have capital. Dirk states no, this conversation has been introduced to the past councils. But the EPA site visit on May 18 is speeding this along. MBCH is requesting moving forward on the purchase. In order to give them the okay to start production so that we can begin the process and get a better budget, we need a motion to approve beginning production this is going to be through the company named Falcon Bridge. Motion by Jarvis Bear to move forward with purchasing the generators. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote:  6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
  3. Azadeh Tavakoli presents Dr. Willie Barney as the top candidate resulting from interviews for MSS Superintendent.

Motion by Harvey Davenport to approve the hire of Dr. Willie Barney as Meskwaki Settlement School Superintendent. Seconded by Jarvis Bear. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Azadeh also request permission to post the position for Gaming Commissioner seat coming up for renewal. Tribal Council verbally grants permission.

Jarvis Bear makes a motion to go into Executive session at 8:27 p.m. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Jarvis Bear makes a motion to come out of Executive Session at 8:43 p.m. Seconded by Delonda Pushetonequa. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Adjourn

Motion made by Jarvis bear to adjourn. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.