Perks for Council Reps

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council Representative’s Perks

Since I am on the inside now haha  I wanted to share some of the things that the reps have at their disposure, I call them “Perks”.. I am sure that some of you may already know of some of the perks of being on council are but I wanted to list them here.  Also, let me know if I missed any.  In the past, I thought some of these things were just rumors.. Sadly that’s not the case.

Dictionary.com:

Slang Dictionary

perk definition 1.    n.  an extra financial benefit; a monetary inducement or reward.(From perquisite. See also benies.) :  I don't get paid much,but the perks are good.

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Perk: Advance entire salary

Here at CRST a Council Representative is able to advance all of their pay or ‘per diem’ up to a whole year’s worth.  At any given time a council rep can do this.  They don’t even need council approval because council already approved it years ago (by motion or resolution) haha  but if you want to go beyond the fiscal year than you have to get council’s approval.  I witnessed this procedure take place about a year ago.  This council rep had some IRS issues and owed.  So he asked council for an advance beyond the fiscal year.  So a vote was taken.  I didn’t support it.  The council rep was a bit disappointed with me because the motion didn’t pass.  This whole advance in pay is totally wrong and is unconstitutional.   The constitution says that we need to “render services” then get paid.

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Perk: Get paid without working

Now this perk is related to that the aforementioned perk.  At CRST, the council representatives can only get paid for their work at Council sessions.  That’s it.  But if there is no council, the weather is bad, or there is not enough reps to make a quorum then there is no council.  Even though council fails to have a dully called meeting, the council representatives can still get paid!  Haha!  Now, this is totally wrong.  Me, you, probably almost everyone was taught at some point that you have to work 1^st then you get paid. .  Or have a job first then work then get paid for the services provided.  But that’s not the way they been doing things.  A council rep could miss many council sessions and still get their check.  I have seen this occur as well.  Again this is unconstitutional.   I don’t accept a check unless I attend a council session.  And I wait till the entire session is over before I get my check.  I have seen them get paid before council.  I have seen them get paid the first days of council.  Rugged.

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Perk:  Travel.

Council Reps can travel to where ever they like for whatever reason..  Travel money is available to them.  Per Diem, mileage, airfare, hotel, baggage, taxi ect.  There was action in the past to divide Councils travel budget by the number of reps (15) and only allow that rep to spend that amount on travel which is about $6,000.  However, its not abided by.  If the travel fund runs out more money will be transferred into this account.  It’s not really a bad thing because there are important meetings for the tribe be represented.  However, it’s a perk because it can and has been abused in the past.  I better regulatory system is needed.  Perhaps the District should be the organization that initiates the approval of a trip for the Council Rep to go on..

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Perk:  Raise their pay.

Recently Council Reps included a raise of 6% into their “Per Diem” (salaries) line item of the CRST 2012 Budget.  The 6% equates to about $2200 more per year / Council rep.  At the same time, same budget the Council Reps were DECREASING employees salaries .. likely so they can increase their own.  I did not support this action.  Another, technique Council Reps use is at the end of the fiscal year they will see if there is extra money in the budget for the employees’ 3% cost of living.  And when there is money available for the employees they pass a motion to give the “employees and Council a 3% cost of living”.   I asked that they separate their motion and take out council but they refused.  Their response was “its only like $100”.   My reply was yes it is but your not an employee and its 100 times 12 months which equalls $1200 of extra money for that fiscal year for each council rep.

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Perk:  Mileage.

Council Reps that live out of town (Eagle Butte) receive mileage to attend their committees.  The rate is $0.51 cents a mile or whatever the going US govt rate is.  I believe they budget Council Rep’s mileage line item is at $30,000 dollars.  Not sure if the Executives get mileage.  I always point out to them that other folks that live out of town and have jobs do not get mileage dollars.  One time we had a tribal member that needed help so we made a motion to help them using money out of the Council Reps’ Mileage fund.  And this created a huge battle and much discussion and arguments.  Subsequently, the motion failed.  8 council reps live out of town and therefore utilize this fund.

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Perk:  Voting for your relatives.

Council Reps have a unique and advantageous way of supporting their relatives or whoever they like.  There’s different ways they can go about this.  The main and most obvious is when it comes to allocations of Range Units and when Committees do the hiring of certain tribal employment positions: Directors and Professionals.  For example, recently the Housing Committee passed a motion to advertise an already filled position, the Housing Authority Executive Director.  For some reason this motion was legal or maybe it wasn’t but it was adhered to..  As a result the current Director was removed and a different director selected.  When the committee went to do the actual hiring it came down to the two applicants (the guy that helded the job & a new applicant).  When the vote was taken a tie occurred so the Housing Committee Chairman had to break the tie.  He chose his relative which is now the new Executive Director.

          And there is the allocation of Range Units.  I have seen the Council Reps children apply for Range Units and actually some of them were selected for range units.  The Council Reps never step out of the room or abstain from voting for their children or relatives to receive these Range Units.  It’s definitely a Conflict of Interest but its ignored.

               

dis·claim·er

    [dis-kley-mer]  Show IPA

noun

1.the act of disclaiming;  the renouncing, repudiating, or denying of a claim; disavowal. 2. a person who disclaims. 3. a statement, document, or assertion that disclaims responsibility, affiliation, etc.; disavowal; denial.

My DISCLAIMER:

I have never advocated for my relatives, cousins, aunties, uncles, or baby mommas/girlfriend/ wife or friends, dogs, cats to receive jobs, range units, other perks excreta.. I take this job seriously and refuse to abuse the authority and trust that was granted to me by the people of Cheyenne River.  Likewise, I DO NOT support any of the aforementioned “PERKS” to go to myself or other Council Representatives and Executives.  And I never will support such rugged abuse of the People of Cheyenne River’s resources.  I am here for the PEOPLE.

More to come!  As more I find!  I will keep you posted..  Hechatu welo.