November 2014 CRST scheduled meetings

Hello, November is Native American Heritage Month!

Council had quorum on Nov. 4th but recessed because of the Elections.  Special Session on Nov. 17th.

For more information contact the Council Secretary's at 605-964-6685.

Note: on the 24th the EDC is short for Economic Development Committee.  ENR is Environment Natural Resources committee.

Have a great month!

October 2014 Council Schedule

Hello Folks!

It looks like the Judiciary meeting is going to be scary! haha

Any questions about the above meetings please contact the Council Secretaries at 605-964-6685.

Toksa ake!

September CRST Calendar

Note: meetings are subject to change or rescheduled. Contact the Council Secretaries for more information 605-964-6685.

September 2014 Council Agenda

August 2014 CRST Schedule

August Agenda 2014

August 2014 Council Agenda

Updated July 2014 Council Schedule

On July 16th the Council's Schedule was updated from the original posting. See below the new calendar provided by the Council Secretary's Office 605-964-6685.

Letter to Election Board RE: Candidate for Chairman

July 2014 Council Calendar

Calendar is provided by the Council Secretaries.  For more info about the meetings contact call the office at 605-964-6685.  Have a great month!

Council Week July Session 2014 Agenda

July 1, 2014 10:00 a.m. Council is in session through Thursday July 3rd.  And reportedly will continue the week of July 14th.  I will post the Council actions on this blog at the end of the week or daily if I can.  Have a good week!

June 23-27 CRST Schedule

CRST Committee Schedule Week June 16-20, 2014

June 9th-13th Week Committee Schedule

Hello Relatives,

I know we are in the middle of the week but I wanted to share this information.  There is a meeting Weds 1pm regarding the "Land Buy Back" program that is not on the official calendar.  This Land Buy Back program would create a system for the Govt to purchase fractionated land from Tribal members for the Tribe.  Also, not on the calendar is on June 13th President Obama will be in Cannonball, ND.  

Report to the CRST regarding Washington DC meetings

June 2014 Council and Committee Schedule

Oceti Sakowin Wind Energy meeting with Department of Energy June 6th 2014

Hello folks,

I will be attending this important gathering, along with other representatives from the Sioux Tribes. We sent a letter to the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy, requesting this meeting. See their response below.  We wanted to start a conversation about the WAPA allocations, electric coops on tribal lands, and other possible ways we might partner.  I got excused from Council to attend.

The bigger picture here is the Sioux Tribes are working collectively to create a large scale wind energy project called the Oceti Sakowin Power Authority (click on link for more info). So this meeting is part of the groups efforts in work toward our goal.  See the info below.  Toksa ake.

June 2014 Council Meetings

Hello! Here's my own record of Council meetings. Council is still in session. So will keep this post updated til its adjourned.

June 3rd 2014 Regular Session Day 1 of Council

Called to order 10:00 am. No quorum. 

9 reps present for roll call - Ardys C, Johnilyn G, Ben EE, Scott L, Todd W, Bob W, Derek B, Robin L, Ryman L

Absent were - Rick R, Deanna L, Wayne D, Merrie M, Ed W, Buddy K.

Prayer by Robin L.

June 4th 2014 Special Session Day 2

Called to order at 115pm.  

10 reps present - Deanna L, Scott L, Rick R, Robin L, Robert W, Buddy K, Johnilyn G, Ryman L, Merrie M, Ardys C.

Late - Ed W, Ben EE, Derek B.

Absent are - Wayne D (travel), Todd W (medical). 

Prayer by Rick R.

Chairman:  Today the Council will go over the District minutes and Executive Resolutions

District 1

Motion 1 - to add the words “community” to the Council Resolution re: bosly building. Passed.

Motion 2 - For the Tribe to mow the grass at the Dupree Powwow Grounds. Passed.

Additional actions regarding the District

Motion 3 - for the County to fix the Bear Creek road because its too narrow.

District 2 

Motion 4 - to refer to the Transportation Cmte to work on getting the Takini road paved. Passed.

District 3

No quorum.

Concerns regarding the Route 12 road.  Transportation Cmte is working on taking out the black top and using gravel.

District 4 

No Quorum.

Council Reps Concerns

5. Motion to refer storm shelter for District 4, No Heart community.  Passed.

6. Motion to refer, to design a fall out shelter for all the communities.  Passed.

District 5 

No Quorum.

Council Reps Concerns

Gravel for driveways.

Security - foot patrol.

Health break. 2:40 pm.

Back on 2:50 pm.

Motion 7 - Lucy Knight request Refered to ABC commission to take care of. Passed.

Executive Session with a Tribal Elder. Motion Passed. Go into Executive session at 3:00pm.

Back to finish the District minutes:

District 6

No Quorum

Executive Resolutions

8. Motion - Dee Espinoza $8000 contract to provide Cultural Monitoring course for certification - Passed

9. Motion - JD Pluming contract award for the Transitional Living (Half way housing) renovating and repair sewer. Deadline for the contract 90 days. Mutual extension clause. Motion Pulled.  No Action, waiting for more info.

10 Motion - IHS 1.2 million improvements 638 contracting the construction including a helipad, EMS - Passed

11. Motion - for the Election board to purchase new ballot boxes $13,314 - Passed

Break for the Day 4:36 pm.  Stand Recessed til the next day at 9:30 am.

June 5th 2014 Day 3

Called to order 9:57 am.  

11 Reps Present:  Ardys C, Johnilyn G, Buddy K, Ed W, Scott L, Todd W, Derek B, Bob W, Robin L, Ryman L, Deanna L .

Late: Rick R. Merrie M.

Absent: Wayne D (travel), Ben EE (medical)

Prayer by Buddy Knife.

Chairman:  Today is Executive Resolutions and Kay Clown regarding Oti Kaga.  Then into Committee Reports.

1. Motion to approve the JD Plumbing contract for Transitional Living repairs 81,000. Passed.

2. Motion to approve the Blondo contract for Archaeologist services $3,000.  Passed

3. Motion to do appraisal on the Presentation College building. Passed

4. Motion for contract for Kenneth Marshall Sr. for food services to vets.  Passed

5. Motion for LUST grant for Environment Protection Dept.  Passed.

6. Motion for UST grant EPD.  Passed.

Health Break

Elder Kay Clown addresses Council RE Oti Kaga Housing deficiencies.

Need to Pass a Housing Code to govern this organization?

7. Motion to Refer to Legal Dept.

Tribal Attorney Gunn - presents the Summer Law Interns to Council.  Katherine, Nick, Jacob.

Lunch Break at 11:50 am.

Called back to order at 1:30 pm. 12 Reps present.

Go into Executive Session as requested by a Tribal Elder and another Tribal member. 135pm.

Out of Executive Session 

8. Motion to Exclude Tina Harris from the CRST reservation.  Passed.

9. Motion to Refer Madea’s issue to legal.  Passed.

Health Break

Back on.

Back into Executive Session with BIA Superintendent. 

Out of Executive at 513 pm.

Recessed at 514 pm for the day.

Council will be back on Friday June 6th.

June 6th, 2014 Day 4 Council

Roll Call:  Quorum present.  

Absent: Ryman (excused to attend Dept of Energy meeting)
                        Click>>HERE<<for more info.

All day on Land Report.

** I was not present on Friday, I was at another meeting representing the Tribe at Dept of Energy meeting. I was excused from Council.  I will research the actions of Council June 6th and update my findings.

Recessed til Monday

Monday June 9, 2014 Day 5 Council

Roll Call 10:00 am.  Quorum present.

Present: Ardys, Johnilyn, Buddy, Edward, Scott, Wayne, Merrie, Todd, Bob, Derek, Robin, Ryman, Rick.

Late: Deanna, Ben

Absent: none.

Prayer: Ryman

Chairman says: we are going to finish the Land Report. No Fighting.  People passed on and are sick.  Be thankful we are healthy today.

March Land report.
Note: all Tribal Land assisngments are by Resolution.  The actions below are accompanied with a resolution per the Constitution regarding land assignments. 

BIA addresses Council: Greg Borland and Jeri Vines RE JD Johnson issue.
Rita Murray addresses Council same issue.
1. Motion to award the farm pasture 610 lease bid $14/acre to Brenda Lemon - Passes.

2. Motion to get appraisals on Lyle Anderson land sale to the Tribe - Passes.

April 22nd 2014 Land Cmte minutes.
Farm Pasture leases highest bidder
3. Motion to award Farm Pasture lease 299 to Cody Jewett bid at $7.66/acre. - Passed.

4. Motion to award Farm Pasture 322 Carson Williams $6.40/acre bid. - Passed.

5. Motion to award Farm Pasture 362 to Adam Shuhart bid $10.10/acre. - Passed.

6. Motion to award Farm Pasture 810 to Rita Farlee bid $31.78/acre 160 acres. - Passed.

7 Motion to award Farm Pasture 811 to Ivan Lind bid $11/acre 80 acres. - Passed.

8. Motion to award Farm Pasture 862 to Jayme Murray $37.21/acre 149 acres. - Passed

9. Motion to advertise the Farm Pastures that didn’t recieve any bids to Non Members since no members bid on them. - Passed.

10. Motion to raise $1.00/acre on all the Re advertised Farm Pastures. - Passed.

11. Motion to award Farm Pasture 999BeckerLand-a to highest bidder Gib Marshall $26.26/acre for 180.55 acres. $4,741.24 per year. Land can be taken out of lease as needed for economic development  - Passed.

12. Motion to award Farm pasture 999BLb to highest bidder Ginger Bowman $45/acre for 105.77 acres $4,760 per year.  Land can be taken out for economic development. - Passed.

13. Motion to award Farm pasture 999-LL (former Leistmiester land) Ginger Bowan highest bidder $7/acre for 10.9 acres and $45/acre for 236.74 acres Total $10,729.60 per year. Land can be taken out for economic development. - Passed.

14. Motion to award Farm Pasture 999-TH (former Two Hawk land) to Lonny White Eyes $30/acre for 60 acres Totals $1,800 per year. Land can be taken out for economic development. - Passed.

15. Motion for Brian Holmes govt employee to help the Land Office with management plans for the Farm Pasture leases. - Passed.

Health Break 11:40 am.  Back on at 1150 am.

Policy Changes
16. Motion for to amend Ordinance 71; XII to add the following to letter i) .. “during the current grazing period” - Passed.

17. Motion to amend Ordinance 71;XXI to add to 1. “These propsed amendments shall be posted for public comment for a period of no less than thirty days after which Tribal Council will consider and adopt the law formally by resolution” - Passed.

18. Motion amend Ordinance 71; XIII to add the following “J) Any three violation of their ordinance within the current grazing period will be cause for placement in  open allocation of the next grazing period.”   No action. Motion pulled. Take back to Land Cmte for clarification. Land Chair said it will be on the Cmte Agenda.

19. Motion to amend Ordinance 71; XVI. Determination of Non compos mentis of permittee. 1. to add the following “if at the end of the current grazing period the orginal permittees continee to be noncompos mentis the range units will qualify for open allocation.” - Passed.

Council takes Lunch at 12:15pm til 130pm.

Called back to order at 144pm.
Roll Call. Quorum present.
Members Present: Ardys, Johnilyn, Edward, Ben, Todd, Scott, Merrie, Wayne, Bob, Ryman, Rick, Deanna.

Late: Derek, Buddy.

Absent: Robin (excused).

Chairman: Hear from Amos Cook then going back over the Land Report and other minutes.

Amos Cook addresses Council RE Youth Victory Ride June 10-25th.
20. Motion to refer to administration and ABC for funding. - Passed.

Back to Land Report

May 20 2014 Land Cmte minutes.
21. Motion to approve Joint Permit for RU 391 adding Mr. Deb Ducheneaux. - Passed.

22. Motion to approve the $9/acre rate for the farm pasture tract 370 to Bernie Tibbs. - Passed.

23. Motion to approve Margaret Gunvilles request for easement on tribal lands. - Passed.

Hunting Seasons
24. Motion to approve the Pronghorn Season 2014 - Passed.

25. Motion to approve the Mule Deer Season 2014. - Passed.

26. Motion to approve the Whitetail Deer Season 2014. - Passed.

Right of Way Easement
27. Motion to approve the Right of Way easement for Mni Washte’ to relocate a waterline on BIA route 6. - Passed. (took out the words “TriCounty Water Association”).

Trade Use Agreements
28. Motion approving the Trade Use Agreement for Range Unite 45 Jon, Toni, Brian Holmes. - Passed.

29 Motion approving the Trade Use Agreement for Range Unit 16. - Passed.

30. Motion approving the Trade Use Agreement for Range Unit 260 - Passed.

Reform Actions 
31. Motion to rescind the prior Council action granting the Land Committee the authority to approve pasture authorizations so Council will do the PA’s - Failed.

32. Motion to  have a copy of the contractual agreement between permittees and livestock owners be given to the Tribe before a pasture authorization be submitted for approval. - Failed. 

Concludes the Land Report.

Health Break 247pm.

Back order.

Chairman: we are going to hire the Land Director and a Council Secretary.
Note: a  month or two ago, Council passed a motion for Council to hire the Land Director not the Hiring Board.
Go into executive session 312pm.

out of executive session 410pm.

33. Motion to hire Kirby Burgee for Council Secretary. - Passed.

The Administration will re advertise the Land Director job.

Chairman: Teton Ducheneaux is here to address Council RE Bumping Clause for Health CEO.

34. Motion to approve Teton Ducheneaux to utilize the Tribal Preference Clause for the Health CEO. - Passed.

Transportation Report April 15, 2014 minutes
35. Motion to accept the bid for John Deer 290 trachoe $273,514 - Passed.

36. Motion to have Transportation hire a Staff Engineer along with 4 full time heavy equipment operators. - Passed.

Madea LeBeau addresses Council RE exclusion of some non members.

37. Motion approving the exclusion of three non members from CRST reservation - Passed.

Chairman: Tribal Council is recessed til Tuesday June 17th 930am.
5:05pm Council Recessed.

Hechetu welo.

Week May 26-30th 2014 CRST Government Committee schedule

Last week of May!

Monday - Memorial Day.  Wokiksuye Anpetu.  No work, No meetings.

Tuesday - 9 am Tax committee, 1030 Environment Natural Resources committee, 1pm Economic Development.  However all three got Postponed til June 2nd.  These meetings were scheduled but due to scheduling conflicts I postponed the meetings to June 2nd.  I chair all three of these Committees and I will be busy all week with the Native American Employment & Training Council which I am a member.

Wednesday - Tribal Projects Committee 10 am.  And Transportation Committee 1pm

Thursday - CR Housing Authority board 10 am.  The Tribal Housing Committee makes up the board until a new charter/ordinance is put in place by Council.

1 pm Loan Committee - there are a few of us that are informally working on changing the loan policy.

Friday - Judiciary Committee 10 am.

Any questions about the meetings let me know.

**There might be changes to the schedule that I am not aware of and is not reflected in this post.  You can always call the Council Secretaries 605-964-6685.

Hope you all have a great week!  Toksa ake wacin!

Tribal Ventures Board Meets May 16th 2014

The roll of this board is to review, approve, disapprove applications for funding.  As well as to provide oversight and program direction for Tribal Ventures.  The board is made up of community members from various backgrounds and one member from tribal council.  The council appointed me to this board last year so far we had three meetings that I have been a part of.  A more comprehensive report will be provide in the future.. For now it will be this meeting.

12:10 pm Tribal Ventures Board meeting called to order.

At this meeting we had about $75,000 of which $50k was for business and $25k for communities.  We had about six proposals.  Three got funded. Two were tabled. And one got disapproved.

$50,000 was approved for the the Cultural Center business upgrades to help promote/secure its Gift Shop.

$5,000 was approved for the LaPlant community for the Powwow and softball events.

$5,000 was approved for the Iron Lightning community for the July 4th powwow and events.

We ran out of Business money after approving the Cultural Center's proposal.  We only had Community projects money left.  The board had discussed getting into next years money.

Tabled - were a "Mni" project $15,000, to build a shade, outhouse, and fund a camp this summer.  Mni Projects is to build small scale dams to slow rain water down.  Also Tabled the Cheyenne River Youth Projects proposal until we get more money in the accounts.

Disapproved - was the Dog Shelter $50,000 proposal from CRST Game, Fish, Parks.

Previously funded business Good River construction - put in a request to reprogram their grant.

I left the meeting 12:45 pm to go to the CEB High School Senior Honoring.
Hechetu welo.

Week of May 19-23, 2014 CRST Government meetings

Council On The Move

For the first time, since getting flooded off the fertile river bottoms of the Missouri River, the Tribal Council had to move its meeting from the Tribal Office to another location.  The move was due to the black mold found in the tribal office, air ducts.  First the mold was found in the BIA side of the Tribal Office in the vault which stores a lot of historical tribal records.  And later the mold was also found in the Tribal side within the air ducts. The mold tested positive for the stachybotrys which can cause major health problems.  All the Tribal and BIA employees were moved to different locations.  Most of the Tribal Office services were move to the Wellness Center and the old Dental Office.

A contractor will be in to clean the mold off the vault documents.  

Estimates are being done on what it will take to remove the black mold found in the air duct insulation.

For the February Session which started on February 4, 2014 at the Bingo Hall and was held for about a half hour before recessing. Here is a 12 minute video.

On February 12, 2014 
The Council resumes the Session at the Cheyenne River Motel Conference room.  

Secretary White Feather purchased a portable audio recording system and mics for sound.

Chairman Keckler is looking into possible modular buildings for the Chairman’s, Secretary’s, and Council Reps offices.  Currently the Chairman, Secretary and staffers are still in the Tribal Office.  

Economic Development Committee - has a motion coming in for Council’s consideration: to use the Shakopee grant for the planning, engineering, and design for a New Tribal Office.

A few Council Representatives and the Chairman are tossing around the idea of having Council meetings out in the communities. With the new portable recording system this is possible.

February 13, 2014
Council could not make a quorum.  Nine Council members made it to the Cheyenne River Motel Conference room by 10:00 a.m.  Needed one more to have an official meeting.

Council is scheduled to resume on Tuesday February 18, 2014.

Hechetu welo.

TECA Board Approves Projects, Council Passes Resolution of $7.4 Million to Fund

HELLO RELATIVES!

Another round of projects and funds approved from TECA (TehCha meaning "new") Tribal Equitable Compensation Act.  The TECA Board held meetings to review the proposals submitted to the first window. They approved of 23 projects including the Green Grass Community Building, Lesmeister Land Development, Movie Theater, Youth Baseball Park just to name a few.

Council passed the resolution that funds the 23 projects in the amount of $7.4 million total.

Description of Approved Projects & Resolution Council Passed

Click on the Link ^^ above for the Description of the Projects and the Resolution that Council passed.

This is the process that is stated within the TECA Law Ordinance 74.  Where the TECA Board approves of the projects and Council approves of the funding draw downs from Office of Special Trustees. A couple years ago the TECA draft law was taken to the community's and comments were given.  The people did not want Council in sole control of the TECA money.  So a separate Board was created to select the projects.

Money for loans for businesses and community financial literacy.  Also, money to purchase existing fiber optic lines in the township in Timber Lake, SD.

The Tribe used a Shakopee grant to purchase the "Lesmeister" land along the Highway 212 across from the powwow grounds.  Also, purchased adjacent land from Mrs. Two Hawks.  All this land is next to the still in development "Badger Park" housing.  Now, the $397,089 TECA money can be used to do the engineering and design so we can plan out the infrastructure and best use of the land.   The Cultural Center will get the renovations that is needed for many years now. Property & Supply grant will allow them to continue to the tribal member's Housing Repairs Program. 

The long awaited project for a Movie Theater has finally raised enough money to start the process constructing.  The monies came from the Tribe's $750,000 General Fund, $500,000 Shakopee grant and now $675,000 to finish the fund raising for the Movie Theater.  The project "Sacred Children" is for planning of taking over the SD DSS and Foster-care Home.  I am going to look for other funds perhaps we can find other sources to fund this project maybe from the 4 - E funding and save some TECA.

CLICK HERE for entire description of the Projects that was provided to us at Council. Also the draft resolution that Council approved.

There will be 3 more approval processes for TECA funding this year til September 2014 not to exceed the 20 million dollar ceiling.  Council appropriated this ceiling amount of 20 million for the fiscal year back in August 2013.

Hechetu, Toksa ake!