Council waives sovereign immunity for loan
By Christina Good Voice
Staff Writer
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council at its Feb. 16 meeting unanimously approved a waiver of sovereign immunity so that the tribe could apply for a loan to purchase an elder nursing center.
“What this is, is a loan we’re trying to get from BancFirst to purchase a nursing center in Jay,” Dist. 5 Tribal Councilor Harley Buzzard said.
The Tribal Council authorized Principal Chief Chad Smith to explicity waive sovereign immunity so the tribe and CN Home Health Services may enter into a loan from BancFirst Bank, the resolution states.
Buzzard said the tribe is interested in purchasing Monroe Manor, located at 226 E. Monroe St. in Jay.
Both Dist. 5 Tribal Councilors Buzzard and Curtis Snell declined to comment further on the deal because since it is in the early stages and won’t be finalized for several months. Monroe Manor officials also decline to comment for this story.
The council also unanimously passed an act that prohibits the collection of sales tax from 100 percent permanently disabled veterans.
The act provides for a sales tax exemption for qualifying veterans making purchases at CN retail outlets on trust land.
Councilors also amended the budget for fiscal year 2009 by adding $10.8 million, making the total budget $510 million.
“The main items of budget mod(ification) four is bringing it forward $10.8 million of unused funding from last fiscal year, but unfortunately we have a $9 million reduction due to the downturn of the economy of expected revenues,” At-Large Tribal Councilor Jack Baker said.
The increase includes a $389,000 to the tribe’s General Fund, with $58,600 of that going to a cash match for a United States Department of Agriculture Community Planning Grant, $330,000 for self-help community waterlines and $59,700 to land development.
An increase of $663,000 was requested by CN Information Systems to add additional staff and related to costs associated with the Kronos Timekeeping system previously purchased by the group.
The council also authorized the submission of the CN’s Integrated Resource Management Plan grant proposal to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a grant package of $75,000. The grant will fund an update and approval process for the tribe’s IRMP.
Councilors also authorized a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency to insure safe drinking water in Kenwood.
“This is for the EPA 2009 Drinking Water Tribal Set Aside Program,” Dist. 7 Tribal Councilor Cara Cowan Watts, said. “It’s a $307,500 grant with no match requirement.”
The council also passed a resolution updating the Indian Reservation Roads, which adds approximately 468 miles of roads and falls under the tribe’s long-range transportation plan, Dist. 5 Tribal Councilor Curtis Snell, said.