The Rundown...
at the new Housing Office in the Community Room. Roll call was taken. Except for Mike Wiggins, Jr., Tribal Chairman, all other Council Members were present. Peter Lemieux, Vice Chairman stated that Mike Wiggins, Jr. was excused. Peter Lemieux opened the meeting. After a Moment of Silence, Etta Burns, Treasurer, began to present the Financial Reports. The Enterprise December 2009 financial report was read as follows: ACCOUNTING; -$ 41,319.92 FOOD: -$ 29,577.19 SHUTTLE: -$ 8,387.39 SMOKE SHOP: +$ 6,698.77 LODGE: -$ 28,019.40 CASINO: -$ 32,132.31 TOTAL CASINO COMPLEX NET PROFIT/NET LOSS: -$133,143.34 (LOSS)
that has been able to support all other Tribal operations. Usually the Members hear that the Casino had transferred amounts ranging up to over $68,000 a month. Questions were raised about the reason for the loss & if there were other months in which the Casino suffered losses. It was acknowledged that the winter months are usually the slowest so the revenue is down. Question was asked as to when & why there has not been a monthly Casino Meeting. Members were told that the Chairman stated he will be scheduling one soon.
RECYCLING: -$ 23,813.51 DAY CARE: -$ 10,485.04 IGA STORE: -$ 19,854.64 GAS STATION: -$ 887.23 TOTAL ENTERPRISES NET PROFIT/LOSS FOR DECEMBER 2009: The Council accepted the Enterprises December financial report. The Treasurer noted that the financial report from the General Account was not accurate & requested that this report be tabled until the next scheduled meeting & Council so acted. Next item on the agenda was the Minutes. It was impossible to understand what the Council was talking about amongst themselves as there were no microphones & at times the Acting Chair (Peter Lemieux) was inaudible. Its unsure what, if any minutes were approved. The Council reads the minutes to themselves as opposed to the past practice of publicly posting the minutes for corrections prior to the meeting & having them read aloud. The Council then reviewed the Monthly Reports from the Department Heads. The agenda was approved as posted with the deletion of #5 AIM Contract with Deb Tutor. It was changed to include a Resolution for a Cultural Preservation Grant & to add discussion of Tribal Council meeting locations. Executive Session approved to include job selections (2) & a letter for the Council. Tribal Member requested that each job selection in executive session should give notice as to which job is being selected. 5 MINUTE SESSION:
She wanted to know why the Tribe is holding vouchers. She said that the stacks of boxes containing vouchers were starting to get paid & was being whittled down & now its accumulating, with boxes stacked around one of the Accounting staff’s desk besides being piled in the Accounting Specialist's office. Other Members questioned why the vouchers aren’t being paid as some are individuals’ medical bills. After a heated discussion as to the reason why the vouchers are not getting paid, the process was somewhat explained. Patti Lemieux stated she prepares the vouchers & gives them to the Treasurer. Etta Burns, Treasurer stated that she signs the checks and gives them to the Accounting Specialist (Acting) & doesn’t know why they are not sent out. Request for Treasurer to look into where the holdup is & report back Patti Lemieux also asked if the Council was aware of the reasons, the what & why the delay in payroll reconciliations & the hold up in the FY2008 Audit. Another heated discussion ensued. Patti Lemieux was told by the Treasurer that she (Patti) didn’t want to go there. There was mention of a letter that the Council will be reviewing in Executive Session. Patti Lemieux was reminded she was an employee & must conduct herself as such. Patti L. also questioned why the Treasurer was working on a Sunday & who gave her access to the password to get into the accounting system. The Treasurer indicated that Willie Lucus gave her the password & she was asked to come into work to help in getting reports completed. The Treasurer asked the Council if they really wanted to go there, in open session; that they could read the letter now. Peter Lemieux intervened as Patti continued to, with raised voice, ask why the Treasurer was working on the week-end. Patti Lemieux then questioned what was said at the December Council meeting because she is hearing rumors that her brother, Bernard Lemieux (past Treasurer) had stole money from the Tribe. She wanted to make it clear that he didn’t steal anything. She accused the newly elected Treasurer of performing a forensic audit of his payroll. She further stated that he received $5,000.00 that was due to him. She was told that it was Mike Wiggins, Jr. that brought the issue forward & unfortunately he was not at the meeting. 2. Brenda Whitebird Councillor, Tribal Member read the following memo requesting a historical accounting of the Casino Enterprise: (Mike Wiggins, Tribal Chairman arrived sometime during Brenda's presentation & takes over chairing the meeting) 3. Tribal Member, Sandy Deragon read a formal request to allow time on the March meeting agenda for the Tribal Attorney to discuss Open Meeting vs. Executive Session material as it seems most Council Members are struggling with transparency issues that need to be addressed: 4. Terry Verville, Tribal Member asked about the in-house posting for the Accounting Specialist position as she knows of someone that may be interested if it is posted. She also expressed concern that the 1099s have not been sent out yet for the community members. 5. Jan Madosh-Smart, Tribal Member requested information regarding the Elderly Casino Day (monthly). She was requesting when the event started; how many participate; when it started to include non-Tribal Members; the # of Tribal Elders; the # of non-Tribal Elders; the costs reflective of both the Tribal Elders & non-Tribal Elders as it was pointed out that the Tribe already has budget issues & it is a Tribal right given to Tribal Elders deriving from Tribal revenue. A resolution from the Bigboy Administration concerning this was mentioned. Chairman Wiggins said he would direct Brian Mayotte, Gaming Manager to research & answer these questions. 6. Tom Deragon, Sr., Tribal Member asked if the Tribe had a budget. The answer is not yet. The Indirect Cost Rate has yet to be established & will have an effect on the budget. 7. Edith Leoso, Tribal Member commented on the initial Indirect Cost (IDC) budget that had funded the Tribal Chairman’s salary @ 50% as well as the Tribal Treasurer. Tribal funds now pay for 100% of the Treasurer’s salary. There was discussion & concern regarding the apparent high costs of Administration & the IDC. The FY 2007 audit had shown a deficit of over $700,000 & the General Account had a deficit of over $600,000. Questions were raised concerning how the IDC personnel account for these huge deficits & if the salary increases given to each followed the Personnel Policies & Procedures. Chairman Wiggins said all this will be looked at. 8. Sam Livingston, Tribal Member commented that there were discipline problems in Tribal Departments. He asked how the Council would make them accountable. Discussion on following Personnel Policies & Procedures ensued. 9. Deb Wolf, Tribal Member, again requested help for her elderly father. He has had problems with the underground pipes that were put in when the home was built. The homeowner had a contractor over & he said he needed to turn off the water to fix the pipes that were causing the trouble. Roots were determined to be the problem growing in the pipes. If the water is not turned off, the homeowner, as well as all residents living at & near the compound risked being flooded out. The problem has been months long & poses a health threat as sewage is backing up. Water & Sewer Director, Jim Lemieux said its not his Department’s problem & will not shut off the water valve. Peter Lemieux, Vice-Chair immediately interjected that he spoke with the contractor & he said there are no broken pipes; it’s a problem with the house, a homeowner’s problem. Chairman Wiggins said he didn’t see this as a Tribal Council issue but is an Executive Director concern. Terry Verville said that Housing looked into the matter & found that roots were the problem. Chairman Wiggins said he will direct Water & Sewer to check again. Deb Wolf again expressed her concern because of the health risks for her elderly father. Chairman Wiggins said he would get Jim Lemieux to do something soon. 10. Tribal Member asked about the fraudulent checks cashed at the IGA Store. Treasurer Etta Burns said they haven’t heard anything since January (2010).
grant for “Seven Journeys Forward” project to promote growth & development for identified families through training & workshops. Council passed resolution for ANA grant application. 2. HOUSING BOARD VACANCIES SELECTION - Bob Houle, Interim Housing Director. Chairman Wiggins announced that Bob Houle was hired as the Human Resource Manager & will begin as such on Monday, February 8th. Bob Houle presented individual folders of information of the eligible candidates. The Council read the names out loud: Gerald White, Sr., Carla Rufus, Carole Kraft, Angela Houle,Darla O’Claire, Frank Connors, Jr. Bob Houle explained that the Tribal Council passed a Resolution concerning how Board Members are to be selected to represent the various Tribal locations. One of the vacancies had to be filled by a resident of New Odanah. Three candidates were from New Odanah: Carla Rufus, Angela Houle, Darla O’ Claire. As the Council passed out slips to themselves, a Tribal Member raised issue concerning Frank Connors, Jr. voting because he is a candidate. Frank returned his slip of paper. There was discussion concerning fair representation as there is already a designated Tribal Council Member appointed to the Board & the Chairman is an ex officio of all Boards. Clarification was requested by a Tribal Member as to the wording of what the Board consists of. Chairman Wiggins said it states that “One member of the Tribal Council” & there was not any wording to imply “at least” & with that he felt it eliminated Frank Connors, Jr. The Council then voted. Angela Houle was appointed by majority vote of the Council. The “at large” vacancy was voted upon with all candidates, except Frank Connors, Jr. considered. Again by secret ballot, the Council selected Carole Kraft. 3. 401k PLAN DISCUSSION - Denise Gilles/Erick Arnold It was explained by Chairman Wiggins that it will cost the Tribe $50,000 to implement the current plan for basically 2 employees. It will cost $32,000 to implement a replacement plan. The Tribe will no longer administer the plan. Bonita Greene said it will cost $25,000 to complete an audit of the Tribe’s 401k Plan & that it was never audited. Some discussion on starting to charge the employee fifty cents for each payroll deduction. An employee present stated that Accounting was already charging this. Council Member & Acting Accounting Specialist argued that they (Accounting) wasn't doing this (charging fifty cents per payroll deduction). The employee said she has her paycheck stub that shows the charge. Chairman Wiggins said it was something she could take care of by discussing it in the office. Motion to terminate the 401k Plan was passed. Further discussion to keep American Funds as there will be no start up costs. The participants will have options to decide. 4. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR INDIAN CHILDREN - Hope Miller presented a resolution for a grant application to offer optional Summer Head Start. She said that it has been identified that our Native students are entering school already behind phonically which negatively affects reading skills. Chairman Wiggins said he had concerns that not enough was budgeted for health insurance fringe and Indirect Cost. Hope stated this wasn’t a problem. She would meet with the Tribe’s insurance personnel & there was room to modify the budget amounts. Tribal Council passed the resolution. 5. RESOLUTION FOR CULTURAL PRESERVATION GRANT - Edith Leoso presented a resolution for a Natural Parks Service Grant application to fund one half time position of a Research Coordinator to complete work on identification of burial sites & historical sites on the reservation such as the 2 homes (Pam Stone’s & Marianne Whitebird’s) that she identified as possibly getting listed on the National Registry as a historical site. Council passed the resolution. 6. TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETING LOCATIONS: A very short, two minute discussion about changing the location of Council meetings. Members said that meetings were held in New Odanah because it was centrally located & most easily accessible. It was mentioned that if the intent of getting Members involved by coming to meetings, the Casino conference room would be most ideal because of the room & the transportation problems solved with the frequent bus stops. Members complained that some of these locations, have some major drawbacks, such as the Housing Office with the echoing sound and no microphones, making it difficult to hear all of what’s being said. With that said, Chairman Wiggins asked a Member in the audience why he came to tonight’s meeting.The Member replied that it was because he was just being nosey. As the Treasurer started to speak, Chairman Wiggins spoke over her & before the people said it didn’t matter. He continued saying, “I’m the Chairman. I get the $100 stipend. I get to say where the meeting is!” Motion was made, seconded & passed to go into Executive Session. |
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When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still; be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists, as it surely will. Then act with courage. |
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This website is dedicated to the people of Bad River. We must honor and preserve our past, present, and future; Only with knowledge can we achieve. |
| Recent Stories Email From Chairman Wiggins The Rundown...(Jan) The Departed Tour Of Duty The Rundown...(Dec) 2006, 2005 Tribal Audits Beloit Informational Meeting |
| BAD RIVER ANISHINABE NEWS |
| Sunday February 7, 2010 - Due to an employment commitment, I was unable to attend Wednesday's tribal council meeting. This month's issue of "The Rundown" has been prepared by Sandy Deragon. We would like to thank Sandy for her contribution and continuous support. Miigwetch Sandy - Webmaster @ BRANews |
