Council Dispatch #168     June 6, 2023

 

Tribal Member

 

  • Catherine Baylor informed council she got a contract to work as the Licensing Program Manager at Tribal Social Services and was notified that she needed a current background check. She had a background check done previously and she passed it. Catherine requested a waiver of the new background check and permission to use the previous one so she can begin work immediately. The background check will take about three weeks to be completed. Council will follow up with Rick Eneas.

 

Tribal Lands Department

 

  • Council reviewed a request from Myrna Dumontier to use the northeast portion of the Arlee Campgrounds from today through Friday for an educational event. Myrna would have the area blocked off where it would be away from the construction site so the activities would not interfere with the construction, and she would bring in some porta potties. If granted permission, Myrna would need a group-use permit and be required to pay a $15 administrative fee. Council took action to grant Myrna Dumontier a free-use group permit for this specific event and waive the administrative fee, with the caveat that nobody go near the construction site.

 

  • Council approved a group-use permit for the volunteers to access tribal land to irradicate the rush skeletonweed in the Big Draw area today and tomorrow.

 

Financial Management

 

  • Council approved by resolution modification 13 to the fiscal year 2023 Total Budget Allocations. The budget was increased for the Bison Range funding and for the award of Aquatic Invasive Species funding for watercraft inspection stations.

 

  • Council approved a request from the Natural Resources Department to purchase capital equipment in the amount of $225,000 for the Bison Range, consisting of 1 snowplow for $10,000; 4 light utility trucks for $175,000; 1 weed spray trailer with 4-wheeler hauler for $15,000; and 1 magnesium chloride holding tank for $25,000, to be funded by additional transition funds received from the Department of the Interior. The program also received some deferred maintenance funding.

 

  • Ruth Swaney was briefed on the request for retention pay to be paid to specific individuals that did some work for the Kootenai Culture Committee and the Tribal Lands Department Elmo Fencing Crew. Ruth informed council that the department head had been instructed last year to not pay those individuals as employees, but the Kootenai Culture Committee continues to pay them in that manner. They are being paid as vendors, so they are not employees and were not included in the retention pay. The Tribal Council had taken action to approve retention pay for all individuals on the payroll system as of May 16, 2023. The practice of not hiring those individuals as employees and paying them through accounts payable should not be done in any case. The department cannot pay people for services if they are not a contractor, a company, or a business. The program is spending money from a budget in a manner that was not approved by the Tribal Council. Council directed Ruth to follow up on the request for incentive pay for those individuals identified.

 

Boys and Girls Club

 

  • Aric Cooksley gave a report on the Club’s activities. Tash Williams was hired as the Cultural Engagement Coordinator. The St. Ignatius Boys and Girls Club opened in December and served 25 children per day. The club has no capacity to offer transportation. The Ronan and Polson Clubs are at capacity, due to limited staff.  Aric discussed the facility/gym use and access. Anyone that uses the facility is required to obtain liability insurance for a minimum amount of $1 million and the policy must include the Boys and Girls Club as an additional insured. A full fingerprint background check is done for anyone that works with the children. Employees are also required to pass a prehire drug test. There is a need for volunteers. Aric gave an overview of the summer feeding program that the club has offered for the past six or seven years and requested financial support from the Tribes to cover the cost of the snacks. It would cost about $20,000 for the summer. Len TwoTeeth informed Aric that the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council has specific grant funds for Boys and Girls Clubs. Len requested the budget request in writing so the Tribes can follow up on finding funding to help with the snacks. Martin Charlo suggested that Aric reach out to the Headwaters Foundation since the foundation has grant funding.

 

Kootenai Culture Committee

 

  • Vernon Finley met with council to follow up on his request for some individuals to receive the retention pay. Len TwoTeeth told him that the Tribal Executive Officer is working on an option to get them paid. Vernon had been told the employees had to be on the job as of May 16 in order to qualify for the retention pay, and he clarified the individuals were hired but they were not on the job yet as of that date. Rick Eneas will follow up to find the right avenue to be able to pay them.

 

 

Sergeant at Arms

 

  • Jim Steele, Sr. requested clarification on the job duties and responsibilities for the Door Monitor and the Sergeant at Arms. The job was designed for them to remain at the desk at all times and identify whether any individual entering the room is a threat.

 

 

NOTE:  The official Council Minutes will contain more complete details about lengthy discussions and should be considered the official record of Council. Dispatches are written from notes taken live and may occasionally contain partial information, over-simplified characterizations or an occasional error. Council reviews and corrects the draft minutes before approving as the official record.  Comments (both affirmations and concerns) are part of change and are expected and encouraged. Along with any specific comments, please also share what you would like to hear more about in upcoming communications. The email address for comments is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..