POPLAR — The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board approved a series of resolutions involving construction projects, land purchases, tribal employment, health services and law enforcement during a relatively short meeting Tuesday, October 13.

The regularly scheduled Monday meeting was moved to Tuesday in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Councilmen Charles Knowlton and Mike Headdress were absent, and the meeting concluded before noon.

Among the most significant actions were approval of a $7.38 million construction contract for the Poplar Duplex project, the purchase of approximately 360 acres of land for $450,000, and several new positions within tribal programs.

While most resolutions passed without opposition, several generated discussion concerning budget authorization, job descriptions and whether changes to nursing positions could affect employee compensation.

$7.38 Million Poplar Duplex Construction Contract

The council approved a contract with 21 Construction for the Poplar Duplex project in the amount of $7,382,117.12.

The resolution, brought forward through Tribal Health, authorizes the Tribal Chairman or Vice Chairman to execute the necessary construction documents.

The measure passed unanimously, with 10 council members voting in favor.

Tribes Approve $450,000 Land Purchase

The board also approved the purchase of approximately 360 acres of fee property from Gary and Marilyn Zimmerman for $450,000.

The purchase will be funded through the Tribal Land Buy Back Program account.

During discussion, Councilwoman Roxanne Gourneau explained that the $450,000 purchase price was based on the property’s appraised value, consistent with the Tribes’ land purchasing practices.

The resolution, presented by Myrna Walking Eagle of Natural Resources, passed unanimously.

Council Questions Funding for New Tribal Positions

Several resolutions involving tribal employment prompted questions from Councilman Jestin Dupree about whether the proposed positions had already been included in the tribal budget.

During consideration of a new Certified Medical Assistant position, Dupree questioned whether funding had been authorized, referring to previous council discussions about creating positions that were not included in the budget.

Councilwoman Carolyn Brugh explained that the intention was to prepare the position for the following year’s budget.

Councilman Adrian Spotted Bird asked whether a job description had been prepared.

Councilwoman Vernice Chopper said the position was already included in the upcoming budget and described it as a needed addition to tribal health services.

Chopper explained that certified medical assistants would help nurses with medication-related responsibilities and other duties.

The council approved the request to create and classify the position.

Similar questions arose during consideration of a Health Information and Administration Coordinator position.

Dupree again asked whether the position was included in the budget or was being proposed for the next fiscal year.

Councilman Melvin Scott responded that funding had already been approved as part of the Tribes’ adopted budget.

The coordinator position was approved by a 9–1 vote, with Chopper casting the lone opposing vote.

Nursing Job Descriptions Standardized Following Debate

Another resolution generated discussion over whether the Tribes intended to place all registered nurses under the same pay scale.

The proposed measure called for combining existing Registered Nurse job descriptions across tribal programs into one standardized description, excluding the Director of Nursing position.

Dupree questioned whether the resolution would affect nurses’ salaries, noting that its wording did not clearly address the issue.

Chopper acknowledged the potential for confusion, explaining that nurses employed across different tribal programs work under different arrangements, including contracted positions.

Previously, nursing positions within programs such as Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Tribal Dialysis, Diabetes and Elder Care had separate job descriptions, despite many of their responsibilities overlapping.

The proposed change was intended to establish a consistent job description for registered nurses working across tribal programs.

Scott clarified that the resolution concerned job descriptions rather than compensation.

Dupree requested that the language be made more specific.

Following the discussion, Chairman Floyd Azure instructed the recording secretary to revise the resolution’s wording to specify that the measure applied to job descriptions only.

The clarification established that the resolution was not intended to place nurses on a uniform pay scale or otherwise change their compensation.

The resolution passed 9–1, with Chopper casting the lone opposing vote.

Head Start Agreement Will Bring Health Services Directly to Children

The Tribal Executive Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Fort Peck Tribes Head Start Program and Fort Peck Tribal Health that will allow health care providers to deliver services directly at Head Start centers.

The agreement is intended to improve access to health care for Head Start students and their families by allowing providers to visit the centers and conduct health screenings and other services.

Participating services include the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) Program, dental services and clinical services.

Rather than relying entirely on families to arrange separate appointments, the agreement will allow Head Start and Tribal Health to coordinate services at the centers as needed.

Rena Lambert, Head Start Interim Co-Director, brought the resolution forward.

The agreement authorizes the Tribal Chairman or Vice Chairman to sign on behalf of the Tribes, alongside Tribal Health Director Dennis Four Bear and Head Start Interim Co-Directors Sunee Erickson and Rena Lambert.

The resolution passed unanimously, with 10 votes in favor and two council members absent.

Law Enforcement and Corrections Hiring Approved

The council approved several hiring requests brought forward through the Department of Law Enforcement.

Austin Burshia was approved for employment as a police officer.

Burshia is a military veteran and holds Idaho state law enforcement certification, according to information provided during the meeting.

Harry Three Stars was approved for employment as a game warden. According to information presented during the meeting, Three Stars was not certified at the time of the approval.

The board also authorized the hiring of six corrections officers: Ryan Alexander, Latisha Youngman, Nichole Boyd, Brandy Azure, Caleb Cox and Duran Taylor.

The hiring resolutions passed unanimously.

HPDP Leadership Appointments Clarified

The board approved Delonna Youngman as program manager for the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program, with Eric Brugier designated as the alternate.

During consideration of the resolution, Councilwoman Gourneau questioned its wording, explaining that the original language did not correctly distinguish between the program manager and the alternate.

The intended appointments were clarified, identifying Youngman as the program manager and Brugier as the alternate.

The resolution passed unanimously.

The board also approved a request involving active user population data from the Indian Health Service’s Billings Area Office, authorizing tribal leadership to execute the necessary documents.

Cultural Preservation Department Position Approved

The board approved the creation and classification of a Cultural Operations Assistant position within the Cultural Preservation Department.

Dyan Youpee-Scott presented the request following discussions about department staffing, historical site identification and preservation projects.

The department reported successfully securing four of five grant applications, helping reduce reliance on tribal funding.

Preservation efforts discussed included fencing around a dining hall and an older building, with possible additions of historical information or QR codes explaining the sites’ significance.

The position was approved with nine council members voting in favor, none opposed and one not voting.

Food Distribution Agreement to Assist School Lunch Eligibility

The council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Fort Peck Tribal Food Distribution Program.

The agreement will help identify children participating in the commodity food program so their eligibility for free school lunches can be determined.

Sheila Spotted Bull presented the resolution, explaining that the program needed information about participating children to assist with school meal eligibility.

The measure passed unanimously.

Wolf Point Construction Schedule Amended

The council approved a contract schedule amendment with Strata Corporation for the Wolf Point Seventh Avenue North Concrete Project.

Under the revised schedule, construction is scheduled to begin April 1, 2027, with a contract completion date of June 30, 2027, subject to the contract’s terms and authorized extensions.

The amendment was presented through the Indian Reservation Roads program by Rusty Boxer Sr.

The resolution passed unanimously.

Homesite and Agricultural Leases Approved

The board approved multiple homesite, agricultural and pasture lease applications and renewals.

The homesite actions included applications involving James Weinberger and Winona Hotomanie.

Other lease approvals and renewals involved Lafon Copenhaver, Audrey and Joleen Kirn, Darin Pankratz, Randy Reddig, members of the Gaustad family, Foens Farms Inc., Arlin Kaul, James Hammer, and Brad and Channel Johnson.

The leases included both enrolled and non-enrolled applicants, with various agricultural, pasture and homesite rental terms.

The measures passed without opposition.

Additional Council Actions

The board also approved one Regular/Kinship license through the Family Violence Resource Program.

Committee reports included requests for travel to training and professional meetings, including a Tribal Health Improvement Program gathering in Polson, Montana, and law enforcement-related travel.

The council’s business reflected ongoing work involving tribal infrastructure, health care access, employment, land acquisition and public safety.

Although the meeting was relatively brief, several discussions focused on ensuring that newly created positions had proper budget authorization and that resolutions clearly described the actions being approved.

Most resolutions passed unanimously, with the principal disagreements involving the Health Information and Administration Coordinator position and the standardization of registered nurse job descriptions.

The meeting concluded before noon, completing the board’s scheduled business following the Indigenous Peoples Day holiday.