Over $1 million in approved payments were stopped to cover the tribal back to school awards.

During the August 12, 2024 full board meeting, Tribal leaders voted to deobligate funds previously approved for tribal housing renovations and other projects that were being funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. After a long discussion on the matter, the council voted 10 for, one opposed, one (Wayne Martell) absent. The lone dissenter was Councilwoman Roxanne Gourneau.

When the motion came up for approval, Gourneau questioned whether deobligating the money could jeopardize other projects the Tribes already passed.

Mainly, the project in question she was worried about was improving Fort Peck Housing Authority Infrastructure Improvements.

On August 7, 2024, the Tribes held a distribution of Family Economic Relief payment to assist enrolled members ages three years to 18 years old.

Tribal Enrollment stated there are approximately 3,200 tribal members within the age range for the payments. At $400 per school age child, the total amount is approximately $1.2 million.

Included in this payment was funding for the Tribes Security Program, bringing the total approved spending to $1,422,235.46.

To pay for this right away, the Tribal Executive Board voted to deobligate funds that were already appropriated by resolution. This includes $569.29 for a Septic System Pump Truck, $42,860 for the Medical Professional Housing Project, $3,036.79 for the Cultural Care Package Program Museum Enhancement, $118,945.18 for Energy Assistance, $1,106,824.20 for the Fort Peck Housing Authority Infrastructure Improvements, and $150,000 for new pow wow arena seating.

Money for this was from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds awarded to the Tribes after the start of the pandemic.

At the meeting, councilman Terry Rattling Thunder said there are lots of FPHA projects going on and if the council is going to deobligate funding to them they needed to do it now because there would be a lot to answer for if this passes.

ARPA funds awarded to the Tribes must be spent by the end of the year or else they will have to give them back to the government. If the Tribes don’t have it spent or planned for spending then they are going to have to return the money.

Councilman BJ Johnson said the council shouldn’t be arguing about this because this is for the children. This conversation never should have happened, and that people will remember who “acted up” over this.

Councilwoman Gourneau said she is not against anyone. Her record shows she has a long reputation for supporting families and children, and as Tribal leaders their oath of office includes being fiscally responsible.

The following are highlights from the August 12, 2024 full board meeting.

Jail

Tribal leaders approved the renewal of the annual funding agreement (AFA) contract on behalf of adult and juvenile corrections for a three year period commencing on October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2027 along with the corresponding AFA’s for final signature.

Before the vote was taken, councilman Terry Rattling Thunder said there are some serious things they have to look at for the adult correctional facility. The TEB offered to give it back to the BIA and they refused to take it, but at the same time they need to get in and help the Tribes with the jail. They sent in specialists come in to help get the director in there, then the director resigned and the Tribes are back at the start with the same mess. Millions of dollars have been put into the facility on cameras that are not being used and they can’t get people to go there and do basic maintenance.

Councilman Jestin Dupree said this resolution reads like everything is okay at the jail but in reality they need help and they need more funding from the BIA.

The vote was called for and the final vote was five for (Councilmembers Rita Weeks, Gourneau, Dana Buckles, BJ Johnson, and Marva Chapman) four opposed (Councilmembers Dupree, Carolyn Brugh, Stacey Summers, and Terry Rattling Thunder), three absent (Martell, Lawrence Hamilton, Bryce Kirk).

After that motion the council voted to approve the Branch of Corrections to advertise for two assistant cooks.

Jail Case Manager Felicia Scott was moved from temporary to permanent appointment effective immediately.

New CMO

The council authorized a contract between the Tribes Health Promotion Disease Prevention with Dr. Michael Uphues for Chief Medical Officer through August 31, 2029.

Cops

Tribal council members authorized the Tribal Police hiring Damon Sadler as a certified police officer at Grade 9, Step 4, pending a favorable background investigation.

Paul Doney was hired as a police officer but he will not be on patrol status pending a favorable background investigation.

Buffalo

The Tribes will continue the buffalo transfer program with Yellowstone National Park.

According to the minutes, Tribal Fish and Game Director Robbie Magnan said the constant inflow of animals from the park to the reservation has provided a steady stream of animals and they would need be best for the Tribes to give these animals away through the lottery system and their usual donation to various groups on the reservation.

AOR

The Tribal Language and Culture Department updated ther Authorized Organization Representative on grantsolutions.gov, for the Administration for Native Americans grant reporting purposes.

Leave

The Education Department and Foster Home Licensing Programs request educational leave was granted for Darrian Four Bear to complete her work practicum.

Jazmyn Carrywater, of the Tribes Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program, was also approved for educational leave.

Honoring

The council approved a $500 retirement payment and a star quilt donation to Priscilla Carpentier for her many years of service to the Tribes.

Approved in a separate resolution was another quilt donation and $500 for Isabell “Izzie” Youngman for her years of service.

Proposals

Tribal approval was granted for non-competitive proposals for the grant total of $1,128,273, with one proposal being rejected for the Head Start building project.

Interstate Engineering

The council authorized Tom Weeks to hire Interstate Engineering for the $12,000 for inspection services for the Head Start building.

Van

A request from Tribal Transportation Program Director Elmer Decoteau to hire a new driver for the public transportation buses in October was approved.

The resolution approved the job classification for the van driver at grade six, step one, and bus driver at grade eight, step one, in October 2024.

Priorities

The council approved placing priorities on projects the Tribes are doing but that are non-funded.

According to the resolution, the main priority is the new sewage lagoon in Brockton, the Brockton sewer main improvements, the Frazer sewer main improvements, and the second phase of the Poplar sewer replacement phase two.

Land

The council approved declaring interest and requesting an appraisal for an allottment for Wilberta Toavs and Mary Sue Jackson.

During this point in the meeting, the live feed of the meeting dropped and the rest of the meeting was not recorded or broadcast.

Kimberly Johnson was approved for an enrolled member home site lease.

Enrolled member renewals were approved for Donald Urbaniak, Gloria Payne Urbaniak, Josi Youpee, and Darryl Crowley.

A lease modification for George Sanders to change the name on home site lease to Rayola Eder was approved.

Security

An outside contract between Water Tech Inc. and the Tribal Security Program were approved.

SBRRC

The council approved of a contract modification with Virginia Limpy Goings, out of Colstrip, for services under the Spotted Bull Recovery Resource Center in the amount of $11,000 effective immediately and end o September 31, 2024.

Site Visit

Tribal Health Director Dennis Four Bear said the Dr. David Nguyen will be visiting the Fort Peck Dental Services unit. According to minutes, they have already interviewed him and he is very positive about starting here but he would like to visit the site first and meet the people he will work with, minutes state.

The TEB approved the travel costs for Dr. David Nguyen’s site visit to be held on August 26-30, 2024, for the purpose of provider professional recruitment for the Tribes Dental Department.

Donation

The council approved a $3,000 donation to the Wahcina Wakpa Bronc Bash one day rodeo.

Community Services

The council approved of Memorandum of Understanding between Area one Agency on Aging Senior Companionship Program and the Fort Peck Tribal Elderly Program.

RBWC

Minutes state Susie Perry of the Red Bird Woman Center visited with the TEB regarding a recent trip to the east.

Perry said two weeks ago she went to Philadelphia where she attended the leadership exchange and coaching at the Leadership Exchange and Coaching (LEC training) recently. It’s a requirement for people in her field to complete. She said it teaches someone how to be me a leaders within the children’s advocacy community.

Perry submitted a resolution for approval, which was passed by the council. It approves the request for the RBWC to submit a no-cost extension for the Office of Victims of Crime Grant Award for a 24 month period.

Dental

Employees at the Fort Peck Tribal Dental Unit will be required to wear uniforms to work now.

According to a resolution passed, the Dental Unit was allotted an annual uniform allowance of $400 for employees that require special uniform to perform job duties and have successfully completed their 90 day probationary period.

Another resolution approved sends medically compromised individuals that require advanced emergency dentistry services to either Yellowstone Dental or Winterholler Dentistry in Billings, with Tribal Health Dental responsible for setting up payment arrangements and begin the coordinated care contracting process.

Tribal Health Dental Department will also cover costs associated with the Dental Assistant Training Program through the Great Falls College Montana State University.

However one motion regarding dental was sent back to committee. That was possible retention bonuses.

Councilwoman Gourneau asked if this were an incentive or is this something the Tribe do. Performance bonuses are not a retention, and she would like to see the policy before voting. Currently, the Tribes are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars, including phones, rent, and clothing, and these bonuses before them could amount to reckless spending. That money is here to support the Tribes health care system, and it sounds like they are spending money on someone because there is extra money.

Why are they spending money in this way when the dental unit in Wolf Point is in need of new dental chairs, she asked.

Councilwoman Marva Chapman asked if this performance bonus is being given to people who have been here over a year, If it’s being given out for someone who hasn’t been here a year, are they giving these out now and another one in six months?

Councilwoman Carolyn Brugh said it’s a performance bonus per resolution, and it’s five percent of the days of salary. So the bonus is just for 90 days, she said.

When some of these guys signed on to work at the Dental Unit, they didn’t get that bonus.

Gourneau said a performance bonus is a type of compensation when they meet separate goals and objectives. This needs to go back to the drawing board because these people are getting the incentive there, and this performance bonus resolution is only for tribal health.

IHS

The council authorized the option for the Intergovernmental Personnel Act for current Indian Health Service employees in the departments of audiology and optometry.

The IPA authorizes temporary assignments via detail or temporary appointment of permanent employees between the federal government and state and local governments, Indian tribal governments, colleges, universities, and federally funded research and development centers.

Purchase

Tribal leaders approved of the purchase of 1025 1^st Ave. North in Wolf Point for the total amount of $332,000 for the purpose of professional housing.

Another purchase approved was 5817 BG 1 Dr., in Poplar, for $286,000.

Motor Pool bid

The council approved the bid from CECO Building Systems for the development of a Tribal Health Motor Pool Facility.

Roller Rink

The council approved purchasing skates from Riedell in the amount of $25,124.59.

Enrollment

The council approved recommendations from the Tribal Enrollment Committee. These include 25 full memberships, one reinstated membership, two relinquishment’s, 12 blood increases, 19 name changes, 10 associate members.