Summary of November Business Committee Meeting
Chief Leroy Howard was not present.
Second Chief Charles Diebold called the meeting to order and delivered the prayer. All members were present with the exception of Chief Howard. A quorum was declared.
Seneca –Cayuga Commercial furniture is completing the certification and registration process. They have bids out at Fletcher Honda, Branson Jr. High and Bordertown Casino. Bids should be awarded in the next few weeks. To better reflect the scope of their offerings Seneca-Cayuga Commercial Furniture will do business as Seneca-Cayuga Office Solutions.
Rick Smith, casino manager reported that $765,203.76 was transferred to the tribe last month. Currently the casino has 807 machines, 325 titles that represent 12 vendors. Reporting on the Grand Lake Lodge, the Profit – Loss Reported showed a $58,000 dollar loss. Rick explained the loss for the month was more like $6,000 because depreciation expense, $35,765, and interest expense for the year were all shown on last month’s report.
Guests at the meeting initiated a discussion as to the merit of the Lodge and its future. The discussion also included any future land or business acquisition. Many in attendance felt that the General Council should be more involved in future business interests involving the tribe
When Rick was questioned about taxes on the Lodge, he said Chief Howard told him to reference the Lodge as a tribal property and thus afforded sovereignty.
The Business instructed Smith to file all of the paperwork and to pay the necessary taxes..
As a result of the discussion, Katie Birdsong offered a motion to pay-off the Lodge from money in the land acquisition fund. The payoff price is $452,000. Paying off the mortgage would allow the property to be placed in trust. This would eliminate the taxation issue. It would also eliminate a $2,300 + monthly payment for the next 20 years, saving the tribe a large amount of money in future years.
The Seneca Cayuga Tobacco Company reported the sale of 4,930 cases during the month of October. This was an increase of 1,400 cases over September sales. The company reported $217,064 in sales for the month. The company remains in the negative at $152,920, but with sales increasing, they should be in the black before the end of the calendar year. Another point of interest, The company took in $64,125 in October from brokerage monies from national brands being sourced from our contracts. The company has received their first shipment of Skydancer filtered cigars to compliment the cigarette and pipe tobacco. The tobacco business picked up five new accounts last month, two in New York, 1 in Arizona and 2 in Nevada.
Jerry Barber, president, indicated that the company is working hard to establish brand equity.
There were questions and a discussion from those in attendance in regard to cigarette distribution. Some requested that the Tobacco Company consider direct sales to the market as opposed to the use of distributors.
A smoke shop report was submitted to the committee, but no report was made to those in attendance.
The office of economic development is currently reviewing 25 diverse businesses opportunities. Also, it is working with Paul Barton to establish a new cash flow of $150, in the form of a review fee, for each proposed cell tower constructed in our area of interest or responsibility.
The Skydancer Convenience Store continues to be a bright star in our business package. Last month it generated $306,901. This month the tribe has paid off most of the monies associated with starting the business and profits should increase. The Store also received its first supply of tax free gasoline.
Dennis Sisco, tribal executive director offered several item for action. Dennis is very soft spoken and my position in the room made it difficult to hear but hopefully I got the general ideas. The first item was a request to upgrade the soap and towel dispensers. The total cost of the new dispensers is $237.00. Another item required the Business Committee to grant permission for our tribal flag to be flown at NEO in observance of Native American Heritage Month. Next, he had prepared a resolution to write off amounts over $1,000,000 dollars as advised by the auditors. Despite these huge numbers, the tribe’s total assists will remain the same. A third item was the need for a letter to grant the State of Oklahoma the permission to conduct required reviews in regard to the replacement of the Highway 10 bridge o9ver Sycamore Creek. A final issue was a letter of partnership between the tribe and the Cherokee nation with regard to the building of houses in Miami that are on Cherokee native land, but owned by our tribe.
The Business Committee approved all items offered by Dennis.
Following the reading of the minutes, a discussion followed on an item that was passed in closed session in regard to land that a trust application for purpose of building a casino. The intent was to refile the application to put the land in trust “with no change of purpose.”
First, there were several in attendance that believed that this request to rescind should have been made in open session. Next, the land in question was tribal land granted by treaty and by law could be used for virtually anything once the paper work is filed. There was enough discussion to prompt the Business Committee to rescind its prior action. This was in regard to the 31 acres set aside for a possible casino in Grove.
The secretary read two tribal relinquishment requests regarding minor children. They were approved.
Another discussion initiated by the group was in regard to the vacancies on the Election Committee. Since that committee is appointed by the Business Committee, a motion was made that the committee appoint three new members. Those appointments will be made from those who apply to the Business Committee. Hopefully these positions will be filled at the December meeting.
This is a summary of what I heard. At times it was hard to hear and I apologize if things are not accurately reported.
