Fort Hall Business Council March & April district reports
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Fort Hall Business Council
MONTHLY DISTRICT REPORTS FOR MARCH & APRIL 2020
Summary: During the months of The Fort Hall Business Council March and April, 2020 the Fort Hall Business Council conducted regular and special meetings, and canceled the majority of informational meetings with Tribal departments and programs, unless it was COVID-19 related. This has been a hectic few months for the Tribes and for the Business Council, as we learning how to manage a global pandemic which has extended onto the Fort Hall Reservation. Normally, the Councilmembers provide monthly reports directly to the membership at District meetings, but when the District meetings were cancelled, alternative means of communication became necessary. Throughout this public health crisis, the Business Council continued to work through virtual meetings and conference calls. This report
The Special and Regular meetings continue to be held in the Chambers, but there are physical distancing requirements with seating limitations and members of the public are required to follow health screenings at the TBC entry, and to mask up.
Please feel free to contact your Council members directly if you have any questions.
For the months of March and April:
MARCH:
Travel:
Tino Batt to Las Vegas, Nev., RES2020, March 2-4
Ladd Edmo to Boise, Indian Education Committee, March 5-6
No further travel was done by FHBC after March 6.
March 2, 2020, FHBC Govt.-to-Govt. with BLM & Twin Falls BLM District Office, TCR. Was presented a proposal from BLM and Congressman Simpson’s office on a federal land exchange on lands surrounding the Snake River Canyon, just outside of Twin Falls. No further action was taken due to the CV19, as Simpson’s office basically went on hiatus.
March 3, FHBC Special meeting.
Numerous grants were accepted, along with approvals of ICAs.
Approved tribal member requests for legal representation
Approved release of LAND-2019-0981 resolution to a tribal member
March 5, Meeting with Water Resources, in preparation for the Intergovernmental Board meeting. The Portneuf River Fish Passage Project needs reimbursement from BIA Irrigation and other federal agency funding sources. The Tribes have been working to secure fish passage on the Portneuf River and improving the Michaud Irrigation Project’s water delivery system. This additional funding request was presented to BIA’s Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney, and to the Idaho Congressional delegation.
March 5, Tribal Wellness Center, Chairman, on potential funding using carbon tax credits. The FHBC received more information on the carbon tax credits as a potential option for additional revenue. No decision was made.
March 10, Regular meeting FHBC
Deferred payment to NCAI for 2019-2020 annual membership
Approved Tamera Trahant for Tribal Judicial Council, 3-year term
Approved Willow Abrahamson’s resignation from Tribal Credit Board
Approved Brandelle Whitworth as Interim Tribal Court Administrator
Approved Safety Leave Policy for COVID19, to allow employees to use leave when symptomatic/positive for CV19, or have an immediate family/members of household who is positive/symptomatic for CV19, or if a department needs to temporarily close for deep cleaning.
March 11, FHBC Chairman attended the Water Resource Intergovernmental Board meeting.
March 11, FHBC update from HRSA Clinic, Chris Waterhouse
March 11, FHBC update from Tribal Health and Human Services, Ann Jim
March 12, FHBC update from Fish & Wildlife Department
March 12, Truancy Issues, PL 280. An increasing truancy issue in local public, charter, and tribal schools will require updates to the Tribal Education Code, more coordination with Tribal Courts system, and better accountability from school administrators to track attendance rates for tribal member students on and off reservation. This issue was tabled due to the coronavirus, and will be addressed in the future, post-coronavirus.
March 12, FHBC Update with Executive Director, CV19. Travel ban for tribal employees approved via resolution, FHBC-2020-0201.
Tribal member Treaty Rights Seminar was cancelled due to the coronavirus. New date has not been determined yet.
Federal Agency Treaty Rights Seminar was cancelled due to the coronavirus. New date has not been determined yet.
March 13, FHBC provides public health information on the COVID-19, cancels numerous tribal events.
March 16, Schools are closed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
March 17, FHBC Declares State of Emergency for COVID-19, FHBC-2020-0202, and approves travel restrictions and requirements, FHBC-2020-0203.
District meetings cancelled due to coronavirus.
March 19, Special Meeting.
MOU with NOAA, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research/Air Resource Laboratory, approved.
FHBC approves community distribution of potatoes.
FHBC approves plan for reducing tribal governmental operations upon positive case, work-from-home, with hiring restrictions, essential departments identified, and safety leave. FHBC-2020-2018
March 20, Special Meeting.
March 26, FHBC issues a Stay-At-Home Order FHBC-2020-2019
March 26, FHBC participates in regular calls with Tribal Leaders of Idaho Tribes to provide regular updates on COVID-19 preparation, response and issues, to help share information with each other.
March, Idaho Governor Little offers regular calls to Tribal Leadership for Tribes of Idaho
March 31, Special Meeting.
Numerous COVID19 related grants were accepted, along with approvals of ICAs.
Approved a Mutual Aid/ICA between North Bannock County Fire District and Fort Hall Fire and EMS District, to provide improved services for communities
Approved BIA amendment to Tribal contract for Law Enforcement and Adult and Juvenile Corrections to extend performance period from March 31, 2020, to May 31, 2020.
Approved the payoff of the Tribes loan for the Justice Center using funds from the Tribe’s Idaho Central Credit Union certificate of deposits scheduled to mature.
Approved a revised safety leave policy, effective March 31
Approved an extension to Tribal Government safety leave until April 14, to coincide with the Tribes Reservation-Wide Stay-at-Home Order.
Approved 2020 Primary Election vote-by-mail process for registered Tribal member voters only, in accordance with the recommendations of the Tribal Election Board.
APRIL:
April 7, FHBC Special Meeting.
Chairman Ladd Edmo is relegated as Chairman, in accordance with Article 3, Section 7 of Tribal Constitution, and officer position is vacant. FHBC-2020-0245
Business Council conduct election of officers, as set forth, Chairman Tino Batt, Vice-Chairman Kevin Callahan, Secretary Lee Juan Tyler, Treasurer Donna Thompson, Sgt-At-Arms Nathan Small, and Darrell Dixey and Ladd Edmo as Members. FHBC-2020-0246
Tribal lease on agricultural lands RE: Kim Wahlen Farms
Donation. Approval for donation to Sunshine Perry $200 for fuel and retail locations
April 14, FHBC Regular Meeting.
Numerous COVID19 related grants were accepted, along with approvals of ICAs.
Approves Quarantine Policy for COVID-19
Approval to extend travel restrictions, stay-at-home order through May 1.
Approval to use National Response Framework and the National Incident management System for emergency planning for CV19.
Approved distribution percentages for Net Gaming Revenue for year ended September 30, 2019, to be distributed in the Tribes fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 are established.
Approved for applying for the Idaho COVID19 Relief Funding through the state processes.
April 15, FHBC conducts consultation with Idaho Governor identifying tribal priorities for tribal elderly and language speakers, emphasizing the Reservation boundaries for Public Health District data and response, and encouraging an open, fluid and free-flowing communication with Tribal health managers.
April 17, Chairman Batt petitions Indian Health Service and receives Abbott ID NOW analyzer (rapid testing machine) for the Fort Hall Service Area.
April 20, FHBC Special Meeting. Approved Finance to submit application for US Treasury CRF funding.
April 21, BIA and US Treasury Data Breach of Tribal Financial Information. Letter to President, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and Director Emory Rounds of US Office of Government Ethics. Tribes requested Inspector General investigations and Office of Ethics review the improper dissemination of sensitive information, and potential misconduct and violations of privacy, ethics, conflicts of interest, as well as ASIA Sweeney’s removal and that of other involved federal officials involved in these betrayals of the public trust.
April 27, FHBC Special meeting:
Carolyn Smith, Cultural Resource issues, and right after her, Mary D’Aversa, BLM, Blackrock Land Exchange, Cultural Resource discussion on federal lands; Casino Warranty issues
Update with Gaming Commission and Gaming Management. Update on proposed Reopening plan
April 27, Conference call Congressional representatives: with Rep. Raul Grijalva, AZ, on CV-19 and on April 28, Conference call with Rep. Tom Cole, OK, Rep. Sharice Davids, KS, Deb Haaland, NM, to discuss priorities of SBT as Congress drafts COVID 4 legislation for consideration on the House and Senate floors the week of May 4th, including challenges SBT is facing due to the pandemic relating to health care needs, PPE, nutrition, financing, any remaining PPP issues, tribal govt economic relief funding, etc.
April 29, Conference call with the White House Office of American Innovation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, UUS, Department of Treasury, and SBA, for State, Local, Tribal National CV19 Briefing Call. President signed Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act bills, Guidance issued for US Treasury funds.
