March 2009 Vol
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Currents You can find this and many other issues at lrboi.com Mndoo-Giizis (Spirit Moon) Megwa Ezhiweback March 2009 Vol. 6 Issue 3 ALSO IN THIS Primary Election results PUBLICATION The 2009 primary election for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians came to a close on Friday the 13th at the Community Center. Approximately 40 members were there to witness the vote count conducted by the Election Board under the watchful eyes of candidates and Tribal Police. P.2- FROM THE OFFICE OF OGEMA ROMANELLI Election 2009 P.3-COUNCIL NEWS P.4-16-CANDIDATE SUBMISSIONS P.20-21-MEMBERS ASSISTANCE P. 28-TRIBAL SELF GOVERNANCE P.33-CABIN FEVER P.34-MEMBERS SUBMISSIONS Spring Here are the candidates who are moving forward to the General Election. Their vote count is included in parentheses Membership Meeting Tribal Council At Large: Michael Ceplina (191), Virgil Johnson (252) and Elaine Porter (151). April 18, 2009 Tribal Council 9 County: Kimberly Alexander (88), Bill Anderson (82), Harold Battice II (86), Austen Brauker (77), Candace Chapman (136), Pamela Medahko (116), Steve Parsons (198), Janine Sam (150), Melissa Zelenak (75). See April Currnets Tribal Council Outlying: Norbert Kelsey (128), Sandy Lempke-Mezeske (85) and Rick Sprague Big Thunder (76). for more details! Office of Tribal Court Chief Judge: Daniel Bailey (374), John Gregory Kelsey (259) and Jonnie Jay Sam (321). The other races for Court positions and Election Board did not participate in the primary. Office of Public The General Election is scheduled for April 24th. In this issue of the Currents, candidates were given the opportunity to Affairs submit a 400 word article. They will have another opportunity in the April edition which will be delivered well before the Contact Information election. The articles appear beginning on page 4. 1-888-723-8288 1-231-398-6840 Little River Band of Ottawa Indians PRSRT STD 375 River Street U.S. Postage Manistee, Michigan 49660 PAID Permit # 195 Manistee, MI Currents Mndoo-Giizis (Spirit Moon) March 2009 Vol. 6 Issue 3 Page 2 From the Office of Ogema Romanelli Aanii, It is my understanding that our Tribal ID cards decided to take a voluntary 20% cut temporarily ous positions. I would like to caution members will now be accepted as a means of identifica- as well. At the January 21st Meeting, I also had about some of the negative campaigning going tion by the State of Michigan. I want to thank it placed on the agenda to have Council reduce on. There are some documents that are being Diane Lonn and those that have been working my salary, but it would have violated our Con- distributed about candidates backgrounds and on getting this passed. Miigwetch. stitution for them to do the reduction, and it was it appears that only certain candidates are being Also, the recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme voted down. I have since decided to reimburse targeted while others are not. Court and by Judge Leon, will be helpful as we the tribe through personal checks. At this writing, the Tribal Council has talked of continue to pursue a second site in the Muskegon I want to thank Jessica Burger for her work in releasing to the membership, the forensic audit area. The Supreme Court recently decided not to getting the Self Governance compact finalized that was done at the request of the Gaming Com- hear the case against the Gun lake Tribe, clear- between Little River band of Ottawa Indians and mission on the Casino. I also hope to have a re- ing the way for that Tribe to open a casino in the Department of Health and Human Services. port of corrective measures responding to the Wayland Michigan. Because of legal battles, the This agreement is permanent structuring docu- audit, released as well. tribe has been trying to pursue a casino for ap- ment and creates baseline funding of approxi- I am anxiously for spring to arrive this year as proximately 10 years.Congratulations to them. mately $1.4 per year for the next three years. I have had enough snow and cold for a while. Our Spring Membership Meeting is scheduled Along with Jessica, Myra Munson assisted the Bamapii for April 18th at the Little River Casino Resort Tribe with negotiations, and Lloyd Miller of DHS Event Center. deserves credit for getting discussions moving The Community Center is on target for comple- forward. There is more on the following pages. tion this spring, however, it is believed that it There have been a variety of “forums” that have Boxing Commissioner Indicted been held over the past couple of months. While will be over budget by the time of completion. I According to a report by Mark Vestor believe there are several factors for this . I hope there has been some confusion over the planning of these. I think it is important to know that none ([email protected] ) in the Grand to have a report on this at the Membership Meet- Rapids Press January 28th, former tribal boxing ing and hope the project is nearing completion of the three branches of government, Executive, Legislative or Judicial, are responsible for put- commissioner Shane Crampton is charged with by that time as well. extortion and wire fraud in connection with his As you know, our Government employees have ting these on. Many were initiated by concerned tribal people or the candidates themselves. dealings with Detroit promotional company Clip had their hours reduced from 40 hours a week Boxing Inc. and founder, Carlos Llinas. Federal to 32 hours in an effort to stay within the bud- By the time you read this, I believe the results of the primary election will have been announced. prosecutors charged Crampton with making a get and save anyone from having to be laid off. payment demand of $1,000, and in return he Tribal Council, at their January 7th Meeting, I want to thank all of the candidates for stepping forward to put their names in the hat for the vari- promising to book his fight cards at the Little River Casino and Resort. Crampton denies the charges, though he did admit to the FBI that he accepted a $1,000 Western Union wire payment from Llinas, but says the fee was for networking Llinas with other tribes nationwide. He faces 30-years in prison. Hours,Cutbacks Programs and Salariesat LRBOI Cut Government (updated) “I never had any power and everyone knew that,” tribal match to their 401k contributions. Cutbacks Crampton said on Tuesday. “Everything got signed MSN reported December 15th, 2008 that, “The were also made in Stipends, Small Equipment, and approved by the tribal council. He had to present Nevada Gaming Control Board reported last week Training and Travel and Capital Outlay budgets. to them and get their approval. I couldn’t even make that revenue at the state’s casinos fell by 22 percent At the last meeting of Tribal Council, the a recommendation.” in October, compared with the same month last 2009 Budget was approved by Resolution #08- Llinas staged at least two cards at the Manistee year. It was the 10th straight monthly decline — 1217-435. In this resolution, Council made some casino, including one that was televised on and the biggest ever. The story was even worse additional cuts to Tribal Activities; Sponsorships Showtime with a tripleheader that featured Chazz on the Las Vegas Strip, where the October take and Donations; Advertising; some Licenses, Fees Witherspoon, Ronald Hearns and James McGirt Jr. was down by 26 percent.” This downturn has hit and Permits; Books and Reference Materials; January 29th, the tribal Office of Public Affairs gaming across the nation, the state of Michigan Small Equipment and Furniture; some phones and issued the following statement: “The indictment and the Little River Casino Resort as well. The pagers; Uniforms and some Stipends. yesterday of a former commission member involved reduced income from the casino and increased Increases were authorized by Council for with boxing at the Little River Casino Resort pressure brought by the Per Cap program some other Stipends; some Legal Licenses, Fees almost 2 years ago brings some closure to a difficult approved last year has caused serious changes to & Permits; Capital Outlay (in Commerce) and issue. Through it all, the casino resort and tribal the governmental budget. increased travel for the Prosecutors Office. In government have stood behind the rule of law and After multiple revisions of the Casino’s addition, Council increased funding to pay for costs supported the prosecution of those who break it. 2009 Operating Budget and following difficult associated with expenses incurred by the Tribe The Tribal Ogema, Larry Romanelli, decisions resulting in layoffs at the Casino, as related to litigation for Kern Valley and increased reported that it was the tribe, “who initiated the mentioned in last months Currents, the Casino funding for License, Fees & Permits to pay for the investigation several years ago after observing 2009 Revenue projection was finalized in mid- annual license of two Certified Public Accountants potential irregularities.” Romanelli added that, December. The result was the need to cut $ 4.2 for the Government Business & Accounting Office. “Based upon the investigation, the tribe asked that million from the Tribal Government budget. After See the website at www.lrboi.com to view the full boxing at the resort be formally investigated and we exploring all options with staff, Ogema Romanelli Resolution. are all thankful that the investigation is reaching a was able to determine the best possible solution Tribal government offices are officially conclusion.” leading to decreased service hours but no decrease operating under a new schedule which began Professional and amateur boxing at the in direct benefits provided to Tribal members in January 5th with offices open from Monday resort spanned approximately one year and was very the many programs run by Tribal Government.