Tribal Council Meeting
By Janice Billie
HOLLYWOOD — The regular session of the Tribal Council was held at the Seminole Tribe Hollywood Headquarters on the morning of Jan. 13.
Two Tribal employees received special recognition from the council prior to the meeting. The Billy Cypress Service Award was presented to Cheryl Russell, a flight attendant from the Aviation department. The council then recognized Seminole Police Department Chief Mike Floyd for receiving the 2005 Police Chief of the Year Award from the National Native American Law Enforcement Association.
While leaving the Big Cypress airport on Dec. 4, Russell spotted smoke coming from off of Snake Road. She then saw that a car was burning and notified the Seminole Police dispatcher and Emergency Services.
When she approached the vehicle, she became aware of a person lying on the ground, partially in the vehicle. Despite the flames and the danger of the car exploding, she pulled the person away from the burning car.
When Emergency Services arrived, the patient was stabilized and transferred to the B. C. airport. He was helicopter evacuated by the Broward Sheriffs Office to the burn unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. He expired from his burns several days later.
For putting her own life at risk in pulling the individual from the burning car, Ms. Russell earned the Billy Cypress Service Award.
Chief Mike Floyd recently honored by the National Native American Law Enforcement Association with its 2005 Police Chief of the Year Award.
Chief Floyd was recognized for his “outstanding leadership in the development of the Seminole Police Department consisting of over 110 sworn professional law enforcement officers and support staff; in championing partnerships and strategic alliances with county, state and federal law enforcement organizations and departments; in directing the effective response of the Seminole Police Department during numerous hurricanes and major events; in support of the Tribal Homeland Security; in officer/staff training technical assistance and wellbeing; and in dedication to the community he serves.”
The first order of business was to remove a tabled resolution, “Native American Cash Systems Florida, INC. Financial Services Agreement for Seminole Casinos; third addendum” from the agenda until further notice.
The consent agenda refers to items of a routine and administrative nature that have been previously discussed by the Tribal Council. This agenda was presented by Executive Administrator Ken Fields and passed.
The resolutions on this agenda included:
• Approval of a Business Lease Between Seminole Tribe of Florida (Lessor) and Seminole Tribe of Florida, INC. (Lessee) for the Use and Development of a 0.96+/Acre Parcel on the Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation.
• Issuance of two Homesite leases to Tribal citizens.
• Wharton-Smith, INC, Contract to Construct the Waste Water Treatment Plant on the Big Cypress Reservation.
• U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Grant Application to Fund the Seminole Tribe of Florida Tribal Landowner Incentive Program.
Following the consent agenda resolutions the regular agenda was addressed.
Two resolutions were tabled for further review. One was for a contract to construct a water treatment facility in Hollywood. This will be presented to the council again after the bond for this project closes. The other was a contract for the design and manufacture of a statue for the Veterans Center on the Brighton reservation. The council requested modifications to the initial design.
The resolutions passed were for:
• The purchase of a painting of Seminole Chief Micanopy by the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Musuem.
• Seminole Tribe of Florida Membership with the National Congress of American Indians.
• Appointment of Designated Plan Administrator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Seminole Indian Casino 401(k) Plan.
• Appointment of Designated Plan Administrator for the Amended and Restated Seminole Tribe of Florida 401(k) Plan
The next scheduled meeting of the Tribal Council will be Feb.17 on the Brighton reservation.