MVSKOKE RESERVATION- On Nov 1, the Land, Natural Resources, and Cultural Preservation Committee held an in-person meeting. Passed legislation will go on to a full council meeting, unless otherwise noted.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
The council approved $4,399 for Weleetka United Methodist Church from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Emergency Assistance Grant.
The council approved $2,500 for the Morning Star Evangelistic Center from the Muscogee (Creek) Traditional Church Summer Church Camp Grant.
The council approved $2,500 for Covenant Harvest Ministries from the Muscogee (Creek) Traditional Church Summer Church Camp Grant.
TR 23-115 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a grant of permanent easement to establish a reinterment cemetery in the ancestral lands of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Galen Cloud.
A landowner in the ancestral lands of Alabama has agreed to grant the MCN a permanent easement on land to be used as a reinterment site for remains and associated and nonassociated funerary items. The Grant of Permanent Easement contains limited waivers of sovereign immunity and must be passed by council vote. The Department of Culture and Humanities will exercise oversight of the reinterment cemetery.
TR 23-116 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Housing contract with Jeffrey and Ramona Gormly passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Nelson Harjo Sr.
The MCN Department of Housing is requesting approval for a MCN Housing Contract of Sale of Real Estate with Jeffrey and Ramona Gormly to purchase a five bedroom house in Glenpool in the amount of $270,000 from NAHASDA Funds.
TR 23-117 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a contract accepting a donation of land located in Hughes County, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
The MCN has been asked to accept a donation of land in Wetumka, Oklahoma. The land contains three lots, and approximately 10,500 square feet of land at 220 E. Benson Ave. Wetumka, OK 74883.
TR 23-118 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a contract accepting a donation of land located in Hughes County, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
The MCN has been asked to accept a donation of land in Wetumka, Oklahoma. The land contains one lot, and approximately 7,000 square feet of land at Lot 5, Block 7 in the Mingo addition in Wetumka, OK. An address was not provided in the bill.
TR 23-119 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a real estate contract for the purchase of property in Okmulgee, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Harjo Sr. It corresponds with NCA 23-140.
The legal description of the property is Lot 4 of Section 2, Township 15 North, Range 12 East, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, Indian Base Meridian, containing 38.5 acres more or less. It is located in the Duck Creek Community.
NCA 23-136 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds in the amount of $418,031 awarded from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the benefit of the Geospatial Department passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Joseph Hicks.
The Geospatial Department was awarded an EPA CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Grant. This program funding deals with EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization Programs. The CERCLA section 128(a) program provides funding for states and tribes to establish or enhance their environmental response programs, develop brownfield response clean ups and oversee the assessment. The grant will hire two additional staff, archive documents, and develop a framework for traditional ecological knowledge for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brownfields program. It will also support site cleanup.
NCA 23-137 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds in the amount of $90,000 awarded from the EPA for the benefit of the Geospatial Department passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
The Geospatial Department received EPA CERCLA funds to continue to review projects that address climate change and tribal environmental codes and to contract with vendors to review current and existing tribal environmental codes. This assists in maintaining the framework for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Brownfields program.
NCA 23-138 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation appropriating funds in the amount of $40,000 to be used for transactional costs related to accepting donated real property located in Hughes County, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It will go on to the Business, Finance, and Justice Committee. It was sponsored by Rep Cloud.
This law corresponds to bill TR 23-117 and the property at 220 E. Benson Ave. Wetumka, OK 74883, which the MCN has been asked to accept in donation.
NCA 23-139 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation appropriating funds in the amount of $40,000 to be used for transactional costs related to accepting donated real property located in Hughes County, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It goes on to the Business, Finance, and Justice Committee. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
This law corresponds to TR 23-139 and property in Wetumka, OK. The land contains one lot, and approximately 7,000 square feet of land located at Lot 5, Block 7 in the Mingo addition in Wetumka, Oklahoma. An address was not provided in the bill.
NCA 23-140 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received in the amount of $1,720,000 from the United States Department of the Treasury for the purchase of property located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep Harjo Sr.
This legislation corresponds with TR 23-119. It utilizes the Final Rule, which according to the U.S. Treasury provides state and local governments increased flexibility to pursue a wider range of uses and increased simplicity to aid in governments’ focus on responding to their communities and maximizing the impact of their funds. Recipients can use the funds for capital expenditures that support eligible public health or economic response. It requires written justification for expenditures over $1 million.
This law would enable the MCN to expend ARPA funds to cover the purchase price and costs of incidental expenses related to the purchase. According to the bill, the MCN wishes to utilize the property to further its land use.
NCA 23-141 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal relief funding received in the amount of $6,750,000 from the United States Department of the Treasury for matching funds in collaboration with the state of Oklahoma for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Tribal Cooperation Grant Program passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep Joseph Hicks.
This law corresponds to TR 23-029. The Final Rule for ARPA funding outlines uses in response to the public health emergency, including making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, to support vital wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. This law appropriates APRA funds to meet the matching funds in collaboration with the State of Oklahoma for the APRA Tribal Cooperation Grant Program.
To view the full agenda, visit: mcncn.com.
