BAY MILLS &mdash The Bay Mills Executive Council met June 14 with all members present.
The council approved submittal of a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Tribal College and University Program to renovate the Spirits Lodge, which the tribe recently purchased to house Bay Mills Community College's Language Immersion program.
The council also approved resubmitting a Bureau of Primary Health Care grant, that was approved but not funded last December. Health and Human Services Director Laurel Keenan said that if the tribe is approved for the grant with a high enough score to receive funding, the money would be added into the baseline of the U.P. Association of Rural Health Services' budget for continuation of funding. The $650,000 grant from the federal government, titled “Enhanced Primary Preventative Health Care Services in a Primary Care Setting,” would be used to fund medical support staff.
Tribal Enrollment Director Phyllis Malloy and the council discussed the process in which prospective tribal members can appeal the decision of the General Tribal Council if they are not approved as members. Under the tribe's enrollment ordinance, those wishing to become members of the tribe can submit an application to Malloy, who then gives the necessary information to the tribe's Enrollment Screening Committee. The committee determines if an applicant is eligible to be a tribal member and brings their recommendation to the General Tribal Council for a vote. If an applicant is denied by the GTC, they can notify Tribal Secretary Greg Parker that they would like to appeal the decision by appearing before the GTC at the next scheduled meeting. If they are denied a second time, the applicant may appeal to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
As the tribe's enrollment officer, Malloy is required to verify all tribal member addresses. Because of the significant advantages of being a resident tribal member living in the tax agreement area, anyone seeking to be added to the list of resident tribal members must provide valid identification &mdash drivers license, voter registration card, current utility bill with name and address on it (no P.O. boxes). The council approved a motion to direct Malloy to verify addresses.
A banishment request was tabled at the recommendation of Tribal Attorney Candy Tierney.
The council approved a tribal member request for a deck and ramp.
The Bay Mills Gaming Commission has one vacant position for which four applicants have applied. Because it takes 30 days for appointment &mdash due to background and fingerprinting checks &mdash Tribal Chairman Jeff Parker volunteered to sit in on gaming commission meetings until the slot is filled. The council approved this unanimously.
