![[Top]](/images/nav-top.gif){kind=small}
![[Back]](/images/nav-back.gif){kind=small}
![[Home]](/images/nav-home.gif){kind=small}
August 19, 2003
Joint Business Council Office
Ft Washakie, Wyoming
Senator Robert Peck and Representative Harry Tipton, Cochairmen.
Senators Cale Case and Bill Vasey.
Representatives Lorna Johnson and Del McOmie.
Karen Ashcraft Byrne, Staff Attorney
Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
All meeting materials and handouts provided to the Committee by the Legislative Service Office (LSO), public officials, lobbyists, and the public are referenced in the Meeting Materials Index, attached to the minutes. These materials are on file at the LSO and are part of the official record of the meeting.
Chairman Tipton called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
The Committee was concerned about water projects on the reservation. Mike Besson, Water Development Office, discussed the procedure for submitting applications for funding for water projects pursuant to 03 HB0114. The deadline for applying is September 15, 2003. There is a $1,000.00 application fee. It is expected that the tribes would ask for a study regarding the Drinking Water Project. The state will pay all costs for the study phase. In December of this year or January, 2004 all proposed projects will be reviewed and a final decision made which to fund. Thirty seven million dollars is available for all projects. The Committee discussed the Rehabilitation Project and the importance of the tribes working with the Resources of the Wind group. There was also discussion and concerns expressed regarding housing water needs. The systems were developed in 1961 and the population has tripled since then.
The tribes still have concerns regarding taxation but since several state agencies are involved, everyone agreed to discuss the matter at a different meeting although there were some concerns about the amount of taxes being raised against the tribes.
Legislation was passed in 2003 to create a liaison person between the Governor's office and the tribes. The tribes are presently in the process of choosing five names to submit to the Governor for that position. It is expected that the position will be filled soon.
The Northern Arapahoes reported that they were having problems because they did not get enough funding for their TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] program. The children's shelter is under funded and understaffed. The new domestic violence shelter needs utilities hooked up before it can be used. The tribes expect this hook up to happen in late November or December. There were also concerns about the tribe having to pay for suicidal person commitments and there is inadequate funding for detoxification centers used primarily by the tribes.
The tribes said they were working with the Department of Interior to get procedures issued for Class III gaming. The architectural design for the new facility is ninety per cent finished. The tribes expect the new facility to provide jobs and produce monies for tribal projects.
The tribes discussed the support they were getting from Wyoming's congressional delegation and proposed federal legislation that might help the tribes by protecting them by regulating outside consulting firms operating tribal casinos.
There being no further business, Chairman Tipton adjourned the meeting at 12:00 noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Tipton, CoChairman