Tribal Council Meets, Welcomes New Employees

By Iretta Tiger

HOLLYWOOD — On Nov. 11, the tribal council held their regular monthly meeting on the Hollywood reservation. However, before the council got down to business, several new employees were introduced.

These employees will be working for the Seminole Police Department (SPD) and the Seminole Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. Among the new recruits for SPD were a few tribal citizens, including Vincent Micco, whose story appeared in the Nov. 5 issue of The Seminole Tribune.

To show their appreciation for the support they have received, both EMS and SPD presented the council with plaques.

The first things to be discussed were the new items on the consent agenda; they are items which have been previously discussed by the council. Executive Administrator Ken Fields read from the agenda and the items were passed in one general vote. These items included homesite leases for the reservations and liquor licenses for the various clubs and restaurants in Seminole Paradise.

Next were the new items on the regular agenda. The first resolution on this agenda is to set aside 13.096 acres for the Big Cypress Rehabilitation Center on the Big Cypress reservation. No date was given as to when the center will open.

Another resolution of interest was to renew the Florida Power & Light (FP&L) company contract for the right-of-way land for the transmission lines on the Hollywood reservation. However, one condition of the renewal is that FP&L would have to bury the lines. Burying the lines would allow more land for more houses and the trailers on 29th Street would become permanent homes.

Before council could vote on this resolution, tribal citizen Carl Baxley demanded that the issue should be brought before the people. But why? The resolution was passed unanimously.

Item number 41 on the agenda was a resolution transferring ownership of the Coconut Creek Smoke Shop, the Big Cypress citrus groves and the Brighton citrus groves from the Seminole Tribe of Florida tribal council to the board.

The last resolution was the formation of Renegade Barbeque, LLC by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. and Cleveland Baker Jr. The restaurant will be located in Seminole Paradise. Both this and the previously mentioned item passed unanimously.

This concluded the open session of the council meeting they then went into closed session. The next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 in the Hollywood auditorium.