Special Council Meeting Held

By Iretta Tiger

BIG CYPRESS — A special council meeting was held on May 25.

The first item on the agenda was tabled, and the next three resolutions were for the renewal of contracts for Chief Executive Officer of Seminole Gaming James Allen, Chief Financial Officer Brad Buchanan and Director of Gaming-Compliance & Regulations Edward Jenkins. All three were approved.

Also approved was the last resolution of the meeting. The resolution allowed the Tribe to offer a deferred compensation plan in lieu of stock options for executive level gaming employees. Normally, stocks in the company are offered as a bonus to executive employees of the company. This is not possible for employees of a tribally owned company.

At the closing of the meeting Big Cypress Councilman David Cypress praised Allied Health Manager Suzanne Davis and the rest of the Health department staff for their efforts in removing junk food from the vending machines at the Big Cypress gymnasium. The sodas were replaced with juices, water and Gatorade®.

Davis is also planning the same for the Hollywood and Brighton gymnasiums.

“We also need help from the parents because our kids are getting too big,” said Cypress. “Now we see younger children fighting diabetes and other health problems related to obesity. It’s not right.”

The next Council meeting is scheduled for June 17 on the Big Cypress reservation.