Special Council Meeting Held in Hollywood

By Janice Billie

HOLLYWOOD — On June 16 the Seminole Tribal Council held a special meeting at the Hollywood Headquarters. Before the official business of the meeting began there were several presentations made to the council.

The first presentation was a plaque given to Chairman Mitchell Cypress by football coach Ronald Thurston of Pompano, Fla. Thurston coaches the Pompano Cowboys, a team of six to eight year old in the South Florida Football League.

Cypress donated uniforms and cleats to the team when he learned of their need. It was the first time in 10 years new equipment was acquired. The team went 10-3 in the 2005-2006 season. Thurston is an officer with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, who volunteers his time to the league.

The next presentation was from the Tennessee T-Cakes company in Nashville, Tenn. This company is co-owned by Tribal citizen Gladys Bowers Bratcher and her business partner, Frances Barkley. As a courtesy to the council the company sent each representative a tin of their famous assorted T-Cakes.

Representatives from the Ft. Lauderdale Council of the Navy League followed with their presentation of a statue called the Lone Sailor to Cypress and the council for the Tribe’s support during Fleet Week.

Tribal citizen Jarrid Smith addressed the council next. He wanted to report on his progress as a student and athlete at Florida Atlantic University He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity the Seminole Tribe has provided him. Smith shared that his endeavor to be a good football player and a good student has not been easy. However, he has found personal fulfillment in working hard and staying committed.

Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger and Assistant Coach Kurt Van Valkenburg of the FAU Owls football team were also in attendance. Each took the opportunity to share with the council a summary of Smith’s accomplishments and their admiration of him. Schnellenberger described Smith as a leader on and off the field with a great future ahead of him. Van Valkenburg commented that this address to the council was the most he’s heard Smith speak.

“For most of the first year all he said was yes, no and thank you,” he said.

The assistant head coach also commended Smith on his dedication to the team and academics. Smith invited the council and members of the Seminole community to attend the next season’s football games and support his team.

After the presentations Executive Administrative Officer Ken Fields turned the meeting to the items on the agenda. The first act of the council was to approve the items on the consent agenda. These are described as “items of a routine, administrative nature and have been previously discussed by the Tribal Council.”

  • Budget Modification Approval –FY 2006
  • Seminole Tribe of Florida Revenue Allocation & Per Capita Distribution Plan –Amendment No.2
  • Special Per Capita Distribution of Tribal Gaming Revenues for the Fiscal Year October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006
  • Ford Motor Credit Company Indian Tribal Government Lease-Purchase Agreement
  • Approval of Financing with Wachovia Financial Services, Inc. with respect to the purchase of a 2002 Bell Helicopter: Limited Waiver of Sovereign Immunity.

The first three items on this agenda pertaining to the Budget Modification Approval and Revenue Distribution were tabled. It was strongly suggested by various tribal citizens that the modified budget be brought to the community before this item is officially approved.

A Tribal-wide community meeting was mentioned at first but individual community meetings were agreed upon instead.