Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH OK - The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Council, at a Monday night meeting, decided that the tribe should remain a direct recipient of housing money from the U.S. Federal Government, instead of letting the money go directly to the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation. The council also accepted compromise language in a bill that resolves the central issue in a court dispute over the constitutionality of the original resolution drafted by the council on the housing issue.

"We figured out a way to work together," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. "We found a way to accomplish our goal of helping the Cherokee people."

The council had voted to let the Housing Authority receive the money directly, in a special council meeting held on Thursday, August 31, 2000, but some council members reconsidered their positions.

The council also reconsidered two of Chief Smith's vetoes. The council voted to sustain both the vetoes they had originally voted to override at the special meeting.

One of Smith's vetoes dealt with a law that would have prohibited the use of motor fuels tax money for salaries and administrative costs. Some council members voted differently when they realized how the law might affect programs like the CNO's Marshal Service and roads program.

"We didn't think it though well enough," said council member Barbara Starr-Scott. "We've got to be able to pay people to administer these programs."

The council also sustained a veto of a bill that would have set aside money to purchase land near W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah. The council and Smith agreed to work toward buying the land without a large cash outlay that would deplete the Cherokee Nation's general fund.

Council member Don Crittenden, who sponsored the vetoed bill, voted to sustain the Chief's veto and work with Smith to arrange a financing plan to purchase the land.

The council voted to table an item dealing with the Cherokee Nation budget for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. The council and the administration plan to work together over the next two weeks to get budget in place before the next fiscal year begins.