Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Principal Chief Chad Smith is proposing the Cherokee Nation send $439,000 to the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation (HACN) to help HACN through it’s current funding cycle. The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council approved the $439,000 transfer in committee last week.

"The idea is to give the Housing Authority a little breathing room in the short term, so they can figure out the best way to address the long-term situation", Smith said.

David Southerland, the interim executive director at HACN, has proposed laying off more than 90 employees. The HACN’s board of commissioners delayed a decision on any potential layoffs at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Smith applauded the commissioners’ decision to wait for a full analysis before layoffs occur.

"The Board asked for the reasoning behind any layoffs, an analysis of other options and a detailed plan on how the Housing Authority got where it is today", Smith said. "I think that is something we all want to know."

Smith, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and the HACN Board all became aware of the problems at HACN after the recent departure of two of the HACN’s top executives, Ron Qualls and L.S. Fields.

"We were kept in the dark as the Housing Authority added more than 100 new permanent employees", Barbara Starr-Scott, a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. "We met with (former HACN executive director) Ron Qualls monthly and he never let on that this was a problem."

"Since this came to light, we have been working with the Council and the Housing Authority to try to help these employees", Smith said.

Smith has also pledged to accept HACN employees as transfers into similar open positions at the Cherokee Nation.

"I have also spoken with the human resources managers at CNE (Cherokee Nation Enterprises), CNI (Cherokee Nation Industries), Flintco and others about finding positions for any displaced Housing Authority employees", Smith said. "I’ve also asked Diane Kelley and Cherokee Nation Career Services to be prepared to help these folks any way possible."

"I have full confidence in the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners", Smith said. "They are taking steps to make sure that the Housing Authority continues to serve the Cherokee people well."

The Housing Authority is in the process of downsizing to live within its annual budget. HACN management hired more than 100 new employees over the past three years to work off four years of unspent funds, but made few plans for those employees when the backlogged work was done. Despite the fact the HACN’s budget is $5 million more than it was three years ago, the HACN now has to live within a single year’s funding.

"In the past two years, the HACN has built a record number of homes, making up for several past years when they weren’t building as many homes as they had funding for", Smith said. "For example, last year the Housing Authority built almost 300 homes, after building only 51 the year before I took office. Unfortunately, the management of the Housing Authority didn’t hire the people to do this work on a temporary basis to take care of a backlog. Instead, they hired them full-time, so when the backlog was gone, the jobs were too. The Housing Authority Board got put into a tough spot, and we’re trying to help them out as much as we can."

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671