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FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board elects officers, approves service contracts and auditor, sets distribution timeline
Summary
At its March 5, 2021 virtual meeting the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board elected 2021 officers, designated bank signatories, approved a $30,000 administrative services agreement and engaged Gabridge & Co. for the 2020 audit (not to exceed $2,650), and approved a timeline for distributing casino revenue amid a 16% drop in Net Win.
The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board met virtually on March 5, 2021, elected officers for 2021, approved administrative and auditing contracts, and set the county’s timeline for distributing FireKeepers casino revenue.
Joe Caron was elected board chair, Derek King was elected vice chair, Greg Moore was elected treasurer and Deb Belles was elected secretary; each officer was chosen by a motion and carried by voice vote. After the officer elections, the board voted to appoint all board officers as bank signatories for 2021.
County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott told the board the administrative services agreement was the same as prior years and carries a fixed fee of $30,000 plus reimbursement of certain county expenses such as copies. On a motion by Member Moore and second by Member Stuck the board approved the administrative services agreement; a roll call vote recorded six yes votes and the motion carried. Member Stuck said he may consult with Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) tribal legal counsel to confirm whether the tribe needs to formally approve the agreement.
The board also approved a proposed timeline for distributing the 2021 funds, including dates for application notices, hearings on Tier 2 specific-actual increased-cost claims, preliminary presentation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 distributions, and final authorization of Tier 3 and Tier 4 disbursements between March and June 2021. County staff noted they would coordinate with FireKeepers Casino Hotel about a possible check ceremony and a press release.
Kelli Scott recommended engaging Gabridge & Co. to perform the 2020 audit; the board approved retaining the firm for an amount not to exceed $2,650 on a motion by Member Stuck, second by Member King, with a roll call vote of six yes votes. The motion to engage Gabridge & Co. carried.
During public comment, Harper Creek Superintendent Rob Ridgeway thanked the board for continued support and singled out Jamie Stuck for leadership from the NHBP Tribe while casino operations were reduced in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In member comments, Scott previewed the allocation process and said the Net Win payment was down by about 16% this year and the beginning fund balance for 2021 is $29,676; because discretionary funds typically accumulate over time, she said a grant program would likely not be practical this year.
All motions described above passed as recorded in the meeting minutes. The meeting was adjourned at 10:34 a.m.; the board’s next meeting was scheduled for April 30, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
