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Rules Committee roundup: marshals, AG opinion withdrawn, election updates and gaming audits
Summary
Committee members heard reports from the marshal, attorney general, election and tax commissions, self-governance and gaming officials; topics included a completed shooting range, a withdrawn DOI opinion affecting land-into-trust questions, voter ID mailings and NIGC site visits.
The Cherokee Nation Rules Committee received a series of administrative and departmental updates at its July 13 meeting, including public-safety, legal, election and regulatory items.
Marshal Marshall Mead reported that a shooting range project is largely finished with restrooms, parking and concrete in place and that the facility will be ready for marshal qualification and a dedication ceremony. He also said the marshal service recently graduated 14 paramedics and has started a new paramedic class with 17 students. Mead described 'citizenship checks,' explaining that outside agencies sometimes ask marshal dispatch to verify tribal citizenship for people encountered during calls.
General Harshaw of the Attorney General's office updated the committee on litigation and a recent development at the Department of the Interior. Harshaw said a DOI opinion that had characterized the United Catuwah Band as having certain rights within the Cherokee Nation reservation was withdrawn and emphasized that the opinion was not a court ruling. "The opinion being withdrawn means that The United States Department Of Interior and all of its agencies cannot rely upon the previous opinion," Harshaw said, adding that the legal analysis and factual interpretations in that opinion were incorrect.
Marcus Fears of the Election Commission said the commission has a new voter registration form that lists added polling locations and that staff will mail updated voter ID cards with precinct information; he said the commission is assigning many voters automatically to closer polling sites but advised anyone unsure to call the office.
Sharon Swepston of the Tax Commission reported year-over-year growth through May: motor vehicle collections up about 7.15% and revenue and taxation up about 10.73%. Ashana Miles (Self-Governance) said Head Start and Early Head Start programs have been incorporated into the 477 plan, a change she described as expanding departmental collaboration and citizen access to services. Audra Imhoff of the Gaming Commission listed recent NIGC site visits at multiple properties and said she expects favorable audit findings once the final reports are issued.
Samantha Hendricks in Human Resources said about 35 interns will meet the council in an upcoming session. The committee amended the agenda to include a HUD-related resolution from Community Services and approved the resolution to submit the FY2027 Indian Housing Plan to HUD. The meeting concluded with recognitions and the next meeting scheduled tentatively for Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.
