Tribe distributes almost $4 million in 2 percent allocations

Observer Staff

6/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

About $4 million was allocated to local governments, municipalities and area schools during the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan's semiannual 2 percent disbursement process.

Of that amount officially distributed on May 22 at Tribal Operations, about $2.1 million went to Isabella County, while Mt. Pleasant Public Schools received $1.2 million for 135 individual projects.

Since 1994, the Tribe has given about $79 million in 2 percent funds. In accordance with its consent agreement with the state, the Tribe distributes 2 percent of its Class III gaming revenues on a semiannual basis.

Other allocations included: Shepherd Public Schools, $239,124.31; Beal City Public Schools, $107,815; Deerfield Township, $75,352.67; Denver Township, $73,352.67; Mt. Pleasant, $50,000; Chippewa Township, $30,842.40; Isabella, Nottawa and Wise townships, $25,352.67 each; Chippewa Hills Public Schools, $16,480; and the Isabella/Gratiot RESD and Special Education, $14,344.66. A complete breakdown of the individual projects will be in the June 16 edition of the Tribal Observer.

There were a total of 126 requests for about $16 million from local governments and 345 for almost $6 million from area schools. Once applications for 2 percent funds are received by the Tribe, they are prioritized and decided on by Tribal Council.

"This is truly an honor for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe to give back what the Lord has blessed us with," stated Chief Fred Cantu Jr. before the disbursement process began. "We don't try to make ourselves look like we're a greedy nation or that we have all this and we don't like to share it. We like to share it and give back to our community."

Some of the Isabella County-funded projects included $480,000 for the multi-jurisdictional traffic enforcement team; $400,000 for Summerton Road; $300,000 for Jordan Road; $235,000 for the Lewis #435 drain and $220,000 for the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.

"It appears that no other place in the state of Michigan has such an arrangement of a uniformed cooperative unit like this Traffic Enforcement Team," stated Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski in the application request. "The Traffic Enforcement Team maintains a focused effort on the amount of increased traffic related to the influx of patrons to the gaming enterprise."

The Summerton Road project will be a total reconstruction between Broadway and Remus roads to an "all-season design." The $300,000 allocated for Jordan Road called for the total reconstruction and paving of it between Isabella Road and U.S. 27.

The Lewis #435 drain project would entail replacing the road crossing one-eighth of a mile north of Weidman Road on Isabella Road.

"Isabella Township wants to blacktop this mile of road, but the bridge is very narrow and needs to be replaced first," stated Isabella County Drain Commission Gary J. McBride.

In his request for $220,000 to continue BAYANET funding, Detective/First Lt. Melvin Mathews stated Saginaw Chippewa Tribal members have "become targets for those who distribute illegal narcotics.

"BAYANET will continue to address this growing problem of drug trafficking and thereby affecting associated crimes and other related social problems," he added. "This team will coordinate local resources and act as a conduit for education and treatment."