Content about Gaming Enterprise Board

Osage Casinos are now authorized to borrow money from other lenders rather than dipping into the Osage Nation’s coffers.

The Second Osage Nation Congress voted 6-4 to pass ONCA 12-18, which authorizes the Gaming Enterprise to seek a loan up to $27.1 million from a banking institution for Osage Casino expansion projects. The bill’s approval came on the final day of the 12th Special Session.

The Osage Gaming Enterprise Board filed an ethics complaint against Osage Congressman William “Kugee” Supernaw April 11, claiming he made libelous statements about the board and their Executive Management staff in his March 30 email newsletter Notes to the Nation.

The Second Osage Nation Congress unanimously passed a supplemental appropriation bill allocating $50,000 for land-into-trust application and completion costs on Feb. 25 during the Sixth Special Session. These monies will be designated for the trust applications concerning the lands holding the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casinos in Tulsa, Skiatook and Ponca City.

A vacancy opened on the Osage Nation’s three-person Gaming Enterprise Board last month after Gene Big Soldier resigned.

Gaming board Chairman Frank Oberly said Big Soldier resigned as board treasurer during the board’s Dec. 15 meeting, according to meeting minutes reported by the Gaming Enterprise. No reason or date for the resignation was listed.

The Osage News inquired with the Executive Branch about the gaming board resignation/ vacant position. A response was not received before this article was printed.

The Osage Congress ended its first Tzi-Zho Session on Oct. 7 with confirmations for the Nation’s second Treasurer and the second Gaming Enterprise Board member. A third board member, an interim appointment made by Principal Chief John Red Eagle, was made last week.

The Second Osage Nation Congress passed two bills during its Oct. 4 session, one of which will expand the Gaming Commission from one to three members.

Ten Congress members unanimously passed ONCA 10-73, a bill sponsored by Congressman Mark Simms to expand the Gaming Commission. Also unanimously passed by Congress was ONCA 10-79 which is “An Act to Improve Congressional Oversight of the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise.” Its sponsor is Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear.

A bill sponsored by Congressman Mark Freeman that would trim the Osage budgets down to $23.9 million was discussed by Congress Monday, as well as putting all employee salaries back to 2009 levels allowing a 3 percent step increase and halting all new hires.

Freeman expressed that he did not like the bill but he felt it was necessary to introduce a bill that would be a compromise with those members of Congress that want the budget below $25 million.