Southern Ute Tribal Council hosted the General Meeting on Thursday, April 11, at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. Chairman Melvin J. Baker presided over the meeting which featured updates from various Southern Ute entities and departments for the tribal membership. The event was successful with a large attendance, both in person and via WebEx.
Following the invocation, Tribal Council provided introductions starting with Vice Chairman Lorelei Cloud, Treasurer Marvin Pinnecoose, and Council Members Vanessa Torres, Marjorie Barry, Andrew Gallegos, and Marty Pinnecoose. Chairman Baker provided the State of the Tribe address and Treasurer Pinnecoose presented an insightful Treasurer’s Report. The Tribal Council members presented their individual updates to the membership.
Key updates from this year’s General Meeting included presentations from Growth Fund Executive Director, Shane Seibel on the Multi-Family Unit Project, Vice Chairman Cloud provided an update on water, drought, and fire hazards, and the Permanent Fund Executive Officer, Lindsay J. Box shared her outlook and updates. The tribal membership was introduced to new leadership including Thomas Frank, the General Manager of Sky Ute Casino Resort, and Michael Barrow, Chief of Police for the Southern Ute Police Department.
Jeff Engman and Delbert Cuthair from Southern Ute Shared Services (SUSS) and the Southern Ute Digital Equity Program (SUDEP) provided a status update and technical insight into the Tribe’s broadband project which has connected over 500 homes. Dr. William Finn from Tribal Health shared insights on the Healing Community project and the anticipated phases of development.
The Division of Agriculture shared an update on its services to support tribal farmers and ranchers. The division greatly looks forward to the produce distribution and continued outreach to the tribal membership this year. The Cultural Preservation Department and Internal Audit shared their respective roles, functions, and projects.
The General Meeting concluded with the question-and-answer portion led by the Tribal Council Affairs staff. Southern Ute Tribal Members who were not in attendance, may view the General Meeting recording on the Tribal Member Portal. If a tribal member would like more information regarding the General Meeting, please contact Tribal Council Affairs at 970-563-2485. For assistance accessing the Tribal Member Portal, please contact the Southern Ute Digital Equity Program at 970-563-5555.