THE NAVAJO COUNCIL NAA’BIKI’YATI’ COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO DEBATE $220 MILLION BOND/LOAN LEGISLATION AND NOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE FOCUSING ON THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE FINANCED BY THE BOND/LOAN.
DELEGATE DANNY SIMPSON
I want to address projects listed for financing under Bond/Loan. Why was Crownpoint project been removed for first year.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY – SPONSOR
The 22nd Resources & Development Committee didn’t change what former Economic Development Committee approved. Other projects deemed ready and Delegates addes. Never removed projects. If your’s not in there and recommended by Regional Development Office then it should be in there.
Maybe he thought since this revnue generating that he put under separate list.
DELEGATE SIMPSON
Since we are financing first and second year, this is revenue generating project because we were to rent office space. I’d liek to have back in there and it was Eastern Agency project, not Crownpoint project.
DELEGATE JOSH BUTLER
I saw preliminary list and I had office project and now that is gone. DK changes made to it and not same list I saw a couple of months ago. I don’t see my Tuba City project on there.
DELEGATE ALTONG SHEPHERD
I had chance to visit Division of Economic Development and looking at list, shopping center and only $7 million earmarked and needs more cuz road, 191, neds to be addressed to bring waterline across road. Determination on project being shovel ready but if no utilities/water lines then will just sit there.
We don’t have time to go project by project and some missing but mine is why mine not included. You want projects that will generate revenues.
You lok at listing and DK if vetted or criteria used by Division of Economic Development cuz some of these projects are clean-ups. Now at point where need 2/3 vote then I want answer why no extra dollars for my project and I imagine others may have questions.
Is there anyone from Division of Economic Development and we need to reaffairm list cuz tying selves for 15 yrs and we want these projects to be successful.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY – sponsor
Consultants ID what true revenue generating and what not. Infrastructure was put under Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which has $35 million.
Again Resoruces & Development Committee did not mess with list. and when reaches Council, we definitely would have answer.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
This example of what concerned about. I was sole opposition of this list when came to RDC. another thing, RDC has found that pple sub-lease instead of doing work themselves.
Why can’t we expand Navajo Land Inn and restaurant to all of the reservation’s agencies. We should support businesses that respect Navajo legal jurisdiction.
At RDC, we hve been asking for failure rate of Navajo businesses and why. But never received.
We also never, never, never did a Bond. But somehow turned into bond which proves point that when it’s not returned to us that there are changes and we don’t know until everything finalized.
This will start as Loan and then turn 100 percent into Bond.
(Watching Delegate LoRenzo Bates lobbying with Delegate
DELEGATE WALTER PHELPS
According to $220 million Bond/Loan exhibit there is no sacred cow, list cuz final decision for projects to be financed by Bond/Loan would be made by this new tribal enterprise that is created through this $220 million Bond/Loan legislation.
