Title
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN VINITA AND TAHLEQUAH UTILIZING OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE PHWFA
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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation ("Nation") since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, the Nation has exclusive tribal jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the geographic scope of which is defined in federal and Cherokee Nation law;
WHEREAS, the Council enacted the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, as amended (PHWFA) which includes earmarked funds resulting from certain settlements agreements with firms involved in the opioid industry for the purpose of constructing behavioral health, substance use disorder and related infrastructure, the "Behavioral Health Capital Fund" more fully described in section 4, subsection 1005(A) of the PHWFA;
WHEREAS, the Principal Chief is authorized under the PHWFA to execute construction plans for the aforementioned infrastructure;
WHEREAS in or about August 2024, Cherokee Nation commenced construction on an inpatient substance use disorder facility in Tahlequah, located on approximately 30 acres at 16670 West 820 Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, further defined in Exhibit A, construction of which is in progress with an estimated budget of $41,500,000;
WHEREAS the Principal Chief has advised of the need for an outpatient substance use disorder facility to be constructed adjacent to the aforementioned inpatient facility in Tahlequah, located on the same acreage at 16670 West 820 Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464, for an estimated cost of approximately $18,000,000;
WHEREAS the property described in Exhibit A is designated for purposes of this resolution as the "Cherokee Nation Tahlequah Behavioral Treatment and Recovery Ca...
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