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A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING INVESTMENT IN CHEROKEE NATION EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUNDED UNDER THE RESPOND, RECOVER AND REBUILD PLAN AND OTHER SOURCES; PROVIDING AN ASSESSMENT OF EMS SERVICES ACROSS CHEROKEE NATION’S RESERVATION AND SUPPORTING EMS SERVICES MOST IN NEED AND DONATING SURPLUS EMS VEHICLES TO ADAIR COUNTY
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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 Cherokee Nation received pandemic response funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and generates revenue through its Health Services Department, said funding can be utilized for emergency medical response;
WHEREAS, the Council of the Cherokee Nation previously approved a broad framework for spending ARPA funds in specified categories under the Cherokee Nation Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan, retaining all relevant constitutional and statutory appropriation and oversight authority, by Resolution 26-21 enacted May 27, 2021;
WHEREAS, among the categories specified under Resolution 26-21 were healthcare infrastructure and community partnership opportunities;
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation’s Emergency Medical Services (CN EMS) provides advanced life support transport services in a service area covering nearly 1,100 square miles;
WHEREAS, in order to improve CN EMS’ effectiveness, an infusion of funding for capital improvements and equipment is warranted;
WHEREAS the Council supports, subject to all relevant constitutional and statutory appropriation and oversight authority, the following projects proposed by the Administration under the ARPA-funded Cherokee Nation Respond, Recover Rebuild Plan and utilizing Cherokee Nation Health Service Revenue;
• Replacement or remodeling of the Cherokee Nation Emergency Medical Services facility located in Tahlequah, at an estimated replacement cost of up to $50 million.
• Replacement and expansion of Cherokee Nation Emergency Medical Services ambulance fleet and other needed equipment, as identified by CN EMS Leadership, at an estimate cost of up to $4 million.
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation’s interest in quality emergency medical services across the reservation is also served by supporting various local EMS services;
WHEREAS, the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports an a assessment of emergency management services by the executive branch across the reservation, said assessment to be provided to the Council for review, and supports the utilization of Community Partners Grants under the Respond, Recover and Rebuild plan to assist those services in most need and to provide such other resources as the Council and the executive branch may deemed warranted.
WHEREAS, the Principal Chief has advised the Council, via the Speaker of the Council, of the imminent temporary loss of ambulance services in Adair County in the absence of immediate supportive action by Cherokee Nation.
WHEREAS, the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports the following donations to Adair County in order to avoid cessation of ambulance services:
• Two Ford Transit Vans (VIN # 1FDBR1CG2LKB11585 and VIN # 1FDBR1CG1LKB66430)
• $300,000 in support of general operations from ARPA funds.
• CN item #77341 Stryker EMS Stretcher, Power Pro XT
• CN item #92993 Drager Ventilator, Oxylog 3000 Plus
WHEREAS, the Principal Chief has previously advised the Council that a comprehensive evaluation of Cherokee Nation employee pay is underway, to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2022, and Council encourages the prompt completion of such evaluation so that, among other things Cherokee Nation EMS employee pay is competitive in the labor market.
WHEREAS, the Council of the Cherokee Nation encourages the administration to explore further health care infrastructure needs across the reservation and to bring such future potential projects and funding sources to Council for review;
WHEREAS, nothing herein limits the further development or funding of future health care infrastructure projects or places limitations upon or substitutes for the Council of the Cherokee Nation’s appropriation or oversight authority with respect to the projects identified herein;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION that the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports the investment in Cherokee Nation Emergency Medical Services, an assessment of emergency medical services across the reservation a strategy to support said services that are most in need of support, and the donation of surplus emergency medical vehicles and equipment to certain EMS agencies in Adair County.