By Joe Morey
News Editor
At their weekly meeting on Monday, October 28th, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (TGB) approved giving a $750 assistance disbursement for Christmas to every adult tribal member at least 18 years of age by December 31st, 2024.
The disbursement will begin sometime before the Thanksgiving Holiday and only be given out for 30 days from the day it begins. A further announcement will be made when the disbursement is set to begin. The TGB asks that you don't call the tribal office for the dates as they will be published as soon as the distribution is ready.
The $750 disbursement will have to be picked up in person, unless verified that the tribal member is active duty military, hospitalized, in nursing or assisted living or homebound. No checks will be mailed out or be given to any other person than the name on the check.
The motion for the disbursement of $750 to every tribal member for in-person pick up at the tribal office was made by LCO TGB member Gary “Little Guy” Clause and seconded by member Michelle Beaudin.
Trepanier said the recently passed tribal budget appropriated $5 million for disbursements over the next year and that the last payout over Honor the Earth powwow resulted in a $2.2 million disbursement in which just over 4,400 tribal members showed up in person to pick up. That one was in the amount of $500. He estimated that if 5000 members come this time at $750, it would be $3.75 million.
The disbursement will fall under the General Welfare Exclusion Act so that it will be non-taxable.
The motion was passed 5-0-1, with approval by LCO Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman, Trepanier and members Clause, Beaudin and Don Carley. David Bisonette abstained stating for the record he didn’t have enough information.