Navajo President Shelly Addressed Local Chapter Officials

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - On August 30, the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development hosted the Navajo Nation Post-Governance Chapter Certification Summit. During which time, President Ben Shelly spoke and encouraged Chapter officials to lead their communities in developing a self-governed town.

(l to r)President Ben Shelly, Chief Justice Herb Yazzie, & Arbin Mitchell, Community Development Director

President Shelly led the conference with intellectual suggestions that could be utilized to help decentralize and empower Chapter communities that have their Local Governance Act Certification. Some topics included business site lease authority, home site lease authority, taxation, 638 contracting, and the potential for the community to sign contracts with counties, cities, and others.

Local Governance Act certified Chapters have the ability to invest in their community. If the community members of the Chapter should decide to tax within their boundaries, the money accumulated from charging a local tax, could be used to maintain roads and/or other community infrastructure.

“New business means new jobs, a better infrastructure and a step toward prosperity,”

said President Shelly.

With chapter officials, council delegates, and Navajo Nation Division Directors in the audience, President Shelly emphasized that Local Governance Act Certified Chapters will no longer have to navigate through the micromanagement of the Navajo Nation Business Site Leasing Administration and Management Plan. Thus, the Navajo Nation Council will not have to get involved with business site leasing, giving them a slightly lighter workload to further and better assist the communities they represent.

"Local Governance Act Certified Chapters have passed the Five Management Systems that is required, so Chapters are capable of managing their own monies," said Shelly. "I am tired of hearing of theft."

Arbin Mitchell, director of the Division of Community Development has ensured that corrective action plans to eliminate monetary theft from Chapters, continues to be abided by. Thirty one of 39 Chapters that were sanctioned have passed the recent audit in July.

The update given by Mitchell is that Division of Community Development is now banking with Wells Fargo. The Chapter Community Service Coordinator and the Chapter Secretary can view the account summary, but soon access will be given to the Local Governance Services Center, the Office of the Controller, and the Office of Management and Budget.

Mitchell is also working on having Wells Fargo flag all unusual spending and Chapter officials will soon have to attend all Chapter planning meetings where they will have a checklist of what needs to be done to maintain a good financial report.

President Shelly stands at the forefront with the vision to have local ordinances established for FY 2012. With the help of Mitchell, transparency at Chapters and Chapters passing audits without sanctions will continue to be enforced.

Sources to help with market research, credit improvement trainings, small business management classes that include how to write a business plan, are in the process of being identified.

posted September 7, 2011 7:00 am edt