{"id":158249,"date":"2020-12-13T01:59:08","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T09:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=158249"},"modified":"2020-12-13T11:36:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-13T19:36:53","slug":"80m-construction-overrun-at-harrahs-cherokee-casino-leads-to-tribal-ouster-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/80m-construction-overrun-at-harrahs-cherokee-casino-leads-to-tribal-ouster-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"$80M Construction Overrun at Harrah\u2019s Cherokee Casino Leads to Tribal Ouster Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"

North Carolina\u2019s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council has narrowly voted to remove Jim Owle as chairman of the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise (TCGE).\u00a0 The recent resolution stemmed from cost overruns for an expansion at Harrah\u2019s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee.<\/p>\n

\"It
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard Sneed, pictured above. He has the authority to ratify a recent resolution that removes the chairman of the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise. (Image: Cherokee One Feather<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cost of the project escalated by $80 million, a figure well beyond the $250 million previously budgeted for the expansion, the Smoky Mountain News<\/em>, a local publication in North Carolina, reported last week.<\/p>\n

The TCGE committee allegedly failed to provide adequate documents to the tribal council on the added expenses. Also, the information the committee did provide the tribal council was delayed and incomplete, council members alleged.<\/p>\n

On Dec. 3, tribal council members met during what was described as an \u201cat times tense\u201d discussion before taking the vote, the News<\/em> said. The tribal council\u2019s resolution was forwarded to Principal Chief Richard G. Sneed, the Cherokee One Feather,<\/em> a tribal publication, said. He can ratify it.<\/p>\n

Vote Carried Because of Weighting by Population<\/h2>\n

The council’s final vote on the resolution was 48-to-40.\u00a0The News <\/em>explained only a minority of tribal council members actually supported the resolution.<\/p>\n

But those members were in the majority because the council uses weighted votes based on population of the representative’s districts. The actual vote was five to six with one abstention, the Cherokee One Feather <\/em>said.<\/p>\n

During the meeting, Birdtown tribal council Representative Albert Rose argued that given the committee\u2019s \u201cconduct,\u201d there was grounds for removing the chairman, the News <\/em>said.<\/p>\n

The conduct is dangerous, what they\u2019ve been doing,\u201d Rose added. \u201cWe\u2019re going through an epidemic right now. We\u2019re cutting funding in education and other programs, so I just want to stress if this conduct is not removable, then nothing is.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tribal council members were also angered the request from the TCGE committee did not have supporting documents, the News<\/em> said. Also, it took the TCGE four months to present minutes to the tribal council, and they appeared incomplete, the report said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the above instances show a lack of leadership and a need to remove the TCGE chairman,\u201d a tribal council resolution said.<\/p>\n

Committee Chairman\u2019s Brother Defends Him<\/h2>\n

But Birdtown tribal council Representative Boyd Owle was opposed to the resolution. He abstained on the vote because Jim Owle is his brother.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t see any misconduct from one person,\u201d Boyd Owle said. \u201cIf it was anybody, it was all of them.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He also pointed out the committee told tribal council members they could view more complete minutes at the TCGE office.<\/p>\n

But Wolfetown tribal council Representative Chelsea Saunooke countered, \u201cWe all know that being a chair of any committee, body, whatever, they have some greater responsibilities than the rest of the board.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, the tribal council is continuing an investigation of the TCGE. It is a \u201cforensic audit and investigation into all TCGE powers and duties described in Cherokee Code 16A-5,\u201d the News<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is an investigation that I understand is still ongoing,\u201d tribal council Big Cove Representative Perry Shell said. \u201cWe paid $200,000 for it\u2026. I think we\u2019re jumping the gun by voting on this [removal].\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

In addition, tribal council Chairman Adam Wachacha advised that \u201cIf the investigation deems there\u2019s any kind of malfeasance or any illegal activity, then that information will be brought to the board and we\u2019ll handle it then.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Harrah\u2019s Cherokee is scheduled to complete the expansion in 2021. It will add 83,000 square feet of conference space and a fourth hotel tower.<\/p>\n

Tribe Looking to Expand<\/h2>\n

Last month, Richard Sneed told Casino.org<\/em> the Eastern Band is always looking for ways to expand its gaming portfolio, whether through new developments or acquisitions. At its Nov. 12 meeting, the tribe approved the creation of a limited liability company<\/a> to pursue opportunities in the commercial gaming sector.<\/p>\n

In an unrelated incident, an attempt to allegedly money launder<\/a> over $350,000 at Harrah\u2019s Cherokee Hotel and Casino in September led to seven suspects being charged and federal officials seizing a total of $2.1 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

North Carolina\u2019s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council has narrowly voted to remove Jim Owle as chairman of the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise (TCGE).\u00a0 The recent resolution stemmed from cost overruns for an expansion at Harrah\u2019s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee. The cost of the project escalated by $80 million, a figure well beyond […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":158252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13592,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n$80M Overrun at Harrah\u2019s Cherokee Casino Leads to Tribal Ouster Vote<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"North Carolina's Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council removes Jim Owle. 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