GROVE, Okla. (AP) — The former owners of a Grand Lake tourist attraction site said Seneca–Cayuga Nation officials signed off on an $8 million promissory note and had full knowledge of the loan.

“The purchase price did not mysteriously double from $3.9 million to $8 million,” James J. Proszek wrote in an email.

Proszek is the attorney representing Larry and Carla Steckline, former owners of the Royal Bay properties.

Earlier this month the tribe released a statement claiming former Chief Leroy Howard misled tribal members about the purchase price of the Cherokee Queens riverboats, Royal Bay Restaurant, Royal Bay Convention Center and Royal Bay Marina.

Proszek said the Seneca-Cayuga Nation business committee approved the sale of Royal Bay properties in January 2012.

A tribal resolution dated Jan. 12, 2012, signed by Howard and four of the committee's six members, approved the memorandum and gave Howard freedom to sign all legal documents related to the purchase of the properties.

A memorandum of agreement dated March 8, 2012, and a promissory note dated March 16, 2012, show Howard and Larry Steckline signed the documents approving the $8 million price tag.

Land deed documents filed in the Delaware County Courthouse show the tribe paid $3.9 million in 2012.

The purchase of the Royal Bay properties involved more than just real property, Proszek said.

“The sale also included ongoing businesses as well as a substantial amount of personal property,” he said.

The land deed document does not include any interest on the sale, he said. The $8 million purchase price includes interest that will be paid on the 10-year loan, Proszek said.

The Stecklines did offer to discuss a restructure of the payment terms if the tribe needed to do so, he said.

“As chief, I was authorized to sign a memorandum of understanding to purchase the property for $3.9 (million) from Larry Steckline and his representative companies,” Howard said in a prepared statement.

Steckline agreed to finance the deal so any amounts paid beyond the $3.9 million would be the cost of capital charges to the tribe, he said.

Steckline filed a civil lawsuit in April against Chief William Fisher and business committee members after a $200,000 payment was missed.

The petition accuses the tribe of failing to make periodic installment payments on the loan and of failing and refusing to operate the “Lake Businesses” and property in the same or better condition.