Council Dispatch #200     October 10, 2023

 

Tribal Council

 

  • Council discussed the request from Darryl Whitworth to get gravel for a cemetery. Darryl and members in the district have been asking for that gravel for a long time. Len TwoTeeth commented this has been an issue during all the years he has been on the council They have always talked about the landownership issues regarding the road, but we have an obligation to continue to utilize and maintain that cemetery. Len does not know what the holdup is, but this needs to be a council directive to get it done. Chairman McDonald will follow up.

 

  • Jim Malatare commented that he left the quarterly council meeting early so he could attend a meeting with the Tribal Lands Department and the Tribal Health Department for the identified land for a skatepark. Jim missed his district meeting because of a family emergency. People are wondering where the skatepark will be. It will be located in a good place by the Fire Hall and Community Center. Jim wants to hold a community meeting to seek input.

 

  • Carole Lankford reported that after Friday’s quarterly meeting she and Joe Durglo met with Jeff and Whitney about the skateparks, and they want a letter of commitment. Carole told the council to let her know if she needs to hold off on sending the letter or if she can proceed with the identified skateparks. Chairman McDonald stated there is some funding available from Pearl Jam for 5 skateparks in the state of Montana. Len TwoTeeth would like to exclude Elmo because there are community members that reached out to the contractors to start the cleanup projects so they cannot use the money for a skatepark this year.

 

  • Chairman McDonald reminded the council members that the annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, October 12, at 11:30 a.m., at Kwataqnuk Resort. There may be a council meeting that morning.

 

  • Carole Lankford will be attending the Tribal Leaders Health Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

  • Jim Malatare gave an update on the Beartracks Pow Wow. There was a good turnout and there were a lot of vendors there. Jimmy thanked Martin, Jennifer, and Ruth for their efforts in making it a successful event. Jim enjoyed dancing with the Tribal elders and children. Chairman McDonald thanked the crew for working on the pow wow. It is an annual event so we should try to expand it and work with the legislature to recognize the holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day.

 

Indian Preference Office

 

  • Council approved a project specific agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation to install a weather monitoring station in Elmo. The project will be let for bid this fall and construction will begin next year.  Chairman McDonald wanted to make sure it would remain in the footprint of the highway. Tom would like to capture that market up there.

 

Climate Change

 

  • Council took action to approve the submission of an application for the Climate Change grant through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for planning and implementation. The application is due by October 13, 2023. It is important to reduce our carbon footprint. There is a lot of funding available for climate change. Chairman McDonald commented on the importance of each department doing what it can to reduce our carbon footprint and how can we provide an alternative to carbon.

 

Economic Development Office

 

  • The staff provided an update on the KHJCC project.  Council took action to modify the contract with Jackola Engineering & Architecture to extend the contract term for six months and add an additional $45,000 compensation for preliminary engineering for a new sewage treatment system at the Kicking Horse Job Corps Center.

 

  • Council directed the Executive Team to work with the Economic Development Office and Jackola Engineering & Architecture, as needed and as soon as possible, on finalizing a master plan for KHJCC within three months so we can continue the project planning for the sewage treatment system.

 

  • Janet Camel asked if the council was available to meet with the Missoula County Commissioners on November 7. Council confirmed their availability.

 

  • Janet Camel asked if the council was meeting with the Montana Department of Transportation on October 12. She was told that Neil Putnam, City of Ronan Consultant, is scheduled at 10:45 a.m. to discuss a funding issue. Janet would like the Polson West project discussed, if possible. She wanted to know if MDT completed their review of the traffic impact study. Janet asked if there would be another meeting scheduled with MDT in the future. Chairman McDonald asked Janet to send him a list of topics that need to be addressed and he will reach out to Misty Kuhl to try to get a meeting scheduled as soon as possible.

 

Legal Department

 

  • Council took action to approve the Tribal Administrative Procedures Ordinance 86-C.

 

Interview

 

  • Council conducted interviews and took action to accept the results of the ballot and appointed Vernon Finley and Christopher Morigeau to the Salish Kootenai College Board of Directors.

 

  • Council took action to reappoint Brad Pluff to fill the Chief Judge of the Tribal Court position.

 

Lolo National Forest

 

  • Carolyn Upton met with the council for a government-to-government consultation. The Lolo National Forest signed a memorandum of agreement with CSKT to meet on a quarterly basis to discuss the Forest Plan revisions.

 

Salish Kootenai Housing Authority

 

  • Council received a presentation on the New Recovery Village. Project 30 consists of 28 units, with a total of 66 bedrooms, clustered together in Pablo. The community is plagued with criminal and drug activity, and the units are hard to fill. Since the early 2000s, 176 individual households have lived there, 13 units are currently occupied, 82 households were evicted, 43 households moved out, 31 households transferred, five are now deceased, and two units were abandoned. SKHA is trying to change its trajectory in order to accomplish its mission to improve the quality of life while maintaining the cultural integrity and identity of the Salish and Kootenai people. The Never Alone Recovery Support Services and the CSKT Healing Court will help transform this community as an extension of the NARSS Recovery Residence Program. The Salish Kootenai Housing Board of Commissioners approved the Recovery Village Policy on September 19, 2023 and the memorandum of understanding was executed on September 20, 2023.

 

 

 

NOTE:  The official Council Minutes will contain more complete details about lengthy discussions and should be considered the official record of Council. Dispatches are written from notes taken live and may occasionally contain partial information, over-simplified characterizations or an occasional error. Council reviews and corrects the draft minutes before approving as the official record.  Comments (both affirmations and concerns) are part of change and are expected and encouraged. Along with any specific comments, please also share what you would like to hear more about in upcoming communications. The email address for comments is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..