Council Dispatch #171     June 15, 2023

 

Tribal Council

 

  • Chairman McDonald asked the council members to review the interview follow-up questions that were drafted for the Mission Valley Power General Manager position. Council will follow up with the Utility Board next Tuesday.

 

  • Chairman McDonald mentioned the situation of two different weather patterns going on and the extreme drought in the Flathead Basin, which could create a conflict with keeping Flathead Lake at full pool this year. There is an expectation that the lake will be at full pool, but the lake levels will begin dropping by the end of this month. The public will be educated and a presentation will be provided to the Flathead Lakers.

 

  • Martin Charlo gave a report on the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the first five of 47 high-quality, affordable homes built as part of its “Quality Homes for Qualify of Life” campaign to address homelessness and overcrowding on the Reservation. These five new homes were constructed on Agate Court in Pablo. SKHA is in the process of constructing 13 more new homes at the Maggie Ashley Trailer Park in Pablo. The housing assessment that was conducted indicated there is a need to have 2,400 homes in order to address the homelessness and overcrowding. SKHA plans to build new homes in each community.

 

  • Martin Charlo reminded council that the MMIP walk will be going through Pablo today and will be gathering at the veteran memorial site. Martin asked the council to take a break from the meeting to acknowledge the group when they arrive.

 

  • Council granted a change of duty, with supervisor approval, for tribal employees Bob Woodcock, Roxanne Acevedo, Andrea Adams, and Carla Linsebigler to attend the Language Camp next week.

Natural Resources Department/Salish Kootenai College/Indian Preference Office

 

  • Staff discussed the memorandum of agreement between the Division of Engineering and Water Resources and Salish Kootenai College for an eight-week ironworkers training program. It is a free training and the participants will receive a stipend. The demand for these skills will continue to grow. The training will start on August 22, 2023.  The training opportunity will be advertised. The Indian Preference Office and Salish Kootenai College will screen the applications and select 10 participants. Applicants will not be required to pass a pre-hire drug test.

 

Economic Development Office

 

  • Council took action to proceed with the USDA grant and approve a noncompetitive contract to retain Friesla, LLC, for facility modular design, equipment, and plant operations for the tribal meat processing plant.

 

  • Council approved a noncompetitive contract with Morrison-Maierle Engineering and MMW to provide services for the site prep and engineering infrastructure design work at the tribal meat processing plant in Ronan.

 

Tribal Member

 

  • Thomas “Sonny” Lozeau discussed issues regarding Public Law 280. Sonny had received letters from the Area Office, previous chairman Vernon Finley and Chairman McDonald. Sonny talked about the November 2, 2017 letter he received from Vernon Finley. The council has held no educational sessions with the membership about Public Law 280. He talked about the termination policies from the 1950s to 1960s, Ordinance 40A, resolutions, tribal constitution, and the corporate charter. Sonny believes the tribal government has failed to follow the proper processes and violated the tribal constitution.  He filed a writ of habeas corpus in federal court and is drafting a writ of mandamus. Sonny is doing a petition drive to rescind Ordinance 40A (Revised) in its entirety.

 

Hope Center Ministries

 

  • Carolyn Belling, Stephanie Carver and Tiffany Stone gave a presentation on the Montana Women’s Hope Center in Clancy, Montana. The Hope Center Ministries was established in 2007 and is a faith-based addictions treatment center with 42 locations throughout the world and will be opening 7 more centers this year. There was interest in establishing a center on the reservation. They offer a one-year treatment program. They would need to find a location on the reservation to house a minimum of 34 women and raise an initial investment of $290,000. The center received a financial commitment of $80,000 already. The center offers culture and tradition. The Hope Center is self-sustaining and receives grant funding, holds fundraisers twice yearly, and receives funding from the residents in the program. Council will evaluate how they can provide assistance.

 

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..