1977-01-01 Char-Koosta News

              VOLUME 6 NUMBER 17
LISH.PEND D'ORIELLES AND KOOTENAI TRIBES!
NEW MOON OF THE WANDERING JANUARY 1,1977
'COMPLEX' CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SIGNED
Dixon: Bids for Construction of the new Tribal Headquarters Complex were opened December 2nd. Low bid sumbitted was $738,940 by the Rolfson Construction Company of Poison, Montana. Other bids submitted were; Knowlton H. Brown Company Utah, $824,077 plus deducts.
Sharbono Construction Company, Helena Mt., $739,500 plus deducts.
The low bid from Rolfson Co. comes to $2,940 more than the budget amount of $737,000 in funds available for construction. The Council considered this figure "in the ballpark" and stated that rebid-ding the project would only drive the costs higher and not lower. The contract was awarded to Rolfson Co., and signed December 29 by Mr. Rolfson and Tribal representative, Secretary Fred J. Houle, Jr.
Excavation work has begun on the Pablo location site, and actual construction should begin in February, according to a Company spokesman.
The new headquarters will house the Tribal Operations, Property and Supply Warehouse, Courtrooms, Council Chambers and Conference   rooms, Char-Koosta  Newspaper  and Print Shop, a new jail and Law and Order offices, Education and employment Assistance programs. The project is expected to be completed by late October.
The present agency in Dixon was built in the early 1920's. As Tribal operations have grown so has the need for office space. Old houses were renovated, (which usually meant desks, chairs and office equiptment moved in), as Triabl businesses grew and em ployment and education programs increased.  Offices are now scattered around the
Grant Approved for Community Centers
It has been reported by Representative John Melcher that more than $10 million in Public Works Projects has been approved for Montana by the Economic Development Administration. Of the $10 million, $1,970,178 was approved for use by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for community facilities.
The EDA Public Works Funding will be used for construction of new Community Centers in Elmo, Hot Springs, and Turtle Lake in the Poison District.   A fourth existing center located in Arlee will be upgraded.
Each of the centers are proposed to house a 6 lane bowling alley with snack bar, meeting rooms, and at least one facility will contain a small grocery store. The Elmo center has tenatively been chosen as a sight for the tribal store, chosen as a sight for the tribal store.
Tribal EDA Planner John Neuman stated that he has not received official notice from the Denver office, however the paper work takes a little time after projects are approved.
Ceremonial New Year's Welcome
An age old ceremony to bring in the New Year: Sonqaqaa. War Dance: 7:00 P.M. to 11:00. Feed at 11:00. Jump Dance Midnight to ....? Special ceremony during War Dance honoring Verne Dusenberry. All Welcome! St. Ignatius Community Center Dec. 31,1976.
agency with 4 separate buildings being maintained, heated, and repaired.   Fuel costs are soaring and daily repair work on furnances and plumbing keep maintenance hopping.
The old jail is the laughing stock of the reservaiton. No one can remember when it was built. Escape could be managed with a soup spoon.
The Tribal Council kept saying that some, thing was going to have to be done some day. That day has arrived. The project is funded through grants from the Economic Development Ad-minstration and Law Enforcement Assistance Act. Additional funding comes from Federal Revenue Sharing money, totaling $737,000 in the Construction budget.
Although 'the project may require some Tribal funds, estimates are a few thousand dollars, it will be only an initial investment recouped from present main-tainance savings. The longer they wait, the more it will cost Tribal members later.