Brockton, Frazer Projects Move Forward
The Fort Peck Tribes’ land committee approved sewer projects in Brockton and Frazer during a meeting held on Wednesday, March 18.
Tina Magnan, director for enterprise, said funds provided from the Environmental Protection Agency will pay for the projects. Costs are $1.64 million for the Brockton project and $962,689 for the Frazer project.
But $130,000 for each project still needs to be funded for engineer costs.
“We need to figure out who we are awarding it to so we can have a resolution for the full board,” Magnan said.
It was noted that Indian Health Services might be willing to provide some of the $130,000 funding for each of the projects.
Shane Bishop of Bishop, Inc., submitted the low bid for each project. There were questions whether his company could handle each of the projects at the same time. Bishop said he has between 20-25 employees.
“I do have crews to do multiple projects at the same time,” Bishop explained. “If I didn’t have the ability, I wouldn’t have bid the job.”
Tribal Executive Board member Marva Chapman said it was her belief that the committee agreed to have Bishop do one project and W5 Services complete the other project.
Walker Weeks, owner of W5, said that all of his employees are 100 percent tribal. “We live here. We care about it,” Weeks said. “It will be done right. All the money will be kept in Fort Peck.”
Weeks said he has five employees plus five more individuals ready to work on the project.
The committee heard from Roosevelt County Commissioners Gordon Oelkers and Doug Marottek regarding available county funding.
Oelkers reported there is currently $120,000 available in the Brockton fund and $92,000 in the enterprise fund. The county has awarded a bid of about $190,000 to have fire hydrants and valves repaired in Brockton.
“That will take all our funds,” Oelkers said.
He said Brockton should be in good shape between the water lines being replaced and the sewer project completed.
Oelkers added that if Indian Health Services can’t provide all of the $130,000 funds needed in Brockton that the county could assist to a degree. “We will make sure the project is done in Brockton,” Oelkers said.
Chapman made a motion to approve Bishop Inc., for the Brockton project and W5 Services for the Frazer project. The committee passed the resolution by a 7-0 margin.
Later, Oelkers inquired whether the tribes would be interested in taking over the community of Brockton. “I think we’ve gotten to the point where the car has been fixed up,” Oelkers said of Brockton. “We’re a county. We’re not set up to run a city.” None of the TEB members commented about the possibility.
