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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1996)
OR. COLL. "yT ' m,7"Wm i M (Q) hlE S66 " - VA I...,.... December 16, 1996 wiah General Council meeting features Public Works report and Life Flight The General Council meeting was held December 8 at the Community Center. John Mercier, Public Works Division Manager, delivered his program re port detailing current projects within that Division. John reviewed 1 996 projects and what has happened this year. They include: Phase One of the Manufactured Hous ing Park (across from the Tribal Cemetery); design and be ginning construction of the Health and Wellness Center; construction of a new Natural Resources office complex; and preliminary designs of a new administration building. John anticipates that the majority of these construction projects will be completed in 1997. The Tribe has also begun work to improve the Tribal Cem etery, which includes improvements to the road and park ing lot, and in 1997, a covered area will be built. This year the Tribe became involved with many outside community agencies in order to discuss "Regional Problem Solving," and how the Grand Ronde community is expected to change based on the Tribe's growth. John works closely with agencies like the water and sewer districts, ODOT, and other governmental entities in Polk and Yamhill counties in order to keep them apprised of the Tribe's development interests. Oregon's Life Flight Network also made a presenta tion at this meeting. Some representatives were there to explain to the membership the advantages of having a helipad at the new Health Center. They spoke about the new Global Positioning System (GPS) and how it will help speed up the navigation process when flying to the scene of an emergency. Janice Plckan, Life Flight Membership Program Manager, said that a Life Flight membership costs $50 per year per household, but will be offered to Grand Ronde tribal mem bers at a discounted rate of $35 per year. She said an aver age Life Flight response call costs about $5,000, but the cost from Portland to Grand Ronde runs between $6 to $7,000. A membership will cover you and your family any where in the United States, and will allow a response team to be sent out to the scene, regardless of whether the mem ber has health insurance. The Life Flight Network is fully equipped as a mobile critical care and coronary care unit, with the ability to perform blood transfusions and cardiop ulmonary bypass. Depending on the circumstance, they can send out specialized teams, such as surgeons or burn ex perts. Janice added the Life Flight pilots are trained to land in places where no helipad is available like roads and streets, schools, and even in the yard of a private residence if nec essary. Before the closing of the meeting, the Elders presented Council member Mark Mercier will a beaded belt buckle as a gift of appreciation for all his hard work as Chairman over the years. t V.f 1 'V- . 1 f . it' !r, t i5 - ' Is i - "T"" -i ... ' si K - - . I 1 1 ' I . . - : ' 581 . -I..-.. ... .. i r - - 31 J G ' 7,' . A "--' -1 r University of Oregon Library Received on: 12-18-9b , Smoke signals When completed the cemetery will boast a new parking area and cov ered shelter. Crews are working to get construction done, despite the ground waters of the season. TThe site plan for the manufactured home park, located across from the cemetery. A Life Flight helicopter sJr made a special landing during the December general council meeting. This gave the attending membership a chance to take a close look.
