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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2005)
Smoke Signals 5 If Yon Meed H5 They Will Build It Round Valley Construction is the latest economic enterprise for the Tribe. DECEMBER 1, 2005 By Toby McClary The landscape is changing in Grand Ronde and Round Valley Construction is responsible for the changes. The Tribe's construction company is now independent doing many lo cal jobs around Grand Ronde and is also prepared to do personal jobs for Tribal members. Prior to April of 2005, they were employees. The crew includes Tribal members Mark Merrier and Tim George, Edwards, Tom Brown, Bart Bryant (Cherokee) and Secretary Virginia Frugard. Frugard, who came to work for Round Valley in June of 2005 with 25 years of experience in book drains and water and fire lines. Also in 2004, they constructed both the Agency Creek Camp ground and the Day Use Park near the rodeo grounds. In early 2005, they tore down associated with the Natural Re sources Depart ment but are now working as their own business. "There hasn't been a big differ ence," said Construction Foreman Mike Edwards, "because we have still been doing a lot of work within the Tribal community. We are prepared to do personal jobs (for Tribal members) and once we obtain a General Contractor's License, we will be open to the commu nity as well as jobs across the state." Edwards ex plained that a rep resentative for Round Valley will be taking the test for the contractor's license in the very, near future. Edwards has had a long run with construc tion beginning with an 11 year stretch with the Southern California Gas Company starting in 1983. He moved to Oregon in 1994 and began working for Utility Con tracting out of Hillsboro. Utility Contracting went out of business in 2001 and Edwards began working for Evergreen Utility Construction as the Construction Foreman. He worked for Evergreen until 2002, when he started a career with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's construction crew. The Round Valley Construction crew consists of six people. Three of which are full-time employees and three that are currently temporary T 51 mi m keeping, stated that she enjoys her job, the community and most of all, the people she works with. "I haven't met a person yet that I didn't like," said Frugard. "I love all of the people here. They are always willing to give some body a helping hand." Within the last two years, Kound Valley has completed over 75 projects in the Grand Ronde and surrounding ar eas. Some of their most recent and major projects include: - In early 2003, they in stalled the main water line from the Yamhill River to Spirit Mountain Casino. This took Spirit Mountain off of Grand Ronde Water Supply and freed up water for Elder housing, new Tribal housing and the Elder foster care project. B In late 2003, they constructed six miles of new logging roads on Reservation land to allow access for timber revenue. In 2004, they constructed and installed a 17' x 100' culvert on the Wind River branch of Agency Creek Road. D In 20042005, they dug out and laid the foundation for the 150-room expansion to Spirit Mountain Lodge. They also re-routed the electrical sup ply, installed sewer lines, storm flu jU: ''sk s m '''x' I' Ready To Go Cherokee Tribal member and Round Valley Construction temporary employee Bart Bryant hauls a load of rock to the new access road on the Fort Yamhill property. Round Valley is using rock from the Tribal rock pit, Running Bear Rock Quarry, which is located on Reservation land. the old facilities shop and built the foundation for the archive building as well as installed new sewer lines, water lines and storm drains. In mid-2005, they reconstructed the road at the Agency Rock Pit, built a road to the new Running Bear Rock Quarry, removed all of the overburden and assisted the rock-crushing contractor. Currently, Round Valley is work ing on the Fort Yamhill project. They have already installed a bridge near the old Bailey House on Highway 22. They are building the entrance road to Fort Yamhill that will lead to the parking lot in which they are dig ging out to make level. They will also relocate the existing power lines and install all of the new utilities for the future R.V. Park on the Fort Yamhill property. Fort Yamhill State Park is due to be open to the public in March of 2006. Along with the many projects on Round Valley's list, they are also doing the groundwork for the new pow wow grounds, which will be ready for Grand Ronde's 2006 Annual Contest Pow-wow. Round Valley's headquarters is located on the old H.R. Jones prop erty. They are using the existing office and one of the existing equip ment shops. Another one of their upcoming projects is to clean up that property, which has become an eye sore to locals. It seems Grand Ronde is getting a face-lift and Round Valley Con struction is the plastic surgeon. They will continue to remodel the landscape in Grand Ronde and when they hire a full-time crew, they "will be a complete unit." v N. I If you are interested in having t work done by Round Valley Con struction you may contact them at 503-879-1625. V 1 i Ln 1 1- Tl t l r i i I !wTt7 '. ' 7 if ST i I f4 Kit J 1U y';r.'r';y-f.t .,.,..2 ,: ' ,r'-r - '.;-V' ... ?! ? v " k ft ( h v- , S I,' i - t ff t L t, . 'I K V t t, f t It !ii1i..yli i. u:. :. . . ' . 9 ,o
