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.
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