LCO Announces Major Government Restructuring with New Division Directors

By Joe Morey

News Editor

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government is undergoing a major restructuring effort aimed at improving efficiency, oversight, and service delivery to its membership. LCO Vice Chairman Bill Trepanier announced that the Tribe will be reorganizing its government into new Divisions, each led by a Division Director who will oversee multiple departments and programs.

Three of the new Division Director positions have already been posted, marking the first phase of the restructuring plan. According to Trepanier, additional divisions are planned for the future, with the full structure expected to take shape within the next year.

“The Tribe is a system of interconnected functions that, if organized properly, can achieve its vision, mission, and purpose, all rooted in providing the best possible services to our Membership,” Trepanier explained. “It is through our employees that we will achieve this. The overall plan is to have Division Directors oversee and manage the current directors.”

Trepanier said the new framework will help streamline government operations by establishing a clear chain of command. The current structure requires the Tribal Governing Board (TGB) to manage roughly 40 program directors directly. With the new divisions in place, that number will be reduced significantly, freeing the TGB to focus more on governance and long-term planning.

“Right now, the Tribal Governing Board has to act like managers,” Trepanier said. “But with the incorporation of Division Directors, they will deal with the direct operations of each program that we currently have to deal with.”

Trepanier emphasized that no jobs are being eliminated under the new structure and in fact, new positions are being added. “Initially, everyone was nervous about this plan, worried that we may be eliminating jobs, but that’s not the intention,” he said. “We may actually be adding additional positions, but if we can save money by consolidating a few departments, then we’ll make that happen.”

The Vice Chairman said the restructuring will make the Tribe more efficient and accountable. While adding the new positions will have some cost, Trepanier said it will be covered by Indirect Costs, and the benefits will outweigh the expenses.

“We believe we’ll run more efficiently,” he noted. “It will cost more, but it will be covered by Indirect Costs. At the same time, it will save us a lot because many programs have lost a lot of their grant money without proper oversight and direction. For example, there was a program that recently lost over $500,000 because the money wasn’t drawn down and an extension wasn’t requested on time.”

Trepanier said the creation of Division Directors ensures greater oversight and reduces the likelihood of such costly oversights in the future. It also creates a more effective reporting system for the TGB.

“Even though TGB members will still have an open-door policy for their directors, this will create a chain of command,” Trepanier said. “The TGB will only have to work directly with those division directors versus 40 directors, giving them more time to work on governmental issues.”

The restructuring plan stems from an organizational assessment conducted last year by KOSO Strategies, a firm with more than 50 years of combined experience in tribal government operations. The assessment included surveys and interviews with tribal employees and directors, focusing on effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with the Tribe’s mission and vision.

Trepanier said the goal of the assessment was to support each department in its contribution to the Tribe’s overall success. KOSO’s final report provided a roadmap for improved organizational structure and performance.

“It’s important to approach this not as an isolated process, but as one aiming to improve the overall system for our Tribal Membership and employees,” Trepanier said.

New Division Director Roles

The first three Division Director positions now open are:

Director of Administration – Oversees administrative services including Human Resources, IT, Grants and Planning, Compliance, Accounting, Enrollment, Maintenance, and Tribal Regulatory Services.

Director of Social and Community Services – Leads community programs that enhance the well-being and quality of life of tribal members through effective management of social and family services.

Director of Economic Development – Works closely with the Odaawaa Zaaga’igan Anishinaabeg Board on business strategies, investment opportunities, project feasibility, and overall economic growth initiatives.

Trepanier said other Divisions in development include Utility Authority, Language and Culture, Public Safety, Employment and Education, while other director-level structures already exist in areas such as Tribal Court, Attorney General’s Office, and Natural Resources & Land Management.

He said there could eventually be five or more Division Directors under the plan, depending on need and growth. “These are sizable jobs,” Trepanier said, “and this could be a really great thing for the Tribe.”

Under the new system, Division Directors will handle daily operations for tribal administration and programs, while a separate business committee will oversee the Tribe’s enterprises. Trepanier said the ultimate goal is to give the TGB the capacity to focus on policymaking and nation-building rather than day-to-day management.

“Either way,” Trepanier said, “the goal is to separate the TGB from micromanaging all arms of the Tribe and provide an infrastructure that allows us to build our Nation and support the growth of our people.”