South of the Casino Health Center Plans Moving Forward

By Joe Morey

News Editor

On Tuesday, January 25, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (TGB) unanimously voted to reaffirm a location on Hwy K for the future LCO Community Health Center. As part of the resolution, the TGB also voted to select as an alternative site, acreage on Trepania Road just across from the Tribal Administration complex.

In November of 2021, the TGB previously approved the same location on Hwy K between the Sevenwinds Casino and the LCO Police Department designating a 20 to 25-acre parcel of land in the fields. The location was also designated for the new fitness center.

The Resolution states approving the land designation is the most important step to begin the process of developing new health and fitness centers, after which the current health center has been operating at LCO for 33 years as a fully accredited health care facility.

LCO Vice Chairwoman Lorraine Gouge said the designation of land for the facility will help get the project started. She added, “We need to keep moving forward on this project. Our people deserve this new health center.”

In the November designation, it was stated the facility would be south of the “Mike on a Bike” Trail. LCO TGB Member, Michelle Beaudin, explained the designated land called for the fitness center to be closer to the bike trail with the health center south of that. The fitness center would have access to the trail system, she added.

Beaudin also said the future master plan for the area will include a plan for a nursing home to be located on the campus, behind the health center.

The LCO News will have an article soon with more details on the actual plans for the new health center. Previously it was reported the plan was for a 45,000 square foot health center facility with a parking lot large enough to accommodate 220 vehicles (parking spots), not including the fitness center.