TGB Approves Long Range Transportation Plan

By Joe Morey

News Editor

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (TGB) unanimously approved a Resolution on Monday, Nov. 30, at their weekly meeting, which updated the Tribe’s Long Range Transportation Plan, which LCO Realtor Nita Kemp explained is usually a 5-year plan that gets regularly updated.

Kemp told the TGB two projects are ready to go and engineering has been completed. Those two include the Tribal Administration Loop and the Sevenwinds Casino RV Park Road.

The other projects included in the plan are the Bizhiki Parking Lot, Larson Road North Paving, Grindstone Springs Road, Reserve Elderly Parking Lot, Boat Landing at CC&H, Big Drum Parking Lot, Mukwa Road and the parking lot at the LCO Police Department and Gaming Commission.

The Resolution states the TGB recognizes the need for safety and the value of a secure community.

“The LCO Tribal Community’s transportation system is a vital component of all daily operations and aspects of life,” the Resolution reads. “The transportation system also contributes to the tribal budget, by management of these operations, which are vehicle purchase and maintenance, road design, construction and maintenance and transportation planning.”

The Resolution goes on to state the planning study recognizes the principle that transportation systems, economic activities and land use are intertwined and interdependent. The location and quality of transportation facilities influences the development of land and the major activities by connecting people with these activities. Also, the manner in which the residents of the community use the land determines the number and variety of trips occurring on the transportation system.

The goals of the transportation plan are:

To develop and maintain and effective, safe, accessible transportation system;

To promote sustainable economic development;

To consider and protect the Tribe’s natural resources;

To protect the cultural heritage of the Tribe;

To continually improve the community’s quality of life.