Apsaalooke Nation News Services Crow Agency, September 22, 2014 This morning, the Crow Nation Executive Branch and the Apsaalooke Nation Housing Authority met with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to begin discussing solutions and options on addressing the critical need for water at the Johnny Wilson Subdivision in Lodge Grass. The number one concern is the health and safety of the community, most importantly elders and the children with this water shut-off. Despite the ongoing negotiations with the Town of Lodge Grass, that have since ceased, due to the many questions that remain left unanswered and the Town’s decision to ignore the Crow Tribal Court injunction that ordered no water-shut offs or other action until the schedule hearing. This is a clear violation of contempt of court and a motion was filed. The Tribe has a duty to protect its citizens, interest and property and despite the Town Council’s claim they are owed money for outstanding debts for water services and their rational for shutting off water to the whole subdivision, which is far larger than water bills. When the Housing Authority begin to questions the town finances, it was learned that an independent audit hasn’t been conducted on the Town Coffers since 2010 and that many individual billings statements had discrepancies. An audit was requested this past spring by the ANHA but to date none has been conducted. How can they (Lodge Grass City Hall) claim their finances are accurate and expect tenants to assume their bill is correct? The second issue is the lack of right a ways/easements the town has outside of the Town limits. Tribal Officials have asked for an opinion from the BIA due to its trust responsibility they have over trust land and they assured the Tribe full cooperation in this sensitive matter. The Tribe has scheduled a meeting with the Indian Health Services since the majority of the funding to construct the water infrastructure was funded by this agency and the ownership of the water mains, lines and water pumps need to be established since the tribe believe it belongs to the Crow people. The bottom-line is that water bills wasn’t the sole reason for the shut-offs, the Tribe and the ANHA begin asking questions to protect its stakeholders and the Town failed to address them and now using the whole subdivision as an bargaining token on the backs of innocent tribal members. A community meeting is scheduled for this evening at 5:30 pm, at the LG Senior Citizens to provide the waters users an update on what actions are being done to start water services again Tomorrow, a court hearing at 2pm is schedule at the Crow Tribal Courts. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the tribal members affected by the unethical and illegal decision to turn off water to the Johnny Wilson Subdivision. Our goal is to provide running water in reasonable time.” Said Karl Little Owl ANHA Director.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 22:23:36 +0000
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