We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
By C. John Healy,
Director of Fort Belknap Transportation Department
A dream comes true, it has been many years since the Eagle Valley Development Project was first conceived in the mind of past planners such as Delmar "Ponch" Bigby. The site was recommended by Poncho, the original concept was to provide lots big enough to allow for gardens if the person wanted and was called "Ranchets."
History
The Fort Belknap Indian Community Council has been submitting an IRT Application for an Infrastructure Project for the past 6-7 years through Marvin Thurman of Operation Walking Shield (OWS).
Time has moved on however the project has now become a reality. In preparation of this, the council appointed a Planning Team a couple years ago, with the main concept of coming up with a plan for the MAFB houses. From the planning perspective, the road and site had already been identified in our Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (NMCB 133) a unit within Naval Construction Group TWO (NCG 2) have been on-site since August 18, 2015 working with the Transportation Department on a new housing sub-division project east of the Fort Belknap Agency,
How big is this project?
The foot print of Eagle Valley is approximately 2000' East to West x 1814' North to South or 83.273 acres,
There will be a total of 11,141.04 feet of new paved streets, then an extra 8,000.00 feet of gravel alleyways. The total of both would be 19,141.04 feet.
This figure does not include the length of the existing gravel road which will become improved from gravel to paved once the project reaches full build out. That distance in a straight line is 2,000.09 feet (so does not include the little extra distance it takes to travel in a circle around the roundabout), the roundabout will be a new concept here on the roads system, but does actually serves a purpose.
It now is a reality and the Seabee's are moving dirt, alot of dirt according to the Tribes Design Consultant NECI over 40,000 cu yds of soil have been excavated and over 17,000 cu yds have been filled. NECI has been instrumental in this whole process from Design to Construction staking, according to John Healy, Director, Transportation Department, they have been assisting the new Tribal Surveyor in this process. "This training will assist the Transportation Department as the program grows, not only in the surveying side, but the whole concept of how to develop a new sub-division from scratch so to speak."
On September 1, 2015 Commanding Officer, Commander Miguel Dieguez, was in attendance for a ground blessing ceremony that was held on-site. Edward "Buster" Moore conducted the ground blessing and Ronnie Doney performed a song.
Ensign Alex Liu and Master Sergeant Jeffrey Brown of NMCB 133 worked with Director Healy on a special ceremony to present each troop with a small remembrance of this project. On Monday, Sept. 21 each troop of NMCB 133 was presented with a dedication coin from Veteran Solutions Inc., making the presentations were Mike Fox, Board Chairman, Buffalo Horse Inc., Andrew Werk, Program Manager, Buffalo Horse Inc., Buffalo Horse Inc. Board Members: Phillip Shortman and Patricia Quisno. A Tribal Flag was also presented to NMCB 133.
What do you see as the future for this project?
We have already submitted our IRT package for next year, hopefully the troops of NMCB 133 will be back for more training and work on Eagle Valley. If it is not this group it may be another group. The infrastructure still needs to be addressed as far the water/sewer, we will be looking for a grant for possible wind turbines/solar panels to make it a green community and to off-set the energy costs.
Anything unique about this project?
Yes, I believe this is the first time a team of tribal employees have come together to plan and implement such a project.
We'd like to thank all those who helped out with the luncheon we had for the CB's on Sept. 1 and the certificate/coin presentation on Sept. 21.
