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Director’s Report: March, 2010

Summary:

March had 3 main focuses for Napaimute’s people and employees:

• Move freight by truck before the spring thaw sets in and the ice road goes away.

• Use the long days (over 12 hours of daylight now) and milder temperatures to clean up and stock pile wood resources from the 2008 Fire Protection Project around the dump site.

• Take a little time to go out and enjoy the beautiful country around Napaimute while traveling conditions were still good.

14 Weeks and Counting:

The truck trail to Napaimute held out throughout the month allowing several more pieces to more easily fall into place for our upcoming projects. There has been a plowed road between Aniak and Chuathbaluk most of the winter. In March, the Nelson Family graded the road from Chuathbaluk to Kolmokofsky where they were logging. We completed the road by grading the last 10 miles from there to Napaimute. The ice road was also plowed from Bethel to below Aniak so the last part of March saw a plowed ice road almost the entire 160 miles between Bethel and Napaimute – possibly the first time in history. Talk about economic stimulus!

Our alternative energy system, firewood conveyor, firewood bags all arrived in Aniak in a coordinated effort by Evert’s Air Cargo and were easily transported to Napaimute from there. We even had room for a few extra pallets.

Thanks Evert’s Air Cargo & Shelly Leary for the help!

An Investment in Wood:

March saw substantial growth in our stockpiled wood resources as we worked a week of long days pulling out felled timber from the 2008 Fire Protection Project around the Napaimute Dump Site. We now have more wood stockpiled than ever before that will be used for Napaimute’s sawmill, firewood, and briquette making operations in 2010 and beyond. The work at cleaning up the immense amount of wood knocked down during the Fire Protection Project is approximately 50% completed. In addition, the two big windstorms this fall have added a great deal more of natural windfall timber that can be harvested. So without cutting down any trees Napaimute has a couple of year’s supply of wood resources for our community and economic development.

We will continue to work at maximizing the use of this valuable resource.

Time Out:

March is too nice of a time of the year to spend only on work. Napaimute’s homesteaders and employees took a little time this month to go out together and enjoy some of the beautiful country around our community. Some of the places we went can only be seen and really appreciated during this time of the year.

2010 Napaimute Home Site Application Period Closes:

5 PM, March 31st, marked the close of the application period for the final year of the Napaimute Home Site Program. The Program was well advertised in our annual newsletter, website, and in the weekly local newspaper.

At the close of business on the last day of March, 8 applications were received at the Napaimute Traditional Council Office for the 2 lots that are being offered to the general public this year.

Unfortunately, no tribal member applications were received.

The Director will now review each application for completeness and conduct the background checks. Applications that pass this initial screening will be forwarded to the Napaimute Land Committee which will complete the review and make a recommendation to the Traditional Council. The Council will make the final approval of successful applicants. Due to the amount of applicants and limited number of lots this year, per Ordinance 06-03 – the Napaimute Home Site Program, a drawing may need to be held for the final home site awards.

This process should be completed by late April. Notification will be sent out to applicants at that time.

Closing:

Another good month, made even better by the ability to move back and forth to Napaimute by truck and good weather.

A lot of preparations have been made by everyone for a busy summer in Napaimute. Now, most people are probably getting tired of winter. We all look forward to the warming days of April, the anticipation of the River breaking up, and the return of the Birds.

We hear the geese have arrived on the eastern side of Alaska already!

Thank you.