Work Session, Wells, & Wood, … and maybe a Moose or Two
The Director’s Report to the Council on Activities in Napaimute for the Month of September.
A warm, mostly sunny September was good for the projects we worked on this month, but not so good for the hunters out trying to get their moose meat for the winter. The Kuskokwim River continues to drop to record low levels.
Our main activities for September were well drilling, transporting & marketing our firewood, and providing services to moose hunters.
Council Work Session:
Our Annual Fall Council Work Session was held on September 5th & 6th in Napaimute. All Council members were in attendance. Their time at Home was spent reviewing the work that’s been done on the ground in 2009 and planning for 2010. It was a very enjoyable time for us all to reconnect with each other and our community.
2010 NVN Goals & Objectives Developed by Council:
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• BUSINESS PLAN FOR ENTERPRISES
• WOOD RESOURCES –FIREWOOD
• WOOD RESOURCES- BRIQUETS
• SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS FOR THE REGION
• BATTERY INVERTER SYSTEM
• HYDRO-KENETIC USES
• PURSUE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF NAPAIMUTE
• UPDATE COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN
• MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING AT AIRPORT ON COMMERCIAL LOT
• HANGER, EQUIPMENT STORAGE, PASSENGER WAITING AREA
2. INCREASE REVENUE
• OBTAIN 8A STATUS
• GRANT WRITING DEPARTMENT CONTINUE WRITING PROPOSALS
• IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT NEEDS AND FUNDING SOURCES
3. INCREASE TRIBAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
• IMPROVE ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDANCE
• ESTABLISH AND FINALIZE THE ELECTION PROCESS
• DEVELOP RESOURCE GUIDE FOR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO TRIBAL MEMBERS (HARD COPY & WEB SITE POSTING W/ LINKS)
• DEFINE ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF TKC, CALISTA, YKHC, AVCP, AVCP-RHA TO OUR TRIBAL MEMBERS
• UPDATE TRIBAL MEMBER EMAIL AND ADDRESSES
4. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
• ROADS WITHIN LAND SELECTIONS – PRIORITY ROAD
• DUMP IMPROVEMENTS – FENCING, ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS, SITE IMPROVEMENTS
• AIRPORT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP
• UTILITIES
• HYDRO-KENETIC PROJECT
• WATER/SEWER SYSTEMS
• COMMUNITY POWER
• COMMUNICATION
• WIRELESS COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT COMMUNITY
• AIRPORT MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING
5. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• CLARIFY OR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION (LLC)
• IDENTIFY KEY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF NEEDS AND FUNDING
• UPDATE COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN
• ORDINANCES
• GARBAGE FEES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS
2009 Moose Season:
The GMU 19A (the area from Kalskag to Stony River) Moose Season this year was like one we haven’t seen in decades. It was very quiet. There were few hunters from the Lower Kuskokwim – not like the past 30 years where hundreds of people would travel up the River each fall to hunt moose.
This is because after a five-year moose hunting closure in the Lower Kuskokwim that allowed the moose population to grow, a 10 day season was allowed in 2009. During this short September opening over 100 moose were taken by the people of the Lower River!
Another factor contributing to the low number of downriver hunters in our area is the fact that we are still on a Tier II permit system. People who want to hunt moose in GMU 19A must fill out an application in May. Their applications are scored based on how they answer questions such as:
• How long have you been eating moose meat from this GMU?
• Where do you buy most of your food?
• Where do you buy most of your gas?
If an applicant gets above a certain score they are entered into a drawing for a limited number of moose hunting permits that are issued in July.
Even with the small number of Lower River hunters this year, success by local hunters was low. Factors that contributed to this were:
• Extremely low water levels limited the hunting area
• A large portion of GMU 19A (above the George River to above Stony River) is completely closed to moose hunting further limiting the hunting area
• Warm September – moose weren’t moving much
• Overall low moose population in GMU 19A
Based on verbal reports it is estimated that fewer than 40 moose were taken during the 20 day season in our Unit.
Wells:
After the transportation of the well driller and all of his equipment was completed in late August, the actual well drilling took up almost the whole month of September. By mid-month the two wells at the Airport Commercial Lots were completed.
We then moved the drill rig and related equipment up to “Upper” Napaimute where a well was drilled for the Community Building and one private home. By the time this 4th well was completed, the weather was turning cold and it was time to wrap up drilling for the season.
Muncy will return in the spring of 2010, as soon as conditions permit (mid-late April?) to continue drilling. He has 10 more wells to drill for private individuals in Napaimute.
Wood:
With the cool nights of September, more and more people began firing up their wood stoves and it was time to move our firewood packages to the market in the Lower Kuskokwim.
With our product safely transported and stored in Bethel, we ran an advertisement in the local newspaper during the month of September.
Response has been very good, with inquiries coming in from nearly every community downstream of Napaimute. Interest from Coastal villages has been especially high. In 2010 we will work on developing transportation systems to this great potential market area, including agreements to supply our product to village stores for retail sale.
During the last week of September your Director has been in Bethel distributing firewood orders that were prepaid and taking on new orders.
Closing Notes:
Two additional September events that need mentioning:
The Kusko 300 is coming to Napaimute in 2010:
On September 21, the Kusko 300 Race Committee released a press statement officially announcing that the 2010 Kusko 300 Sled Dog Race will go to Napaimute in 2010.
The Race will start on January 15th.
Anyone who is planning to be at Napaimute for this please call the Council Office.
Napaimute’s leadership, administration, and community members will be meeting several times over the winter to plan for this important event.
NCAI Convention:
We are pleased to announce that for the first time, the Native Village of Napaimute will be represented at the National Congress of American Indians Convention in Palm Springs, CA.
Traditional Council Secretary, Devron Hellings will be representing Napaimute there during the week of October 12th.
Thanks:
A special thank you goes to our Council Members: President Marcie Sherer, Vice President Bobby Kristovich, Secretary Devron Hellings, Member Stan Kelly, and Member Brook Kristovich for dedicating their Labor Day week end to moving Napaimute forward.
Also, a big thank you to Brandon Leary for all his help in getting Napaimute's firewood business off the ground.
Created By mleary on 10/02/2009 06:10 PM
Last updated by mleary on 10/02/2009 06:58 PM
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