Tribal Government Reduces Staffing Levels

Published

On March 16, the Tribal Emergency Response Committee released the following letter, announcing that the tribal government would reduce staffing levels to enhance the safety of our communities and employees. Please continue to check our COVID-19 Information page for updates.

Dear Mille Lacs Band Communities and Employees,

Due to the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has taken a proactive approach to voluntarily reduce staffing levels. There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community or employees. For the safety of the communities and the employees of the Mille Lacs Band, the day-to-day Government operations will be reduced to critical staff only effective March 17 through March 27. All salary and hourly employees will continue to be paid.

The Tribal Emergency Response Committee (TERC) will continue to meet daily to evaluate the situation and provide updates to the community. Tribal Police will continue to operate as normal 24/7. The dispatch number is 320-532-3430. In an emergency call 911.

The Election Office will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice. The critical staff have been identified as follows:

• Elected Officials
• Commissioner of Administration, Baabiitaw Boyd 218-670-0745
o Director of IT
o Director of Human Resources
▪ Safety Risk Specialist
▪ Benefits Administrator
▪ Employee/Labor Relations Specialist
o Director of Tribal Child Support Enforcement
o Director of Grants
o Government Affairs
• Assistant Commissioner of Administration, Peter Nayquonabe, 320-630-3118
o Core services will continue to be provided by Community Development/Housing
▪ Emergency Construction
▪ Funerals
▪ Furnace calls
▪ Loan servicing
▪ Minobimaadiziwin
▪ Power supply
▪ Roads Maintenance
▪ Sanitation (Garbage removal) ▪ Sewer
▪ Water
▪ Snow plowing
▪ Housing Emergency on Call Maintenance
• Commissioner of Education, Joyce Shingobe, 651-354-4900 o All Education Staff
o Early Education management team ▪ Kitchen staff
▪ Bus Drivers
▪ Custodians
• Commissioner of DNR, Katie Draper, 320-515-0846
o Conservation Officers
o Office Manager
o Director of Environmental Programs
o Director of Resource Management
o Director of Cultural Resources
• Commissioner of Finance, Mel Towle, 320-364-0615
o Payroll
o Per Cap
o Accounts Payable
o Grants
• Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Nicole Anderson, 320-364-9969
o Director of Public Health, Lisa Blahosky-Olivarez, 320-362-0423
o Executive Director of Human Services, Carmen Kalk, 320-364-9116
o Director of Community Support Services, Kristian Theisz, 320-630-2687
o Director of Family Services, Tabatha Boyd, 320-362-4258
o Under Community Support Services
▪ Family Violence Protection Program, Kate Kalk, 320-532-7793
▪ Elder Services Coordinator, Denise Sargent, 320-532-7854
▪ Wrap Around Coordinator, Tammy Mooreland, 320-292-1942
▪ Elder/Disability Social Worker, Peter Charpentier, 320-292-2283
o Other HHS Phone Numbers
▪ CMO Corey Martin 701-527-4540
▪ Clinic Jan Manary 320-532-4761
▪ Pharmacy: Jessie Godding 320-532-2548
▪ Maintenance Curt Kalk Jr. 320-362-1657
▪ Four Winds Lodge: Lindsay Misquadace-Berg 218-454-8905
▪ Substance Use Disorders programs: Mark Watters: 320-630-4791

If you are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms, please call the Ne-Ia-Shing nurse hotline 320- 630-0855.
Future updates can be found at www.millelacsband.com or on the Mille Lacs Band Facebook page.

Miigwech,
Tribal Emergency Response Committee