A Vision of Accomplishment

Housing

Past Projects
With an influx of gaming capital to the Nation, there now exists an opportunity to improve the living conditions of tribal members. Providing affordable housing, especially to people on fixed incomes, is one of the most critical areas for any government to be involved in and is a priority for Potawatomi tribal government. For the first time since HUD-sponsored building projects in the 1970s and in 1984, home-ownership within the reservation may become a possibility for many members. A range of housing opportunities will be provided to meet the needs of tribal members and their families living in the tribal community and to encourage others to return to the Reservation.

Current Projects
Financing programs are available to enable home-ownership, provide affordable rental-housing and subsidize housing costs (as needed) for elders and the handicapped. All new housing will be attractively designed and well constructed, landscaped and maintained.

The Nation plans to build new housing for young adults and senior citizens. (Overall, the Indian population is young. As of July 1, 1998, approximately 38% of American Indian, Eskimo, and Aluet resident populations were under the age of 20, compared to 28.7% for the U.S. resident population.)

In 2000, construction on 24 new homes started and the first phase of 12 was completed in 2002. The balance will be completed in 2003. As of late 2002, the first phase of homes were fully occupied. The Nation applied for housing tax credits, to assist with the construction cost of these homes and duplexes, and was successful in that application, saving the Nation more than $1,500,000 to be used on other housing projects. Grant approval and funding from Indian Health Service (IHS) for the cost of sewer and water was also secured.

The Indian Health Service unit (IHS) has committed to work with the Nation, and other agencies, to help develop the residential water supply to better meet the Nation's needs. IHS has secured funding to assist with water and wastewater lines for the senior duplexes at the K Road Complex (I.H.S. Project OK 02-C55) and are working with the Nation's environmental and construction departments to identify the facilities needed and estimated costs for the senior replacement homes project. IHS also assisted the Nation in the past by providing funding to scattered homes that have water and sewer-failure situations. Homes that qualify may be able to receive assistance now.

Near the new Senior Citizen center, the Tribal Council approved the budget and final design of the first 10 Elder Site Duplexes. These 10 senior duplexes will house 20 senior citizens. As of June 2002, five of the duplexes were occupied and the remaining five duplexes were scheduled for completion in the fall of 2002.

Future Plans
The Nation plans to build enough new housing to satisfy the demands of tribal members for different kinds of housing on the reservation, as indicated by the results of housing surveys.

In addition, the Nation will provide financial assistance to renovate older homes on the reservation.

Wastewater Treatment Facility

(K Road Complex)
The K Road Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) treats the wastewater from the K Road Complex facilities that include the Elder Center and Elder Housing, a multi-purpose building, courthouse, fire station, gym, shop and daycare center, along with a nursing/assisted living complex. It also treats wastewater from an existing 30-home subdivision and has the capacity to treat an additional 20-30 home subdivisions and the Boys/Girls Club.

The WWTF has the capacity to treat 60,000 gallons per day for future flows with a current flow anticipated in the range of 35-40,000 gallons per day.

The treatment process will be the widely used "extended aeration" type of treatment process. This process provided a high-quality waste product, meeting stringent EPA limits. Air is forced into the treatment basin through submerged aerators, which provide the oxygen necessary for proper wastewater treatment. Disinfection will be necessary and ultra-violet (UV) disinfection is the recommended disinfection system. This is typically the common disinfection process chosen for larger-capacity treatment facilities.

Water Issues on the Reservation
In the last five years, the Reservation area has experienced significant increases in the demand for water and has suffered through periods when the water supply was inadequate to meet existing demand. The Tribal Council has worked to secure an adequate supply of water, and an adequate water system, to meet the Reservation's water needs for the next 40 years. The Reservation area is currently served by several sources, including Jackson County Rural Water Districts #1 and #3 (the largest distributor), Pottawatomie County Rural Water District #4 and private water wells.

A few years ago, the Nation requested that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) assess the water supply demands for the Reservation so that long-term community planning could take those demands into account. The most recent BOR study concluded that the existing water systems would fall far short in meeting the needs generated by future development on the Reservation. The BOR conclusion was based upon projections for significant future commercial and residential development on the Reservation.

Population on the Reservation was estimated to increase from 1,625 residents to 2,935 residents by 2040. Residential demand was projected to grow from 186,875 gallons per day up to 337,525 gallons per day; commercial demand was projected to grow from 50,250 gallons per day up to 94,750 gallons per day in the same 40-year period.

The BOR report investigated the possibility of meeting the Reservation's water demands through a joint effort with the Kickapoo Tribe and Sac and Fox Nation. Among the many alternatives for a joint project were: the Pikitanoi project (bringing water from the Missouri River) a new reservoir to be constructed near the Kickapoo Reservation, purchasing water from Perry Lake, and obtaining water from the Kansas River/City of Topeka; with new water lines to be constructed to each Reservation from each source. Project costs ranged from $17.8 million to $27.1 million. The BOR also studied the Prairie Band's water supply options and considered the Kansas River/Shawnee Reservoir, Perry Lake and Banner Creek Reservoir/RWD #3 as some of the possible sources. The BOR report concluded that Banner Creek Reservoir/RWD #3 was the most feasible option.

Another study, based in part upon the BOR report, was conducted by the engineering firm of Bartlett & West. The study concluded that the Reservation area's water system piping and storage capacity were inadequate to meet short/long-term demand. Bartlett & West recommended the piping concerns be addressed by installing larger pipes and pumps in certain areas (east side of Reservation from 174 Road down to 150 Road and then west on 158 Road, to the current standpipe and west on 150 Road, to connect to the casino).

Bartlett & West also proposed placing a larger water tower at the present 158 Road location and a larger water tower at the casino, increasing the total capacity by over 300,000 gallons. The Tribal Council recently approved these recommendations and reached agreement with RWD #3 to share the $1,660,000 cost of these improvements. The Nation will utilize a recently approved Indian Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $710,000 to cover a large portion of its share of these costs. These improvements, to be completed within 18 months, will allow RWD #3 to meet the Reservation's projected water demands through 2020.

The Nation is also investigating the possibility of meeting Reservation water supply needs from new wells on the Reservation. Preliminary drilling activity indicates adequate water may be available from underground sources, but the cost of treating that water makes its use cost-prohibitive at the present time. Additional drilling activity and testing are planned in order to determine the long-term feasibility of this option.

Long-term, the Nation will consider the feasibility of owning and operating its own water supply system on the Reservation.