The Eighth Osage Nation Congress passed two supplemental appropriation bills to provide more than $748,000 to cover project costs for expanding the Hominy and Grayhorse village chapels.
Citing lack of space and the need for updated building features from community members, both chapels are slated for the upgrades after Congress passed initial $1 million appropriation bills for each chapel during the 2022 Tzi Sho Session. Both $1 million appropriations are from the Nation’s American Rescue Plan Act funding and the supplemental appropriations are also requests for ARPA funding to cover project construction costs.
The two supplemental appropriation bills each provide an additional $748,550 for the two chapels. Those bills are ONCA 23-12 (sponsored by Congresswoman Brandy Lemon) requesting the additional money for the Grayhorse Village chapel and ONCA 23-13 (sponsored by Congressional Speaker Alice Goodfox) requesting additional money for the Hominy Village chapel.
During a Jan. 11 Congressional Appropriations Committee meeting to initially consider the bills, Lemon said increasing the square footage at the chapels is needed because the current buildings are now too small to accommodate crowds attending funerals or other events.
Casey Johnson, the Executive Branch Secretary of Development, said the inflation situation is also impacting projects due to increased construction material costs, higher fuel prices, and the appropriation will help with covering the community requests, including upgrades to the food preparation area in the Grayhorse chapel.
Silas Satepauhoodle, Tribal Development manager, told the committee there needs to be dirt work done at the chapels due to settling over the years. Lemon added there is a proposed 3,100 square feet addition for the Grayhorse chapel, which will expand on the building’s south side.
As for a timeline inquiry on the project, Satepauhoodle said once the funding is approved the procurement process will begin and could take up to 30 days then executed documents could take months to develop before construction starts, which could take about nine months if all goes according to plan.
Goodfox said the Hominy chapel also needs expansion due to overcrowding and recalled 50-plus people having to stand outside the building during funerals when inclement weather occurred. She reiterated the initial $1 million appropriations were starting points for the chapel expansions knowing there could be additional costs later.
In visiting with the Hominy Village Committee, Goodfox said the expansion wishes include adding a porte cochere for a hearse to pull under during funerals to unload caskets, adding this would help during inclement weather. Jeff Willcox, who sits on the Hominy Village Committee, said the chapel could use expansion for seating and food preparation area improvements, as well as improvements to the ceiling to remove deteriorating tiles.
Both ONCA 23-12 and ONCA 23-13 received 12-0 passing votes before the Congressional special session ended on Jan. 17.
For more Congressional information on sessions, committees and to view filed legislative bills/ resolutions, visit the Legislative Branch website at: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
