Burgum meets with Spirit Lake chairman, Devils Lake mayor to discuss health care access, rising lake level

ST. MICHAEL, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum, cupboard leaders and representatives from the Governor’s Workplace met in the present day with Spirit Lake Nation Chairman Doug Yankton, Devils Lake Mayor Dick Johnson and U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer to debate well being care entry, the rising elevation of Devils Lake and different points essential to the tribe and group.

Through the assembly at Spirit Lake On line casino, Burgum spoke about the necessity to handle meals deserts on reservations to increase entry to wholesome meals, and to pilot new approaches to community-based well being care as a substitute of attempting to navigate the cumbersome federal well being care system.

“We expect now we have a chance in North Dakota, working with the tribes and with the well being care sector, the nonprofit facet, to really create a nationwide mannequin,” he stated, advocating for higher collaboration to assist tribal economies, well being care and agriculture. “Regardless of the dialog is, the State of North Dakota want to be part of it going ahead, and we recognize the invitation.”

Officers additionally mentioned the elevation of Devils Lake, which has risen by 3.5 ft to date this yr because of heavy precipitation and runoff over the winter and spring. On Thursday, the North Dakota Division of Water Sources started annual discharge operations of the 2 Devils Lake shops to sluggish the lake’s rise and scale back flooding.

At the moment’s assembly additionally touched on tourism, which is a crucial element of the economic system within the Devils Lake space, in addition to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land administration. Additionally attending from the state had been Governor’s Workplace Chief Working Officer Tammy Miller and Common Counsel Ryan Norrell, North Dakota Indian Affairs Fee Govt Director Nathan Davis, Division of Human Companies Govt Director Chris Jones, Division of Water Sources Director Andrea Travnicek, Recreation and Fish Director Jeb Williams, and Maria Effertz Hanson, director of the Division of Group Companies within the Division of Commerce. ­