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LCO liaison reports clinic staffing gains, transportation fixes and plans for supportive housing
Summary
An LCO tribal liaison told the Sawyer County Health & Human Services Committee that the tribe is adding clinical staff, improving transportation access and planning a supportive-housing project while continuing food-distribution and elder supports amid program cuts.
The LCO tribal liaison reported to the Sawyer County Health & Human Services Committee on Nov. 3 that the tribe is expanding clinic staffing, adjusting facility features to improve access and moving forward with planning for supportive housing to help residents experiencing housing instability.
The liaison said the tribe will continue food drives and meal distributions across the reservation to reach elders and families who rely on SNAP and other assistance. "We're trying to take care of our people the best we can with what's happening now with the cuts," the liaison said, explaining distribution is being spread out so residents can access services at multiple locations.
The liaison also described recent staffing additions at the tribal clinic: "Mariah Austin is her name. So she's joined our clinic now," and the clinic has added three nurse practitioners and two dentists. The liaison said Dr. Malcolm signed "one more year to be with us at our clinic," extending his service through Dec. 26, 2026.
On access and facility changes, the liaison said the transportation program is being adjusted to help patients get to appointments and that the pharmacy drive-thru will be redesigned because "it was too short, and it was too close." The liaison said those changes aim to make services more accessible to patients. Separately, a supportive-housing project is in planning stages to serve people who need housing and related supports.
The remarks were delivered during the committee's LCO liaison agenda item and were framed as operational updates rather than requests for county action. The liaison emphasized continuing behavioral-health programming and addiction supports alongside clinic and elder services.
Proper names referenced in the remarks included Mariah Austin and Dr. Malcolm; the liaison noted new nurse practitioners and dentists but did not provide their names. The committee did not take a formal vote on tribal matters during this report.
The committee packet contains related reports on food-distribution points and elder services; tribal staffing and project timelines were described as in-progress planning rather than final decisions.
