By LISA KACZKE
Staff Writer

Fish processed at Can-Am Fisheries is not coming from Rainy Lake, with the exception one load that has come from an Ontario commercial fisherman.
Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board members said Wednesday that they were concerned about fish being taken out of Rainy Lake. They also clarified that they never said that no fish would be taken out of the lake.
Rainy Lake commercial netter Blaine Tucker of Ontario has sold one load of fish to the company, according to DeNucci.
The company is now bringing in 2,500 pounds of fish, mostly walleye, a week from Ontario lakes other than Rainy Lake, DeNucci said. Once the company can process more, it plans to increase that number to build up the business, she said. The company does not now have any contracts in place with commercial netters.
Falls resident Curt Wagner voiced his concern that fish were being taken out of Rainy Lake to provide fish for the fisheries company.
“All I’m here for is trying to protect our lake,” Wagner said. “It’s a beautiful lake, a beautiful fishery and I don’t want to see it changed.”
DeNucci said Tucker is required to report his take to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, which has placed a quota on the number of fish he takes out of the lake.
“I enjoy the lake as much as the next person,” DeNucci said.
From an economic development standpoint, the company wants to receive the fish at the best price and offer it at the best price. Tucker does not offer what the company wants, so the company will no longer purchase from him, DeNucci said.
Audience member Arden Barnes said the KEDA should stick to its previous commitment. If board members said no fish would be taken out of Rainy Lake to supply the company, then no fish should be taken out of the lake, she said.
Fisheries employee Teddy Pearson said the ultimate goal of the company is to not buy fish locally. The company staff understand that tourism brings in money for the community and the company doesn’t want to impact the fishing, he said.
“We’re just trying to do something for the community,” Pearson said.
Board member Mike Hanson said he welcomes companies to the community that can provide employment opportunities. And, he reiterated, the board did not say that no fish would come out of the lake.
KEDA Director Paul Nevanen also clarified that it is a privately financed deal. The KEDA only provided the location for the company in the business park.
Meanwhile, the board rejected a motion to continue using Joe Boyle for legal services in 2-3 vote.
Board members Tim “Chopper” McBride and Mike Fairchild voted for the motion and board members Hanson, Wade Pavleck and Allen Rasmussen voted against the motion. McBride removed himself as board chairman so he could second the motion for Boyle to provide legal representation.
Earlier, the KEDA sought proposals from attorneys, but did not receive responses from attorneys other than Boyle. The board plans to call a second time for proposals.
Boyle said after the meeting that as an attorney, he needs to be professional and he is the only attorney in the area that has the training “in this subject matter.”
“I will work with the KEDA for the good of the people in our area,” Boyle said. “My parents raised me not to be petty and vindictive.”
He continued on saying that if he has to turn the other cheek, he will do so, and that he will stay on the high road.
As a representative of the Koochiching County Board, Hanson said he could not support Boyle’s representation. The county commissioners have stated that Boyle has a conflict of interest in representing both the KEDA and the city of International Falls as a result of a dispute between the city and county over the construction of new alignment for Minnesota Highway 332.
McBride told the board members that he doesn’t know what they’re going to do because the KEDA needs legal representation.
Rasmussen said if half of the partnership in the KEDA is uncomfortable with the attorney, the board doesn’t have much choice.
Pavleck said the county has clearly stated that its participation in the KEDA is contingent on Boyle not representing the KEDA.
But, Pavleck said, the issue is about more than Boyle.
“This is about the mayor and her administration. The county board doesn’t trust her administration,” Pavleck said. Falls Mayor Shawn Mason has “her thumb” on Boyle, he added. If Boyle’s job depends on Mason, Boyle isn’t likely to ever have an opinion that differs from the mayor’s, he said.
For the past three years, the relationship between the city and county has “totally disintegrated,” Pavleck said. The county had “great relationships” with the past two administrations before Mason. He added that the only Falls city councilor concerned about the taxpayers in the Highway 332 issue is McBride.