KEDA cancels Fisheries agreement, By LISA KACZKE, Staff Writer

A developer’s agreement and land deed for the Koochiching Freshwater Fisheries have been canceled by the Koochiching Economic Development Authority.
The board approved the cancellation during an emergency board meeting Tuesday afternoon. Board member Wade Pavleck abstained from the vote. Pavleck said he could not vote as a result of attorney Joe Boyle continuing to represent the KEDA, which Pavleck said was a conflict of interest.
In June, the board approved an extension of its agreement with Barry Barney, of Freshwater Fisheries. Freshwater Fisheries had one year from the signing of a developer’s agreement July 9, 2007, to comply by providing a building and jobs.
But KEDA Director Paul Nevanen recently learned that Barney is no longer with the business and that the business is undergoing a restructure. The KEDA was notified Tuesday morning that the new staff can’t sign the extension of the developer’s agreement. The KEDA needed to file a cancellation at the Koochiching County Courthouse by end of business Tuesday.
Pavleck raised concerns about the timing of Tuesday’s action. He said he was uncomfortable conducting business at the last minute. He said Tuesday’s events are “coincidental” and it is “not the way to do the taxpayers’ business.”
Pavleck also said Boyle had a conflict of interest in representing the KEDA and noted that the Koochiching County Board has requested Boyle remove himself from representing agencies created in joint powers agreements between International Falls and Koochiching County. Boyle is representing International Falls in a lawsuit over Minnesota Highway 332 that involves Koochiching County.
“I don’t have a conflict here,” Boyle responded.
Pavleck said he wanted a second attorney to review the cancellation.
Board member Allen Rasmussen told Pavleck that he was nervous about the last minute action, but that he understood the sequence of events. Rasmussen suggested the Koochiching County attorney review the documents.
Pavleck responded that the county attorney works for county residents, not county commissioners.