The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board Wednesday agreed to spend up to $4,000 should wetland credits need to be purchased for the foreign trade zone.

 “We’ve got an upland area with several little pockets of wetlands on top of that rock,” KEDA director Paul Nevanen told the board. “It’s hard to fathom, but we have to deal with approximately 12,100 square feet.”

Nevanen told the board two different options could be considered to deal with the wetland issue.

“Can we go to the (Koochiching) county board and look at Dunnick Lake as a replacement? Or do we go out into the watershed and buy credits from Roseau County,” he asked the board.

Koochiching County has wetland credits banked at Dunnick Lake near Big Falls. Nevanen said he believed the exchange would be at acre for an acre.

Nevanen said Dave Serrano, Arro of the North, said should wetland credits need to be purchased, it would cost about $3,630.

According to Nevanen, an application to purchase credits is already in place, but he asked for direction from the board on where to go with the issue.

Board member Mike Hanson questioned if the matter was time sensitive.

“We’re trying to kind of coincide with the crushing and blasting that is going to occur out there,” Nevanen said. “We’d like to have it ready to go so they can begin work as soon as the bid is read at the end of the month.”

He added that he could work with county officials on a firm date of when crushing and blasting would begin and about the potential need for wetland credits.

Hanson said the county board would probably take interest in the situation; however, it doesn’t meet until Aug. 30.

Board member Wade Pavleck suggested looking at both options to see what would make the most sense, but questioned if there would even be wetland credits available in Roseau County.

Nevanen assured him Dale Olson, county Environmental Services Department director, had looked into it and credits are available if needed.

Board member Tim “Chopper” McBride said because timing was an issue, he suggested any motion made by the board include discretionary spending to expedite the project.

Nevanen said he would have a concept plan with the wetland issue hopefully resolved by the board’s September meeting.

In other business, Nevanen told the board he received an inquiry from a credible company, which he did not disclose, regarding a biomass project.

“This is very preliminary and centered around general information,” he said in his report.