The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board Wednesday heard an update regarding progress of the foreign trade zone.

Board Director Paul Nevanen and county Engineer Doug Grindall told the board that they are reworking the approach to getting the site ready.

Nevanen noted that at the September KEDA meeting, Dennis Wagner of Wagner Construction Inc., presented the board with an updated proposal regarding site development. Nevanen said that based on the revisions included in that proposal, a new approach on rock removal and a lease agreement was taken back to the FTZ subcommittee made up of Nevanen, Grindall, Tim “Chopper” McBride; Falls Councilor and board member; Wade Pavleck Koochiching County commissioner and board member; and Gary Skallman, Falls public works director.

“We are reworking our approach to (developing the site),” Nevanen said

Nevanen said committee meetings have been held and the group agreed it wants to see the site developed, but in a cost effective way.

“Both bodies are comfortable with this direction,” Nevanen said of the committee’s city and county representation. “There are a number of things we need to satisfy and that will all go into a new proposal we are working on.”

Nevanen also told the board he sent out a mailing that included two aerial concept plans of the FTZ to a number of logistics providers as part of a strategy to market the site.

In other business Wednesday, Nevanen informed the board that the cold weather testing season is underway and he continues to work on an extended facility lease with an automotive customer interested in establishing a second cold box in the Falls.

“A number of changes from the original proposal have resulted in modifications to an agreement,” Nevanen explained. “I hope to have an agreement for review by the next meeting.”

This year’s cold weather testing season is already near capacity, Nevanen said.

A draft of the 2012 budget was presented Wednesday noting that KEDA’s primary funding comes from International Falls, Koochiching County and Iron Range Resources.

“The budget has been stable over the last four to five years,” Nevanen said.

Nevanen drew attention to the carry-over starting balance for January 2012 which is about $273,193. The amount includes revenues from several strong cold weather testing seasons.