Koochiching County commissioners Tuesday agreed to invite a representative of Voyageurs National Park Association to meet to discuss local issues, including a letter sent about a tower and a lawsuit regarding regional haze.

Jody Tableporter, executive director of VNPA, sent a letter to the board this month about its approval of a 200-foot tower to be constructed near Rainy Lake and used by AT&T.

The letter says that the board minutes indicate approval of the tower was contingent on it being less than 200-feet in height with no lights.

“These constraints do help to minimize the impact,” wrote Tableporter to the board. “However, should AT&T choose to push ahead with plans for a taller tower, VNPA and its membership would be in opposition and could significantly swell the ranks of those opposed.”

Commissioner Rob Ecklund said he was disappointed by the letter, especially in light of the support the county board has provided on a variety of initiatives, including the Heart of the Continent Partnership.

“I view the letter as a threat,” said Ecklund.

Ecklund said that while Tableporter has some good ideas, he’s not supportive of the letter.

Ecklund said allowing the tower has the potential to improve economic development and safety.

Board Chairman Brian McBride also said he believed the letter to threaten “drumming up a crowd” for the county’s Planning Commission.

Commissioner Wade Pavleck said he, too, first viewed the letter as threatening, but upon further consideration is more threatening about AT&T’s actions.

“Maybe the letter could have said it better, but AT&T is the focus,” he said.

Ecklund said he’s asked Tableporter for clarification about whether VNPA is involved in a lawsuit filed in an appeals court regarding regional haze and has yet to get a firm answer. The suit was filed on Sept. 4, and lists plaintiffs are the Sierra Club and the National Park Conservation Association et al, or and others.

Pavleck agreed that a discussion with VNPA is needed and noted that VNP Superintendent Mike Ward was a part of the discussion about the AT&T tower decision. The agreement about the tower, he said, was a good compromise between safety and aesthetics.

In other business Tuesday, the board agreed to back a letter to be written by Ecklund to The Journal and other media outlets proving statistics about how a voter ID constitutional amendment on the November ballot will impact area seniors.

Ecklund explained that Sen. Tom Bakk last week said one of 24 residents of the Cook nursing home has the proper identification needed to vote should the amendment be approved.

Ecklund said information from the Good Samaritan - International Falls center shows seven of 57 people have the proper identification.

Ecklund said the information shows that a segment of the population would be disenfranchised should the amendment be approved.

He said he would gather information from the Littlefork Medical Center and affirm statistics from the other facilities before writing the letter, which is to be brought back to the board for consideration.