RANIER — A fish processing and sorting operation may again occupy a building on 22nd Street in International Falls.

The Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board Wednesday heard from Paul Nevanen, director of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, about the plan that could open the business next month.

Barry Barney, former principal of Koochiching Freshwater Fisheries, will open the building under a new company, Northern Waters Fish Company, Nevanen said during a evening board meeting held in Ranier in an effort to reach out into the county.

“Eventually, he plans to have 10-12 employees,” Nevanen said during the meeting that attracted a larger-than-usual audience. “He has secured financing and a management group to sort and process fish.”

Barney eventually wants to secure and complete a second building located on an adjacent lot, Nevanen said.

The building was purchased by Koochiching Fisheries in July 2007, and was operated as Koochiching Freshwater Fishers through the following year.

Nevanen said from 2008 to 2009, the building was under the operation of Can Am Freshwater Fisheries, a seafood wholesale store. It has been vacant since.

In other business, county Commissioner Rob Ecklund told the board about on legislative efforts to approve a bonding bill that would include funding for the Island View sewer extension.

“There is a very good chance of this happening,” Ecklund said.

The $5.7 million bonding request for the Island View sewer project is part of the larger Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Project, intended to improve water quality in communities adjacent to Minnesota’s only national park.

Ecklund said the project is favored because it is shovel ready.

Nevanen applauded efforts at every level working toward the project.

“This is really significant in terms of the future,” he said.

Also Wednesday, Faye Whitbeck, president of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce, explained efforts to achieve a full circle between the International Falls and Fort Frances communities.

Whitbeck said meetings are scheduled to continue efforts that would resolve border-crossing issues, including a luncheon planned by Canadian customs officials.

Among other items, Whitbeck also briefed the board on the MS: TRAM Ride 2013, organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, scheduled to begin July 14 in International Falls.

“This will be bringing a lot of dollars into our community,” she said.

Nevanen reported that a meeting with Coronal LLC, a partner in the Renewable Energy Clean Air Project, is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Koochiching County boardroom.

Coronal representatives are expected to answer questions and concerns from local officials and residents as well as discuss the desire to locate the facility at the newly-created multimodal warehouse district, designated on 77 acres on County Highway 155, east of the city.

“The next step in the process is to get a permit, which cannot happen without a designated site,” Nevanen said.