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Austin Parrish
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Austin.Parrish@house.mn.gov News Release Area Representatives Call on Governor Walz to Declare an Emergency for Mille Lacs Area Communities Ahead of Catch-and-Release Only Walleye Season ST. PAUL, MN — Today four members of the House Republican Caucus with districts in the greater Mille Lacs Lake area sent a letter to Governor Walz formally requesting that he declare an emergency in the area. Representatives Ron Kresha (R – Little Falls), Brian Johnson (R – Cambridge), Isaac Schultz (R – Elmdale Township), and Josh Heintzeman (R – Nisswa) penned the letter citing the light winter and DNR signals of a catch-and-release only season on Mille Lacs Lake until at least mid-August. “The resorts, restaurants, and surrounding businesses of the Mille Lacs Lake community have already faced a devastatingly light winter season that saw little to no winter activities to attract tourism to the area. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing attract visitors from across the country to our part of Minnesota. With little ice and snow, this year attendance numbers are way down and the income that keeps our community’s economy flowing is equally down.” “Now with what will likely be a catch-and-release only season for walleye on Mille Lacs Lake until mid-August, those businesses will continue to struggle as vacationers choose other destinations to spend their time and money. These businesses know they must plan for variable weather and slower-than-expected seasons. But two seasons in a row of low attendance is unsustainable for many of these small businesses that have been locally owned for decades.” An emergency declaration would make the area eligible to access the emergency reserve fund that the Governor uses in the event of a natural disaster. $5 million from this fund would provide relief to local businesses that are already struggling to stay afloat. ### |