Harvest Camp Meeting Between Iron County, LCO Called ‘Amiable’

The first meeting between Iron County and Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal officials Tuesday was called “productive,” as both sides try to work out differences over the future of the LCO’s Harvest Camp.

Animosity was put aside during an “amiable” 90-minute exchange between Iron County and LCO legal and elected officials. LCO Harvest Camp spokesman Paul DeMain says the closed door meeting was fruitful. “People [were] talking to each other, not talking or shouting about any kind of positions, but trying to come together as two distinct entities and find middle ground.”

In May, Iron County’s Forestry Committee recommended to establish the Harvest Camp, then did an about-face last month by voting to close the camp. DeMain says it’ll take more meetings to iron things out. “What you’d really see out of that is … attorneys trading documents and language to see where we’re at.”

DeMain hopes to have an agreement to keep the Harvest Camp open before Iron County’s September board meeting.

Iron County officials didn’t immediately return calls from WPR.