Next steps uncertain for Mille Lacs walleye working group

It's unclear what's next for a special legislative working group tasked with addressing the impact of the recent early end to Mille Lacs Lake's walleye fishing season. 

The third meeting of the Legislative Working Group on Mille Lacs Lake adjourned abruptly Thursday after the panel's co-chair, Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) said he saw no reason to meet until Gov. Mark Dayton puts forward the specifics of a plan to aid businesses hurt by the season closure on Aug. 2. 

Dayton has said he wants to call lawmakers back to St. Paul this month for a special session to pass immediate, short-term aid for the Mille Lacs area and to seek long-term solutions to the lake's declining walleye population. 

"After three meetings of the Mille Lacs Lake working group, it's disappointing that since calling for a special session Gov. Dayton and his administration still have not put forward a concrete proposal about what exactly a special session relief package would look like," Hackbarth said in a statement released following the meeting. 

READ: Lots of ideas, few solutions for Mille Lacs area businesses affected by ban

In a statement, Dayton called Thursday's meeting "extremely disappointing." He has in recent weeks called for a package of no-interest loans, tax relief and more tourism marketing for the region to aid impacted businesses. Hackbarth said the group would again convene when the governor delivers a specific proposal.