Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

A majority of the five-member Executive Council will vote to approve 31 mineral leases at a meeting this week, which will pave the way for more exploration of copper/nickel/precious metals in the region.

Gov. Mark Dayton, Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner-Solon and Attorney General Lori Swanson told the Mesabi Daily News that they will be at Friday’s Executive Council meeting and vote yes on the issue.

Dayton’s support is critical to the leases moving forward. He had voted last December, along with Auditor Rebecca Otto and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, to delay issuing them. Swanson was the sole vote for approval. Prettner-Solon was not at the meeting, but has said she would have voted yes.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_cbdd42aa-3932-11e3-881f-0019bb2963f4.html