Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building,
Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, February 21, 2003
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of
the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on
Friday, February 21, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, South
Carolina. Notice of the date,
time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media.
Chairman Dr. Joab M. Lesesne presided at the meeting.
Board members present included Dr. Julius Leary, Danny Ford, Ben Gregg,
M. Russell Holliday, Jr., Malloy McEachin, and Dr. Douglas Rucker.
Dr. Paul A. Sandifer and staff members of the Department of Natural
Resources were present at the meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman Lesesne called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed
everyone to the meeting.
Chairman Lesesne asked for a moment of silent meditation.
Cary Chamblee introduced
Bob Bailey, SC Sporting Protection League; Zane Wilson, Sun News; Angela Viney,
SC Wildlife Federation.
Mr. Chamblee introduced Mr.
William Ladue and asked him to address the Board.
Mr. Ladue’s comments were directed toward job requirements of
conservation officer. Mr. Ladue
is applying for the Law Enforcement position in Charleston County.
Mr. Ladue began his comments by reviewing the requirements for Deputy
Law Enforcement Officer and some of his duties and required training as a DLEO.
Mr. Ladue expressed to the Board that he feels his training and duties
should qualify as equivalents for the requirements for a conservation officer.
Mr. Ladue asked the Board to review and address the hiring policy for
conservation officers.
Dr. Sandifer reviewed the
history of the current policy with the Board and suggested that the Board
remand the review of this policy to the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee for
recommendation to the Board.
Mr. Chamblee introduced Mr.
Marvin Davant, Executive Director for SC Conservation Bank, and asked him to
address the Board. Mr. Davant
thanked the agency and Board for their leadership and support in making the SC
Conservation Bank a reality and getting it off to a good start.
V. Approval
of Minutes
Chairman Lesesne asked if there were any corrections or additions to the
minutes of the January 17, 2003, meeting.
Dr. Leary asked that the following correction be made in the Law
Enforcement Advisory Committee Report – Kristi Langley should be Kristi Lumley.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the
January 17, 2003 meeting be approved as amended.
Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
VI.
Presentations/Commendations
Dr.
Sandifer introduced Mark Coker, Columbia Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, and Larry
Huckabee, State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited.
Mr. Coker and Mr. Huckabee presented the DNR with a print to thank the
agency and the Board for the support given through all the conservation
projects.
Mr.
Doyle Allen, South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Society, presented the
South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program with the Society’s merit award.
Dr.
Sandifer commended Mrs. Linda Amick for the recent article in The State,
recognizing her for her contributions to the Chapin Recreation Programs.
Dr. Sandifer shared this article with the Board.
Dr.
Sandifer commended SC Wildlife for the tribute run recently in The State,
recognizing the magazine’s 50th anniversary.
Dr. Sandifer shared this with the Board.
Proposed Annexation of Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve
Tom Kohlsaat briefed the Board on the history of the proposed
annexation. Mr. Kohlsaat then
introduced Mark McBride, Mayor of Myrtle Beach.
Mayor McBride then introduced Mr. Tom Leath, City Manager; Tom
Ellenberg, City Attorney; and Mr. Jack Walker, Planning Director.
Mr. Jack Walker reviewed four of twelve major themes included in the
City of Myrtle Beach Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Walker informed the Board that four major features have been
developed that are considered to be vital in strengthening the relationship:
1) Public Trust Zoning District; 2) an Ordinace to Permit the Discharge of
Firearms in the Public Trust District; 3) a Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve
Annexation Ordinance; and 4) a Development Agreement.
Mr. Walker then distributed copies of the presentation to the Board.
Mr. Ellenberg reiterated to the Board that the City wants to partner as
stewards with DNR. Mr. Ellenberg
asked the Board to review the Development agreement.
At this time Mr. Ellenberg and Mayor McBride addressed questions posed
by members of the Board. Mr.
McEachin made a motion that this proposal be referred to the Heritage Trust
Board. Ms. Holliday seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
In addition, staff were asked to work with the City of Myrtle Beach to
develop a more complete proposal.
VIII.
Item for Board Action
Blue Crab Recommendations
David Whitaker reviewed the recommendations as sent to the Board in their
meeting package. Mr. Gregg asked
Dr. Whitaker if the industry and the citizens committee have been informed of
these recent changes. Dr.
Whitaker stated that there has been informal communication but no formal
meetings have been held. Dr.
Whitaker noted that there should be no opposition on the recreational side but
on the commercial side there is still some concern regarding the
saltwater/freshwater line. Mr.
Gregg then asked Mr. Petey Davis is he had any comments, on behalf of the
crabbing industry, for the Board.
Mr. Davis stated that there is concern regarding Section 50-5-32 included in
recommendation 3. Mr. Davis also
asked that the industry be included in the declaration of an emergency
closure. At this time, Mr. Gregg asked that staff and those
individuals present representing the crabbing industry design specific
language to work out concerns and bring them back to the Board before the end
of this meeting.
IX. Executive
Session
At this time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session
to discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
X.
Return to Regular Session
Mr. McEachin distributed a written report of the Heritage Trust’s February
6, 2003 meeting.
Dr. Leary made a motion to amend the conservation easement at Partriot’s
Point as proposed in the letter to the Board dated February 11, 2003 from Paul
League with attachments. Mr.
Gregg seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Whitaker reviewed the proposed changes to the Blue Crab
Recommendations. The proposed
changes relate to Recommendation #3, the agreed upon concept for commercial
fishing above the saltwater/freshwater line, and an additional supplement
regarding point values for lesser violations.
Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board approve Recommendations 1, 2,
4, 5, 6 and the supplement related to recreational trap escape vents as
presented in the Board package (copy attached to original minutes) and the
Recommendation 3, 7 as concept, and the supplement regarding point values as
amended today (copy attached to original minutes).
Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Gregg commended staff involved in the efforts of Blue Crab
Recommendations.
XI.
Items for Board Action
A.
Final WMA Regulations
Tim
Ivey reviewed the proposed changes to WMA Regulations Document Number 2819.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the proposed WMA
Regulations as presented. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried
unanimously.
Mr.
McEachin asked that a post-season duck hunting report be presented at the
March meeting.
B.
Delegation of Authority for Heritage Trust Signs
Mr.
Chamblee informed the Board that there is a requirement by law that the DNR
Board approve signage for Heritage Trust Preserves. Mr. Chamblee is also requested that the Board delegate this
authority to the Director. Dr.
Leary made a motion that the Board approve the signage with an amendment such
as “Under Penalty of Law” or “Violators Will Be Prosecuted” and to delegate
the authority of this signage to the Director.
Mr. McEachin seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XII.
Director’s Briefings
Habitat Task Force
Barry Beasley informed the Board that an interagency group has been formed to
coordinate habitat acquisition within the agency. Members of this group are Barry Beasley, John Frampton,
Stuart Greeter, Ken Prosser, Mike McKenzie, Mike Sabaka, Gween Keeney, Emily
Cope and Paul League.
Development and National Affairs
John Frampton distributed copies of the report from the Quality of Life Task
Force.
XIII.
Executive Session
At
this time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
XIV.
Return to Regular Session
The Board returned to regular session and invited staff and guests to
join the meeting.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board allow Dr. Sandifer to move forward with
payroll incentive retirement package and also to move forward with a fiscal
plan for the 2003-2004 budgetary cuts.
Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XV. Legislative Report
Dr. Sandifer distributed copies of the legislative update
to the Board.
John Frampton reported that the 2003 Federal Budget
passed last week.
XVI.
Executive Session
At this time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session
to discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
XVII.
Return to Regular Session
The
Board returned to regular session and invited staff and guests to join the
meeting.
XVIII.
Time and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on
Friday, March 28, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building in Columbia,
beginning at 9:30 a.m.
XIX.
Adjournment
There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this
time, the meeting was adjourned.