SCDNR Board Meeting Minutes

Chairman Norman Pulliam called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Rev. Dave Tafaoa, SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, offered the invocation.

Vice Chairman Hutchins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CPT Robert McCullough, Director, Office of Media and Outreach, introduced Chip Sharpe, retired SC DNR employee, Mike Ruhe, Duke Energy; Austin Smallwood, SC Association of Realtors; and Scott Whitaker, Executive Director, Coastal Conservation Association.

CPT McCullough stated that Mr. Sharpe has requested to make comments. Mr. Sharpe thanked the Board and Interim Director Boyles for their continued support of the Outdoor Dream Foundation. Mr. Sharpe thanked the following staff for the work at the recently held Lowcountry Outdoor Dream Hunt at Whitehall Plantation: Abi Locatis Prochaska, Kacie Ferguson, Olivia Bueno, LCPL Mark Ferrell, CPT D. J. Riley, LT Michael Paul Thomas, FSGT Andrew Godowns, LCPL J. P. Jones, LCPL Justin LeLoach, CPT Robert McCullough and Jay Butfiloski.

Chairman Pulliam asked if there were any additions, deletions or corrections to the November 21, 2019 meeting minutes. Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the November 21, 2019 meeting as presented. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

1. Interim Director Boyles commended the 16 new DNR Conservation Officers who were sworn in for duty at Styx on January 2.


2. Interim Director Boyles commended Law Enforcement Region 4 team and LT Angus MacBride, 1SGT Huger McClellan, CO Kevin Johnson and CO Matthew Beckett who were commended in a letter from Robert S. Brown, American Canoe Association, Deputy State Director, for their assistance and outstanding support to their Partnered Incident Management Program and 12-week training event.


3. Commend Molly Kneece, Alicia Farrell and Achi Treptow and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries staff involved in a recent draw Duck Hunt at Cedar Island in the Santee Coastal WMA

1. Marine
   Mr. Swygert reported that the Marine Advisory Committee met December 5 in Charleston. The Advisory Committee received reports on the Flounder Outreach Plan and the Sustainable Management of State Shellfish Grounds. The Advisory Committee received an overview of SC DNR Advisory Board Policies.


2. Land, Water, and Conservation
   Ken Rentiers, Deputy Director for Land, Water and Conservation, reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met December 10 in Columbia. The Advisory Committee received an overview of SC DNR Advisory Board Policies. The Advisory Committee received section reports and an update on SC Association of Conservation Districts. The Advisory Committee approved conservation district commissioner appointments and reappointments, which the Board will consider later in this meeting.


3. Law Enforcement
   COL Chisolm Frampton reported that the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee met December 12 at Wateree Range. The Advisory Committee welcomed new member Chuck Taylor. The Advisory Committee received a divisional orientation and an overview of SC DNR Advisory Board Policies. The Advisory Committee received a presentation of the duties and responsibilities of the Supply Section. The Advisory Committee received a legislative update.

1. Climate Update
   Hope Mizzell, Land, Water and Conservation Division, reported on the recent tornado in Kershaw County. Dr. Mizzell noted that 2019 tied for the second warmest on record. Dr. Mizzell reported on the drought conditions, rainfall totals, precipitation percentiles, streamflows, lake levels, ground-water monitoring wells around the state, precipitation forecast and temperature forecast.


2. Dewees Island Conservation Easement
   This item was deferred to Executive Session.

Interim Director Boyles reminded Board Members that their Statement of Economic Interests reports are due by March 30, 2020.

Interim Director Boyles reviewed the Governor’s FY 20-21 General Fund Requests for SC DNR.

Interim Director Boyles and Kevin Ryan met with Mark Plowden of the Governor’s Office for a tour of the ACE Basin.

Interim Director Boyles attended the ACE Basin 30^th Anniversary Celebration

Interim Director Boyles informed the Board that DNR’s Budget Hearing, with the House Ways and Means Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Subcommittee, will be on January 21.

Interim Director Boyles reported that the DNR Director Confirmation Hearing, with the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, is tentatively scheduled for February 5.

Kevin Ryan, Director of Government Affairs, reported on S885 – Reptiles and Amphibians, S690 – LiDar Topo Mapping/Flood Mitigation Program, Watercraft Idle Speed Distance, Placement of Water Programs and flounder.

Lorianne Riggin, Director of Office of Environmental Programs, reported on the MV Everreach and SC Department of Commerce, Project Inspector.

1. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
   Nothing further to report.
   
   
2. Law Enforcement
   COL Chisolm Frampton, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement, gave the Board a brief update on hiring, trap open and activities for MLK Day at the Dome.
   
   
3. Marine Resources
   Nothing further to report.
   
   
4. Support Services
   Nothing further to report.
   
   
5. Land, Water and Conservation
   Nothing further to report.
   

At this time, Mr. Rasor requested to be excused from any votes, deliberations, and other actions on Agenda Item XII(G) – Potential Property Acquisition in Laurens County. The nature of his actual or potential conflict of interest is that the agenda item concerns the potential acquisition of real property from a third-party which intends to first purchase the subject property from him. Although his direct dealings are an arms-length transaction with a third-party purchase, he disclosed this potential conflict of interest in an abundance of caution. A copy of Mr. Rasor’s letter is included as the last page of the minutes.

1. Property Donation in Oconee County
   

   Ken Prosser, Assistant Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, briefly reviewed proposed property donation, as included in the meeting packet. Dr. Hartley made a motion that the Board, subject to standard due diligence, grant final approval to accept a property donation of approximately 2,700 acres adjoining DNR’s Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve in Oconee County and, upon recommendation by the Heritage Trust Advisory Board, be dedicated as a heritage preserve and placed into the corpus of the South Carolina Heritage Trust. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

2. Update of Board Policy 100.01 (DNR Operational Procedures)
   

   Shannon Bobertz, Chief Counsel, reviewed the proposed changes to Policy 100.01 (DNR Operational Procedures) as sent separate from the meeting packet. Mr. Swygert made a motion that the Board approve the Update to Board Policy 100.01 (DNR Operational Procedures) as presented. Dr. Hartley seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   Mr. Hutchins made a motion to amend the agenda to add election of Vice Chairman as a Board action item. Exigent circumstances exist because the Board has amended the policy 100.01 “Board Operational Procedures” to change the term of the Vice Chairman, therefore a Vice Chairman needs to be elected to begin the new four year term. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   Mr. Hutchins made a motion to amend the agenda to add election of Vice Chairman as a Board action item. Exigent circumstances exist because the Board has amended the policy 100.01 “Board Operational Procedures” to change the term of the Vice Chairman, therefore a Vice Chairman needs to be elected to begin the new four year term. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Rasor made a motion that the Board go into Executive Session pursuant to S.C. Code Section 30-4-70(A)(1) and (A)(2) to discuss contractual matters related to items (C, D, E, F, G), and to discuss appointments to advisory boards related to item (H) and to receive legal advice related to item B under Items for Board Information. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Rasor was excused from the room and recused from the discussion related to Item G only.

Dr. Hartley made a motion that the Board return to open session, noting that no action was taken during executive session. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

3. Potential Property Acquisition in Barnwell County
   

   Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board grant preliminary approval to evaluate a potential property acquisition of approximately 61 acres adjoining DNR’s Lake Edgar Brown in Barnwell County as recommended and presented by staff. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

4. Potential Property Acquisition in Barnwell County
   

   Mr. Oxner made a motion that the Board grant preliminary approval to evaluate a potential property acquisition of approximately .25 acres adjoining DNR’s Barnwell Fish Hatchery in Barnwell County as recommended and presented by staff. Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

5. Potential Property Acquisition in Marion County
   

   Mr. Hinson made one motion for Items E and F.

   Mr. Hinson made a motion that the SC DNR Board grant preliminary approval to evaluate a potential property acquisition of approximately 217 acres and a potential property acquisition of approximately 227 acres adjoining Marsh WMA in Marion County as recommended and presented by staff. Mr. Swygert seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

6. Potential Property Acquisition in Laurens County
   

   No action was taken on this item.

7. Conservation District Commissioner Appointments/Reappointments
   

   Dr. Hartley made a motion that the Board, upon the recommendation of the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee, approve the Conservation District Commissioner Appointments/Reappointments with term limits as follows:

   Appointments: Nelson Crisp of Laurens – 01-16-20 to 01-31-23; Dorothy Grooms of Chester – 01-16-20 to 01-31-23

   Reappointment: Mark Johnson of Georgetown – 06-20-20 to 06-29-24

   Mr. Rasor seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

The February meeting will be held Thursday, February 20, 2020, in Columbia, SC.

The March meeting will be held Friday, March 27, 2020, at Seawell’s in conjunction with the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic.

Mr. Hinson made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.