MINUTES

BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Webb Wildlife Center

Garnett, South Carolina

Friday, June 19, 1998

10:00 a.m.

The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 1998, at the Webb Wildlife Center, in Garnett, South Carolina. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Dr. George Graham presided at the meeting. Board Members present included Thomas Miller, Marion Burnside, Campbell Coxe, Edwin Oxner, Mary Pope Waring and Edward Lee. Dr. Paul A. Sandifer and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting as were various guests.

I.Call to Order

Chairman Graham called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

II.Meditation

Chairman Graham asked for a moment of silent meditation.

III.Approval of Minutes

Chairman Graham asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the May 15, 1998 meeting. Mr. Burnside moved that the minutes of the May 15, 1998, meeting be accepted as mailed. Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

IV.Advisory Committee Reports

A.Conservation Education and Communications

Mr. Burnside reported that the Conservation Education and Communications Advisory Committee

Mr. Burnside made a motion that the CEC Advisory Committee create, from the Committee, a subcommittee called the Inter-Divisional CEC Coordinating Committee to manage and approve the cross divisional education programs and publications of the DNR. The Subcommittee will then make recommendations to the Executive Office. Mr. Lee seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

B.Law Enforcement

Mr. Miller reported that the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee met at St. George, District IV. Mr. Miller stated that Maj. Taylor gave an update on the boating safety laws and the upswing in personal watercraft accidents.

Mr. Miller inquired about the status of the joint subcommittee meeting regarding the situation at Francis Marion. Mr. Conrad informed Mr. Miller that the two subcommittees have not yet been able to meet. Mr. Miller requested that a report from the subcommittees be place on the agenda for the July meeting.

Mr. Miller also requested that the manpower study be placed on the agenda for the July meeting.

Mr. Miller reported that another topic of the Advisory Committee meeting was the issue of dress uniforms. Col. Wright gave the details about the dress uniform which has been recommended and the cost per officer. Mr. Miller made a motion that the Board approve the dress uniform, at least in concept, and instruct Law Enforcement staff to continue the process and as soon as funds are available to make this purchase. Mr. Coxe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Miller commended Lt. John Watford for his efforts with the DLEO issue. Mr. Miller stated that Maj. Pulaski and Lt. Col. Smith reported on streamlining the equipment inspection process and streamlining the process of requesting county funds from legislative delegations.

C.Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Mr. Coxe informed the Board that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met on June 11. The highlights of this meeting were the doe tag budget were reviewed, discussed and passed by the Advisory Committee and the duck stamp budget was also passed.

Mr. Coxe reported that the regulation for Lake Wallace were also discussed and passed by the Advisory Committee.

D.Land, Water and Conservation

Mr. Vang reported that the Land, Water and Conservation Advisory Committee met June 17. The major topic for the meeting was the process to be used for the statewide teleconference on July 8 with Clemson University and NRCS.

The Advisory Committee also reviewed the changes in procedures for the Clean Water Act between the Department of Agriculture and EPA and how the conservation districts will be involved in the process.

Mr. Vang reported that the Pee Dee Feasibility Study, the water supply study between the Corps of Engineers, Pee Dee Electric Co-op, Budget and Control Board and DNR is proceeding.

V.Items for Board Information

Derrell Shipes gave a brief report on the FY 1997-1998 Waterfowl Stamp Purchasers' Survey (report attached to the original minutes).

VI.Items for Board Action

A.Proposed Regulations for the Lake Wallace Boating Area

Mac Watson presented a brief history of Lake Wallace and reviewed the proposed regulations. Mr. Coxe made a motion that the Board accept staff recommendations of proposed regulations for the Lake Wallace Boating Area. Mr. Burnside seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously (proposed regulations attached to the original minutes).

B.Proposed Electronic Media Policy (700.09)

Jean Cowell reviewed the proposed Electronic Media Policy and answered questions from the Board. After a brief discussion, Mr. Miller made a motion that the Board adopt the proposed Electronic Media Policy (700.09) as submitted. Mr. Burnside seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously (approved policy attached to the original minutes).

C.Proposed Tuition Assistance Policy (706.05)

Ms. Cowell reviewed the proposed Tuition Assistance Policy (706.05) and answered questions from the Board. After a brief discussion, Mr. Miller made a motion that the Board adopt the proposed Tuition Assistance Policy with the following amendment:

Any employee leaving the agency within 12 months after receiving tuition assistance will be required to reimburse the agency for the amount of assistance received.

Mrs. Waring seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

D.Revisions to DNR Law Enforcement Applicant Hiring Procedure Policy (710.03)

Ms. Cowell distributed copies and reviewed the revisions to the DNR Law Enforcement Applicant Hiring Procedure Policy.

Mr. Burnside made a motion that the DNR Law Enforcement Applicant Hiring Procedure Policy be approved as submitted with the following amendments:

II. Job Requirements

A. Education Requirement - The minimum education requirement for an applicant shall be a 4-year college degree or an acceptable equivalent determined by the Department. The Office of Human Resources shall be responsible for determining an applicant's qualifications.

IV. Interview Panel

A. Applicants who meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements and pass the physical agility test will interview before an interview panel. The panel will include the Lieutenant Colonel and/or a Major, a District Captain, a Lieutenant or a Unit Sergeant, a minority field officer and a female staff member of the Office of Human Resources. The Interview panel will ask each applicant a set of job related questions. Each member of the panel will individually rate each candidate upon completion of the interview. The Office of Human Resources will compile the scores for each applicant and will compute the applicants' average scores.

The Office of Human Resources will compile a rank ordered list of candidates based upon composite interview scores. A predetermined percentage of top ranking candidates will be scheduled for the written test.

Mr. Burnside also instructed staff to further define education equivalency. Mr. Oxner seconded the motion and the motion passed with Mr. Lee voting against.

VII.Director's Briefings

A.Executive Office

1.Director

Dr. Sandifer thanked Michael Thompson, the Legislative Committee and the Marine Advisory Committee for their efforts.

Dr. Sandifer also thanked Benny Reeves and David Hegler for their work on the budget.

Dr. Sandifer informed the Board that he met with Jamie Clark, Director of USFWS, on June 9, regarding the request for an extension of the waterfowl framework.

Dr. Sandifer reported that he met recently with Fisheries District IV, Wildlife Diversity and Wildlife Region III in Rock Hill. Dr. Sandifer stated he felt the most important thing discussed was coordination and cooperation within the agency, USDA-NRCS and other partners.

Dr. Sandifer stated that he served on the Westvaco Forest Management Advisory Committee on June 12.

Dr. Sandifer informed the Board that he and several staff attended the Sportsmen's Roundtable on June 17.

Dr. Sandifer distributed copies of an article from Clemson World alumni magazine focusing on Dr. Timmerman and his contributions and what the agency is doing to manage and protect special landscape, particularly Jocassee.

Dr. Sandifer commended the Marine Division staff who assisted in the recent tornado clean up.

2.Legal

Dr. Graham stated that there is one item for Executive Session.

3.Human Resources

Ms. Cowell stated that there is one item for Executive Session.

4.Legislative

Dr. Sandifer noted for the record that Michael Thompson has distributed copies of bills relating to natural resources activities that passed this session.

5.Environmental

No report.

6.Audit Services

Bethany Narboni stated that they are currently finishing the final project for the preliminary work plan and are finalizing the procedures manual.

B.Deputy Directors

1. Land, Water and Conservation