Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, June 20, 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, June 20, 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
Vice Chairman Leary, Danny Ford, Ben Gregg, M. Russell Holliday, Jr., and
Malloy McEachin and Dr. Douglas Rucker.
Mr. John Frampton 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, Sporting Protection League;
Patten Watson, SC Wildlife Federation; Dan Rodgerson, Executive Director of the
Greenville County Recreation District; Kathy Varadi, Public Information Officer
for Greenville County Recreation District; and Joey Holleman, The State
newspaper.
V. Presentations/Commendations
Mr.
Frampton announced that Carole Collins gave birth to a baby boy, Connor
Stephen, on June 11. Mother, baby and
father are doing well.
Mr.
Frampton commended Derrick Meggie and Robert Boyles on their selection to
attend the 2003-04 class of the Executive Institute.
Mr.
Frampton took the opportunity, since it is the last meeting for some Board
members, to commend the Board and reviewed several major accomplishments of the
last four years.
Mr.
Frampton updated the Board on the budget situation.
VI. Advisory Committee Reports
A. Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
John
Miglarese reported that the Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee
met and discussed budgets at its recent meeting. The advisory committee remains very supportive of the continued
effort of program modification while maintaining the integrity of the program. Dr. Miglarese stated that the Saltwater
Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee made the following motion, “A motion
is made to approve the budget as presented with the condition that the
coordination administration project will be spent as a last resort and with
notification to the advisory committee.”
B. Wildlife
and Freshwater Fisheries
Billy
McTeer reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee
received a presentation by the Fisheries Section, a brief legislative update,
and had discussion on the pintail tracking study. Mr. McTeer stated that the advisory committee reviewed the
proposed duck stamp budget and the antlerless deer tag budget.
C. Heritage
Trust
Mr. McEachin had no report
from the Heritage Trust Advisory Committee.
A. 2003-2004 Duck Stamp Budget
Derrell Shipes reviewed the proposed
2003-2004 Duck Stamp Budget. Ms.
Holliday made a motion that the Board approve the budget as proposed. Dr. Leary seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
B. Craigs
Pond Management Plan
Johnny Stowe reviewed the proposed
management plan for Craigs Pond and addressed questions posed by Board
members. Mr. McEachin made a motion
that the Board approve the Craigs Pond Management Plan as proposed. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
C. Lighthouse
Inlet Management Plan
Chris Judge reviewed the proposed
management plan for Lighthouse Inlet and answered questions posed by Board
members. Mr. McEachin made a motion
that the Board approve the Lighthouse Inlet Management Plan as proposed. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
D. Proposed
Emergency Regulations for Freshwater Turtles
Steve Bennett reviewed the proposed
emergency regulations for freshwater turtles and answered questions posed by
Board members. Dr. Leary made a motion
that the Board approve the Emergency Regulations for Freshwater Turtles as
proposed.
E. Resolution for Natural Resources
Funding
Mr.
Gregg read, reviewed and introduced the following resolution for Board
consideration:
R
E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, South Carolina is rich in natural resources and
ecological diversity, including abundant wildlife; rich plant diversity;
rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, marshes and oceans, and
WHEREAS, the public has historically enjoyed relatively
unrestricted use of large areas of public and private lands for hunting,
hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife watching and general appreciation of nature,
and
WHEREAS, DNR is responsible for the protection, management
and care of these state’s resources in partnership with numerous public
agencies and private organizations, and
WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 acres of publicly owned land
is managed by DNR, and
WHEREAS, DNR is responsible for the enforcement of laws that
protect our resources and insure public safety while engaged in the enjoyment
of these resources, and
WHEREAS, South Carolinians enjoy a quality of life based
largely on the enjoyment and use of these abundant resources, and
WHEREAS, DNR has always and will continue to seek and
develop partnerships with other public agencies and private groups to further
its mission of resource protection and management, and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to continue protection of
our state’s resources due to the ever increasing population, demand for
services, and the changing land ownership and land use patterns that are
developing, and
WHEREAS, the assets of this state that are managed and
protected by the DNR are a vital tool in the state’s continued growth by
offering potential industry and their employees a quality of life rarely
available in other states.
WHEREAS, outdoor opportunities in South Carolina attract
tens of thousands of visitors to this state each year, providing jobs and added
revenue to the economy, and
WHEREAS, lands available for outdoor recreation are rapidly
diminishing, and
WHEREAS, the Department’s State Budget has been reduced by
36% in the past three years, license revenues are declining and DNR staff has
been reduced by 215 (projected 8/1/03) employees in the past three years, and
WHEREAS, the Governor and the South Carolina State
Legislature is responsible for setting priority needs and providing funding to
meet those needs.
THERFORE
BE IT RESOLVED by the DNR Board on this Twentieth Day of June 2003, that DNR
will cooperate in a broad effort to develop and mobilize a large and diverse
coalition of conservation and natural resource advocates to:
·
Develop a blueprint
and strategy for support of funding and insuring a secure future for our public
trust resources for generations to come.
·
Seek adequate funding
from the legislature for protection and enhancement of the state’s natural
resources.
·
Generate public
support for funding natural resource protection and enhancement.
·
Generate a proposal
to produce substantial revenue from the non-consumptive users of our public
resources.
· Work to reform the current fishing and hunting license system to make it simpler, produce more revenue, be increasingly automated and user friendly and provide much needed data to help guide in resource decisions.
Mr. Gregg then made a motion that the
Board adopt this resolution as proposed.
Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
VIII. Director’s Briefings
Mr.
Frampton discussed the column on Hunting and Fishing License Sales Revenue
Decline recently published in the Greenville News.
Mr.
Frampton discussed a recent article from The State on budget passed by
legislature. Governor Sanford has set
DNR’s budget hearing for July 30.
Mr.
Frampton mentioned information received from the Southeastern Cooperative
Wildlife Disease Study on Monkeypox.
Mr.
Frampton met with CEC and Administrative Services staff on May 27 to discuss
the budget and answer questions. Mr.
Frampton met with Wildlife Biologists the afternoon of May 27 and met with
Land, Water and Conservation staff on June 10. Mr. Frampton has met with Law Enforcement Districts 6, 10, 2, 7
and 8 and will meet with Districts 3, 4 and 5 next week.
Mr.
Frampton made a presentation on June 1 to the Board of the SC Chapter of the
NWTF on DNR activities, then met with NWTF staff on June 2 to discuss land
acquisition activities.
Mr.
Frampton met with Speaker Wilkins to discuss the department budget on June
3. Mr. Frampton also met with Governor
Sanford on department programs and budget issues on June 3.
Mr.
Frampton attended the Forest Legacy meeting in Helen, GA, on June 4-5.
Mr.
Frampton attended a press conference at SLEC on Homeland Security Grant Funding
on June 12.
Mr.
Frampton met with Walter Douglas, State Conservationists with US NRCS, on June
10 to discuss partnership opportunities and issues of mutual interest.
Mr.
Frampton participated in the Heritage Trust Advisory Board meeting on June 11.
Mr.
Frampton attended the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund Board meeting on June 11.
Mr.
Frampton met with Chief Stewart, of SLED, on June 17 to discuss issues of
mutual interest.
Mr.
Frampton taped Newswatch television program with David Stanton of WIS-TV on
June 18. This will air on Sunday, June
22, at 10:30 a.m.
Mr.
Frampton has been asked to attend SLED’s Public Safety Directors monthly
meetings with Chad Walldorf of the Governor’s Office.
Mr.
Frampton will be attending a meeting of the USFWS Refuge Policy Task Force on
July 20-23. Mr. Frampton will then
travel to the Atlantic Flyway Council meeting in Allenberry, PA, on July 24-25.
Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie reviewed the legislation for 2003 that was and was not adopted during
the session.
Habitat
Task Force
Mr. Frampton informed the Board that
Barry Beasley’s Habitat Task Force report has been distributed.
IX. Deputy Directors’ Reports
1. Marine
Dr.
Miglarese stated that he had a personnel issue for executive session. Dr. Miglarese then informed the Board that
Dr. Bob Van Dolah received an invitation from the White House regarding the
Council of Environmental Quality. Dr.
Van Dolah has been asked to review environmental monitoring and key indicators
of what the nation should be viewing the health of its estuarine systems,
wetlands system and natural resources.
2. Land,
Water and Conservation
Mr. Vang
stated that he had no further report but wanted to thank the Board for their
service.
3. Wildlife
and Freshwater Fisheries
Mr. McTeer
informed the Board that Randy Geddings is very ill and then thanked the Board
for their service.
4. Law
Enforcement
Col.
Wright reviewed the activities of the Law Enforcement Division for the month of
May.
5. CEC
and Administrative Services
David
Bruner reported that staff have been working on the license express mailer and
that Camp Wildwood will finish tomorrow.
X. Executive
Session
At this
time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.
XI. Return
to Regular Session
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the
transfer of the Berry Mill Pond to the Greenville County Recreation District provided
that the intent of the original deed is followed. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried
unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve
acquisition of the Toumey Tract, adjacent to Manchester State Forest, through the
Forest Legacy Program. Dr. Rucker
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Department of
Natural Resources’ Meritorious Service Award be awarded to an employee of the
Marine Resources Division. Ms. Holliday
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve to
spend from the Reedy River Mitigation Trust Fund an amount of $100,000 per year for a period of five years
for cooperative effort with Clemson University to hire a Reedy River Watershed
Education Coordinator. These funds will
be appropriated on an annual basis after review by Board. Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board instruct the
Director of the Department of Natural Resources to be consistent in the
Department of not making payments of utilities of occupied DNR owned properties
beginning September 1, 2003 and that he appoint a committee to study all other
issues related to these properties. Mr.
McEachin seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the
renaming of the Walhalla Fish Hatchery Education Building to the W. R. (Randy) Geddings Fish Culture Facility. Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion
carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve, in
principal, the merger of the Administrative Services and CEC Divisions. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve in
principal for the Department to begin implementing the redefining and
consolidating of districts within the State of South Carolina and to seek
public input on the details of implementation.
Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board commend the
Department, it’s staff and leadership in its efforts and jobs and all the
appreciation that the Board has for the staff of the Department. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
XII. Time
and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman
Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday,
July 18, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30
a.m.
XIII. Adjournment
There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.