Minutes

Board of the Department of Natural Resources

15717 Bennett’s Point Road
Green Pond, SC

Friday, November 15, 2002
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, November 15, 2002, at the Bennett’s Point NERR Field Station, Green Pond, 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.

1. Call to Order
   • Chairman Lesesne called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Meditation
   • Chairman Lesesne asked for a moment of silent meditation.
3. Introduction of Guests
   • Cary Chamblee introduced Ann Wolfson, League of Women Voters of Beaufort; Angela Viney, SC Wildlife Federation; Lolita Huckabee, Carolina Morning News; and Lynne Langley, Charleston Post and Courier.
4. Approval of Minutes
   • Chairman Lesesne asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the October 18, 2002, meeting. There being no corrections or additions, Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the October 18, 2002 meeting be approved as submitted. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
5. Presentations/Commendations
   • Dr. Sandifer presented the John Tiencken, with Santee Cooper, with the Board’s Certificate of Meritorious Service for numerous conservation and legal efforts in cooperation with DNR.
   • Dr. Sandifer presented Dale Theiling with the Board’s Certificate of Meritorious Service for his role in the preparation and passage of the Chapter 5 rewrite.
   • Dr. Sandifer commended Mike McKenzie on the naming of the NERR facility at Bennett’s Point in his honor.
   • Dr. Sandifer commended Buddy Baker for representing SCDNR and the IAFWA at the Joint Management Committee Meeting of the Parties Involved in the Multinational Environmental Agreement on Humane Trapping Standards held in Brussels, Belgium.

    

6. Advisory Committee Reports
   1. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series
      • Dr. John Miglarese distributed copies of the annual report to the Board and asked that this be an action item at the January meeting. Dr. Miglarese stated that the Advisory Board’s latest meeting was mainly a strategic planning meeting regarding their tournaments.
   2. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
      • Ms. Holliday reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee met on November 12, in Columbia. Ms. Holliday stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss fox pens regulations and prepare a final recommendation for the Board relating to fox pens.
   3. Law Enforcement
      • Dr. Leary reported that the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee met in Columbia on November 13. Dr. Leary stated that the Advisory Committee received a report on budget cuts.
      • Dr. Leary announced that Col. Wright was named as Chairman of the Law Enforcement Committee on Zero Tolerance.
   4. Heritage Trust
      • Billy McTeer reported that the Advisory Board had discussion on the management of Heritage Trust properties.
   5. Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
      • Dr. Miglarese reported that much of the discussion of the Advisory Committee related to the success of red drum stock enhancement efforts.
      • Ben Gregg commended Angela Viney and the SC Wildlife Federation for the stand taken regarding the legislatures use of trust fund interest in their recent White Paper.

       

7. Items for Board Action

1. Furbearer Hunting Enclosure Recommendations

• Ms. Holliday reviewed the steps taken to develop the final recommendations that are being presented to the Board. Ms. Holliday then submitted the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries proposal (Draft #10) to the Board for consideration. (Draft #10 attached to original minutes)
• After lengthy discussion, Mr. McEachin made a motion to amend the proposal by deleting any reference to coyotes being legal in an enclosure. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion. Mr. McEachin, Mr. Gregg, Dr. Rucker, and Mr. Ford voted in favor of this amendment. Dr. Leary voted against this amendment and Ms. Holliday abstained from the vote, motion carried.
• Mr. McEachin then made a motion to amend the proposal by adding language making it unlawful to hunt or release more than one dog per 10 acres of enclosed area at one time. Dr. Leary seconded the motion and the motion carried, with Ms. Holliday abstaining. Dr. Lesesne asked if there were any other amendments to the Draft #10 from the Advisory Committee.
• There being no further amendments, Dr. Lesesne asked for approval of Draft #10 as amended. The vote carried with Ms. Holliday and Dr. Leary abstaining. Ms. Holliday made a motion that both reports, Draft #10 from the Advisory Committee and the amendment version, be send together noting that a majority of the Board approved the amendments. Dr. Leary seconded the motion. Dr. Leary, Mr. Gregg and Ms. Holliday voted in favor of the motion, Mr. McEachin and Dr Rucker voted against the motion, Mr. Ford abstained from the vote and the motion carried.

2. 2003 Legislative Package
   • Derrick Meggie reviewed the proposed 2003 Legislative Package. Dr. Leary made a motion that legislation to increase the combination license fee from $20 to $25 be removed from the 2003 Legislative Package. Mr. McEachin seconded the motion. Dr. Leary and Mr. McEachin voted in favor of the motion, Mr. Gregg, Dr. Rucker, Ms. Holliday and Mr. Ford voted against the motion and the motion failed. Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board approve the proposed 2003 Legislative Package as presented. Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
3. Adoption of North American Model of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
   • Dr. Sandifer reviewed the North American Model of Fish and Wildlife Conservation paper distributed at the last meeting. Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board approve the adoption of the North American Model of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
4. Heritage Trust Property Acquisition
   • This item will be discussed in executive session.
5. Request by McConnells Fire Department to use Draper WMA Pond
   • Tim Ivey reviewed the request from McConnells Fire Department to use the water from the Draper Pond for emergency fire fighting and training, with the Board and addressed their questions. Mr. Ford made a motion that the Board approve the request by the Mcconnells Fire Department as presented. Mr. McEachin seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
6. Proposed and Final WMA Regulations
   • Tim Ivey reviewed the proposed and final WMA regulations with the Board and addressed their questions. Ms. Holliday made a motion that the Board approve the proposed and final WMA regulations as presented. Mr. Gregg seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
7. Morgan Island Management
   • This item will be discussed in executive session.
8. Overtime Policy
   • Jean Cowell reviewed the changes in the Overtime Policy with the Board and addressed their questions. Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board approve the Overtime Policy as presented. Mr. Ford seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

8. Executive Session

• At this time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to discuss contractual, legal and personnel matters.

9. Return to Regular Session
   • The Board returned to regular session and invited staff and guests to join the meeting.
   • Dr. Leary made the following statement and motion. The Board understands the importance of research for both health and national causes, presently at Morgan Island, but it is not in the mission of DNR for primate rearing. The Board does intend to honor the contract through December 31, 2004, but does not plan to extend the contract beyond that point. However, we will instruct staff to investigate other possible options to resolve issues related to the island and instruct the Director to notify appropriate parties in writing of intent not to extend the contract. Ms. Holliday seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   • Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board approve the Heritage Trust proposal to purchase the 116 acre Parkhurst Tract and a 6 acre tract from the Boy Scouts of America, which includes the Poinsett Bridge. Mr. McEachin seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
   • Mr. Gregg made a motion that the Board reappointment Madilyn Fletcher to the Marine Advisory Committee. Dr. Leary seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
10. Other Reports
    • Carole Collins reported that the State Auditor’s Office has completed the 2000-2001 audit and the preliminary report contains no exceptions.
    • Dr. Sandifer reported that he met with the Yawkey Foundation Trustees earlier this month. DNR, the Yawkey Foundation and DOT will be meeting to determine viable alternatives for the replacement for the South Island Ferry.
11. XI. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
    • Chairman Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday, January 17, 2003, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
12. XII. Adjournment
    • There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.