December 17 & 18, 1997 report of news and decisions of the Missouri Conservation Commission
Contact: Jim Low or Arleasha Mays, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Arleasha.Mays@mdc.mo.gov
General News
The Conservation Commission met at 1:30 p.m. on December 17 at the Department's Fish and Wildlife Research Center in Columbia and at 10:15 a.m. on December 18 at Department Headquarters in Jefferson City. All Commissioners were present for both meetings, and are:
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
At its December 17 meeting, the Commission discussed budget priorities for future fiscal years that will be the basis for Fiscal Year 1999 budget preparation. Business conducted at its December 18 meeting is summarized as:
The next meeting was set for January 22, 1998 in Cape Girardeau.
Regulations:
The Commission approved an amendment to the Wildlife Code that closes the season and prohibits the commercial harvest of washboard mussels. The action taken was based on concerns about declining populations throughout the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and is consistent with efforts by other Upper Mississippi River states to protect the washboard mussel throughout its range.
Approved:
--A request to help fund the American National Fish and Wildlife Living Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. The Commission directed staff to negotiate an agreement that will provide $500,000 of Commission funds each year for five years, beginning in the year 2001, with an option for future Commissions to extend the payments for an additional ten years. Providing Commission funds is contingent on the American National Fish and Wildlife Living Museum and Aquarium Foundation donating 12.5 percent of net operating revenue to conservation efforts in Missouri, as directed by the Conservation Commission, and reimbursing the Commission for all reasonable expenses associated with Conservation Department staff assisting in the planning and development of the museum's educational component.
--Increasing each salaried, term and hourly (except those at minimum wage) employees' monthly salary by $10 beginning January 1, 1998, as part of the flexible benefit package approved last session by the General Assembly for all Missouri state employees.
Land Acquisition
The Commission acquires land only from willing sellers, making annual payments to compensate local governments and schools for lost tax revenues at assessment levels current when acquired. Public access to acquisitions will be appropriate only after closing of real estate transactions, at which time boundaries will be marked and further information will be available. Approval was given to proceed with the following:
--accepted as a gift 80 acres in McDonald County as an addition to Flag Spring Conservation Area.
--an exchange of 80 acres of Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area in Shelby County for approximately 80 acres adjacent to Hunnewell Lake Conservation.
--convey approximately 0.24 acres of Aquila Access, Stoddard County, to the Stoddard County Commission for highway improvement.
--authorized disposal as surplus-though sale, trade or auction-of the approximately 5-acre Brandsville Towersite in Howell County.
Special Recognitions:
--The Commission presented awards recognizing 2000-Hours of Volunteer Service at the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Saint Louis to Volunteer Naturalists Charlie Anderson, Warene Anderson, Art Paule, Neva Wasson and Dick Wasson.
--The Commission presented Special Achievement Awards for outstanding acts to Senior Conservation Agent John P. Dinkins and Hatchery Manager David R. Waller.
--The Commission presented Service Awards to the following longtime employees:
--35 years service to Louis F. Diebold III.
--30-year service to Rose M. Scheidt, Raymond D. Evans, Jack C. Woodhead, Edward A. Brown and Marshall D. Neely.
--25-years service to Richard M. Duchrow, Joseph P. Bachant, Bernard
P. Boillot, Kenneth R. Hackmann, Sandra S. Rackers, William G. Yoder, William
M. Anderson, Alvin J. Brand, Rose Ann Edmondson and Danny R. Billings.
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