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The Conservation Commission met on June 25 at Sand Spring Resort near Lebanon. All Commissioners were present:
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set on July 29 in Jefferson City.
PRESENTATIONS
Commission meetings are open to the public. Those wishing to be placed on the agenda for a presentation or other business must send a written request to Director, Department of Conservation, P. O. Box 180, Jefferson City MO 65102-0180, or FAX to (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The Commission heard presentations by:
· President George D. Nichols of Columbia and Past President Arthur A. Benson II of Kansas City, representing The Missouri Prairie Foundation, about the newly-formed Grasslands Coalition.
Design & Development Division staff reviewed modified Schematic Design Phase plans for the Discovery Center/Office Complex in Kauffman Legacy Park in Kansas City.
LAND ACQUISITION
The Commission acquires land only from willing sellers and makes annual payments to compensate local governments and schools for lost tax revenues at assessment levels current when acquired. Public access to acquisitions is appropriate only after closing of real estate transactions, at which time boundaries have been marked and further information is available. The Commission approved proceeding with the following:
· exchange with The Nature Conservancy (TNC)-two Commission tracts exchanged for one TNC tract and TNC funding of three Commission acquisitions.
· exchange with Board of Curators, University of Missouri-3-acre portion of Weldon Spring Conservation Area, Saint Charles County, for adjacent 30 acres.
· sale of 0.19-acre portion of Green Access, Daviess County, to Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for bridge improvements; and conveyance of 0.18-acre portion of Morton Bridge Access, Ray County, to Hardin Special Road District for right-of-way improvements.
REGULATIONS
The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee, approved an additional rule change for the 1999 Wildlife Code, and approved the following-effective March 1, 1999-based on the new process that triggers comprehensive review of the permit fee structure under defined conditions: (More detailed information about the rule changes will be provided in All Outdoors. In addition, the rule changes will appear in the August 17 Missouri Register and are subject to public comment for 30 days.)
· Consolidation of deer hunting permits with adjusted fees to allow use of either a muzzleloader or a modern firearm during the November and January portions of the firearms deer hunting season, and add a December segment to the firearms deer hunting season (previously the December portion of the muzzleloading firearms deer hunting season) during which only a muzzleloading firearm can be used.
Rescission of muzzleloading firearms deer hunting permits: Resident Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permit; Resident Muzzleloading Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit; Resident Muzzleloading Firearms First Bonus Deer Hunting Permit; Resident Muzzleloading Firearms Second Bonus Deer Hunting Permit; Nonresident Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permit; Nonresident Muzzleloading Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit.
· Establishment of four new deer hunting permits:
· Adjustments in other permit fees to be more comparable with surrounding states:
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