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The Conservation Commission met on July 29 at Department Headquarters in Jefferson City. All Commissioners were present, and began the meeting by electing the following officers to serve during Fiscal Year 1999:
Chairman Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Vice Chairman Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Secretary Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
Member Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set on August 27 in Farmington.
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:
· Richard A. Williams of Kansas City, Kansas, about the Department's decision to delay-due to budget constraints-construction of disabled-accessible hunting blinds on Four Rivers Conservation Area.
· Fisheries Division staff about its new Missouri Walleye Initiative.
At a special ceremony in conjunction with the meeting, the Commission Chairman presented Service Awards to the following long-term employees:
· Thirty Year Service Awards to: Fred J. Crouse, James M. Huffman, O. C. Hudson and James M. Barrett Jr. of Forestry Division; Ernest J. Hamilton and Stanley M. Michaelson of Fisheries Division; Donald G. Long and Paul H. Wunderlich of Protection Division; Allen J. Pennock of Wildlife Division.
· Twenty-Five Year Service Awards to: Ronald L. Glover and Jimmy R. Tennyson of Protection Division; Donald J. Smith, Dennis P. McDevitt, Ted Horst, Doris E. Idel and Lee D. Raney of Wildlife Division; Richard H. Woods of Design & Development Division; Debra L. Hull and James H. Auckley of Outreach & Education Division; Lloyd E. Williamson of Administrative Services Division; Terry N. Greenwood of Forestry Division; Gary D. Novinger of Fisheries Division.
Also at the special ceremony, the Commission Chairman presented Employees Communications Contest Awards to the following winners in five competition categories:
· Nature Center Manager Jeffrey L. Cockerham-Best Radio Show; Urban Wildlife Biologist Laurie L. Dohm-Best Television Show; Protection Regional Supervisor Tim D. Ripperger-Best Conservationist Article; Senior Conservation Agent Dennis P. Ritter-Best Newspaper Article; Naturalist James P. (Pat) Whalen-Best Newsletter.
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:
· sale of 5-acre portion of Centerville Access, Reynolds County-surplus to Department needs-to adjacent landowners to provide them access to part of their property.
· sale of 2.5-acre portion of Poplar Bluff Conservation Area in Butler County-surplus to Department needs-to adjacent landowners to square off boundaries.
REGULATIONS
The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee and approved a change in the 1998 early migratory game bird hunting seasons-an extension from 9 days to 16 days for the 1998 blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal season. That season will now be September 5 to September 20. Shooting hours remain sunrise to sunset; limits remain 4 teal in the aggregate of species daily, 8 in possession. (More detailed information will be provided in All Outdoors as federal frameworks for early seasons are finalized.)
The Commission also approved changes in several area fishing rules for conservation areas and for areas owned by other entities to incorporate-effective January 1, 1999-findings from the spring fish sampling season.
ADMINISTRATION:
The Commission also approved:
· designation of a 160-acre portion of Grand Bluffs Conservation Area in Montgomery County as a Missouri Natural Area.
· changing the following area/facility names:
- Conservation Research Center for the 6-acre research complex in Columbia
- Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area for the 812-acre county park leased by the Department from Saint Louis County
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