CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the February 4, 2000 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Carolyn Auckley, (751) 751-4115;
E-mail: Carolyn.Auckley@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission, with all members present, met February 4 at Marriott's Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.

Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for March 24, 2000 at Country Club Hotel, Lake Ozark.

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 (751) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The Commission heard presentations by:

--Max Cook, Jefferson City, who discussed relocation of a fire tower to the Runge Conservation Nature Center.
--Christy Love, Florissant, who discussed proposed development of property owned by Boeing Corporation adjacent to St. Stanislaus Conservation Area.
--Jan W. Clayton, Town and Country, who discussed the Town and Country Deer Relocation Project.

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:
--purchasing 120 acres in Putnam County as an addition to Mineral Hills Conservation Area.
--purchasing 43.78 acres in Ripley County as an addition to Little Black Conservation Area.
--purchasing 28 acres in Franklin County as an addition to River 'Round Conservation Area.
--selling 0.56 acre at the Salem Maintenance Center to Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for highway improvements.
--conveying a sewage pipeline easement at Perry County Community Lake in Perry County to the City of Perryville.

REGULATIONS
The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee, approving a recommendation to open Willow Brook Lake (Maysville, Mo) to fishing later this year.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

--authorized obligating $1.9 million in the FY 2001 budget for the Point of Sale (POS) contract.
--authorized funds for training costs for the Private Land Services Division.
--authorized entering into a contract for construction of the J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area Lake Development Project located in Johnson County .
--approved declassifying three Missouri Natural Areas owned by the Conservation Department which do not meet revised, stricter standards.
--authorized naming of three Conservation Areas.