CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the March 24, 2000 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Carolyn Auckley, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Carolyn.Auckley@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met March 24 at The Country Club Hotel, Lake Ozark. Commissioners present were:

Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre

Randy Herzog, St. Joseph

Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for April 19, 2000 at the West Plains Civic Center, West Plains, Missouri.

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 the following presentations:

· Volunteer Service Award to Donna Legg for 2,000 hours of volunteer service

at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

· Jack Evans, Jefferson City, who discussed relocation of a fire tower to the Runge Conservation Nature Center, Jefferson City.

· Roger Still, State Director, The Nature Conservancy, discussed The Nature Conser vancy's strategic framework and other issues of interest.

· Helping Endangered Species Makes Dollars and Sense, a video produced in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

· Richard Pender, Board Member, SEMO Coonhunters Association; Ben Wieda, President, Missouri State Coonhunters Association; and Burley McIntyre, Secretary, SEMO Coonhunters Association, discussed views about Duck Creek Conservation Area.

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 284 acres in Dallas County as an addition to Berry Bluff Conservation Area.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

· authorized entering into a contract for construction of the Ozark Regional Office located in West Plains, Missouri.

· authorized accepting as a gift approximately 315 acres in Mercer County.

· deferred to next meeting action on relocation of a fire tower to the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City.