Minutes
Webb Center
Garnett, South Carolina
Friday, April 26, 2002
9:30 a.m.
The regular meeting of the Board
of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 9:30 am, on
Friday, April 26, 2002, at the Webb Center, Garnett, South Carolina. Notice of the date, time and place of the
meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Dr. Joab Lesesne presided at the meeting. Board members present included Dr. Julius
Leary, M. Russell Holliday, Jr., Malloy McEachin and Dr. Douglas Rucker. Board members Danny Ford and Ben Gregg were
absent from the meeting. Dr. Paul A.
Sandifer and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present
at the meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman
Lesesne called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the
meeting.
Chairman Lesesne asked for a moment of silent
meditation.
Dr. Sandifer introduced Michael Blakely, SC Wildlife
Federation and Huntmaster at Cherokee Plantation in Yemassee.
There were no requests for comments for this meeting.
Dr. Sandifer announced that Mr. Ford, Dr. Leary, Dr.
Rucker and Ms. Holliday have had their confirmation hearings before the Senate
Fish, Game and Forestry Committee and have been recommended for confirmation.
Dr. Sandifer commended PFC Kristie Fisher-Lumley for her
selection by the Attorney General’s Office as law Enforcement Officer of the
Year for the Piedmont Region. Dr.
Sandifer Also commended Buck Sgt. Robert L. Crosby for his selection by the
Attorney General’s Office as Law enforcement Officer of the Year for the Low
Country Region and also for his selection as the Attorney General’s Statewide
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Dr. Sandifer commended the Heritage Trust Program for its
selection by the Historic Charleston Foundation to receive a “Robert N.S. and
Patti Foos Whitelaw Founders Award” for efforts at protecting Childsbury.
Dr. Sandifer commended Jim Goller and Mary Pugh and
volunteers from across the agency for the outstanding job at this year’s
Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic. There
were more than 40,000 people in attendance; this is 14% more than last year and
3% more than 1999, which had been the largest year to date.
Dr. Sandifer commended staff involved in the agency’s
March of Dimes fundraiser, the DNR Agency Olympics.
Dr. Sandifer congratulated Derrick and Jackie Meggie on
the birth of their daughter, Derah Jai.
VII.
Advisory
Committee Reports
Ms.
Holliday reported that the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee
received an update on fox pens, hatcheries, waterfowl season, conservation
reinvestment act, Chronic Wasting Disease and the budget.
A. Accord on
North America’s Hunting Heritage
B. Expenditure
of Interest from Lifetime Hunting License Fund
Dr.
Sandifer explained to the Board that the Law allows the agency to spend the interest
from the Lifetime Hunting License Fund but not the principal. Dr. Sandifer requested Board authority to
spend as much of the interest in the Lifetime Hunting License Fund,
$227,103.51, as necessary to help offset additional budget cuts recently imposed. Mr. McEachin made a motion that the Board
allow Dr. Sandifer to spend up to $227, 103.51 of interest in the Lifetime
Hunting License Fund. Ms. Holliday
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
C. State Lake
Regulations
Damon
Abernathy reviewed the proposed regulation changes for Lake Paul Wallace in
Marlboro County. Dr. Leary made a
motion that the Board approve the proposed regulation changes for Lake Paul
Wallace. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion
and the motion carried unanimously. (copy attached to original minutes)
D.
2002
Shrimp Trawl Season
A. Report on
Responsive Management’s Fishing Trends in South Carolina
David
Allen and Bebe Harrison reviewed the South Carolina Aquatic Survey conducted by
Responsive Management. The purpose of this
study was to assess South Carolina youths’ awareness of issues related to
aquatic natural resources and recreational fishing. The goal was to gather the data from youth to assist DNR to
tailor it youth aquatic programs and services.
B. Presentation
on Quail Management
Breck
Carmichael updated the Board on quail management activities on the regional and
national levels. Mr. Carmichael
reviewed the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative plan and goals, which
were completed earlier this month.
Billy Dukes
updated the Board on South Carolina’s quail and grassland birds’
initiative. Mr. Dukes reviewed the
outline of this plan then answered questions posed by Board members.
The Board
then heard comments from Howard Williamson, State Chairman of Quail Unlimited. Mr. Williamson stated that Quail Unlimited
partners with SC DNR on quail seminars and publications. Mr. Williamson informed the Board that when
the Southeast Quail Study Group was formed in 1995, Dr. Timmerman and Breck
Carmichael asked Quail Unlimited if they would consider helping with
funding. Mr. Williamson stated that he
is truly excited about what has come from that group. Mr. Williamson noted that
Quail Unlimited is very supportive of the Department and the biologists.
X. Director’s
Briefings
Dr.
Sandifer reported that approval was granted for construction to begin on the
Jocassee Gorges Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
The first segment, from Table Rock State Park to SC Highway 178, has
been authorized to begin.
Dr.
Sandifer gave the Board a brief status report on the Department’s budget
situation and pending cuts for next year.
A. Habitat
Protection Activities
John
Frampton reminded the Board of the Landsford Canal dedication that will be held
May 6. Mr. Frampton also reported that
the Governor signed the Conservation Bank Act.
Mr. Frampton noted that there is much activity toward pursuing federal
funds for land acquisition in the state.
B. Legislative
Report
Derrick
Meggie distributed copies of a status sheet on DNR legislation and other bills
of interest. Mr. Meggie then reviewed
several bills and answered questions posed by Board members.
XI. Deputy
Directors’ Reports
Billy McTeer informed the Board that he is in receipt
of a memo stating that Dr. Lesesne has appointed Russell Holliday and Malloy
McEachin to a subcommittee to work with Tom Kohlsaat to review opportunities
for cooperation with Burroughs and Chapin on the red-cockaded woodpeckers at
Lewis Ocean Bay. This group will report
to the Board at the May Board meeting.
Col. Alvin Wright reported to the Board that the Law Enforcement Division
has been actively involved with Homeland Security exercises and have completed
a nuclear facility response training.
Carole
Collins informed the Board that a “test license mailer” will be sent next
month. This mailer allows renewal of
several types of licenses on one form.
No further
report.
No
further report.
At this
time Dr. Leary made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to
discuss legal, contractual and personnel matters.
The Board returned to regular session
and invited staff and guests to join the meeting.
Dr. Leary
made a motion that the Board allow Dr. Sandifer to invoke another retirement
incentive program, a possible limited RIF or a furlough as necessary to meet
budgetary constraints. Dr. Rucker
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIV. Time
and Location of the Next Meeting
Chairman
Lesesne stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on Friday,
May 17, 2002, at the Dennis Building in Columbia, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
XV. Adjournment
There
being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the
meeting was adjourned.