Minutes
Lloyd Webb Natural Resources Office
153 Hopewell Road, Pendleton, SC
Friday, July 16, 2004
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, July
16, 2004, at the Lloyd Webb Natural Resources Office, Pendleton, South
Carolina. Notice of the date, time and
place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Mike McShane presided at the
meeting. Board members present included
Michael Campbell, Stephen Davis, John Evans, Karen Floyd, Frank Murray and
Smith Ragsdale. Mr. John Frampton and
staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the
meeting, as were various guests.
Chairman McShane called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Chairman McShane asked Rev.
Eric Skidmore to offer the invocation.
III. Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Chairman Campbell led the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Cary Chamblee asked Dan
Dobbins to introduce three interns from the Governor’s Office. Mr. Dobbins introduced Sophie Lane, Andy
Clayton and Rob Lowery. Mr. Chamblee
introduced Dr. Pat Layton, Chair of the Forestry and Natural Resources
Department at Clemson University; Dennis Chastain and his wife Jane. Mr. Chamblee asked Tom Swayngham to
introduce the staff at the Clemson Office.
Mr. Swayngham introduced Betty Snipes, Lynn McDowell, Richard Morton,
Mary Bunch, Dan Rankin, Leslie Morgan, Greg Lucas and Skip Still. Mr. Chamblee asked Capt. Larry Holbrooks to
introduce the officers present today.
Capt. Holbrooks introduced Buddy English, Larry Snipes and Ira Jones.
V. Constituent Comment
Mr. Chamblee informed the Board that Dennis Chastain requested to speak to the Board. Mr. Chastain gave the Board an update on the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in South Carolina.
Mr. Still gave the Board a brief history of the Lloyd Webb office and some of the current projects.
Chairman McShane offered
the following correction to the minutes of the June 18, 2004 minutes and asked
if there were any other corrections or additions to the minutes of the June 18,
2004, meeting.
X. Items for Board Action
A. Morgan Island
Management Plan
Mr. Frampton stated
that there is a contractual matter with the lease that needs to be discussed in
executive session presented the management plan for Morgan Island.
Mrs. Floyd made a motion to
accept the minutes of the June 18, 2004 meeting as amended. Mr. Davis seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously.
VII. Presentations/Commendations
Chairman McShane wanted the minutes to reflect that the Board appreciates the dedication and work to the individuals who have retired as of July 16, 2004. Those individuals are Martha B. Aldridge, Anthony Bates, James W. Duke, Diane L. Lee, Georgianna Prince, Butler R. Hook, James R. Clark, Robert Crosby, Carol Dupre, Curtis Jackson, James Langley, Walcott Moultrie, Jerry S. Walters, Darry Williams, James A. Wright, Joe A. Dennis, Charles G. Samuel, Faye Weimer, Leon Bush, Donna Gelwicks, Ernest Alston, David Baumann, Thomas Beach, William Catoe, John Cely, Gail Coker, James Chattine, Bill Mahan, Tommy Strange, and Ervin Woodberry.
Chairman McShane and Director Frampton presented Hank Stallworth with the Board’s Meritorious Service Award for his work with the Water Law Review Committee.
Mr. Frampton congratulated Jean Cowell on her receipt of the South Carolina Chapter of the International Personnel Management Association’s (SCIPMA) 2004 Award of Excellence for Human Resources Practitioner of the Year.
VIII. Advisory Committee Reports
A. Law Enforcement
Mr. Campbell stated that
due to scheduling conflicts the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee meeting has been postponed until
September. Mr. Campbell stated that Dr.
Juke Leary, former Chairman of the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, was
recognized by the Laurens and Greenwood Counties Delegation on July 15,
2004. The Law Enforcement staging area
on Lake Greenwood was named the Dr. Juke Leary Staging Area. Mr. Campbell noted that anyone who has
served with Dr. Leary knows that he served the Department with distinction and
Law Enforcement held a special place in his heart.
Mr. Campbell also stated
that as of today Col. Alvin Wright is retired and the Board wishes him well.
Chairman McShane asked
Alvin Taylor to come forward. Chairman
McShane asked Mr. Campbell and Mr. Frampton to present the pin signifying the
rank of Colonel to Col. Taylor.
B. Waterfowl
Mr. Ragsdale stated that
the Waterfowl Advisory Committee received a progress report from David Weilicki
on improving Santee Lakes for waterfowl habitat and fishing. Mr. Ragsdale reported that the Waterfowl
Advisory Committee endorsed retaining the same waterfowl hunting regulations as
last year for the upcoming year assuming that the Federal framework is the
same. One recommended change is to put
the pintail season at the end of the season.
Mr. Ragsdale informed the Board that materials will be delivered to
Department of Corrections for the wood duck boxes.
IX. Items for Board Action
A. Early Migratory
Bird Season
Breck Carmichael reviewed the Early Migratory Bird Season as sent in the Board package. Mr. Davis made a motion that the Board accept the Early Migratory Bird Season as presented. Mr. Ragsdale seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
B. Migratory Bird Stamp Revenue
Chairman McShane stated
that this item contains a contractual issue and will be discussed in executive
session.
X. Director’s
Briefing
Mr. Frampton reviewed the current budget situation.
Mr. Frampton participated in the Deputy Directors Workshop on the evening of June 29 and all day June 30 at Donnelley; discussion included preparations for the upcoming legislative session.
Mr. Frampton met with six law Enforcement Captains on July 1 to gather input from them on the law Enforcement Deputy Director search and answer questions and discuss issues of interest to the Captains.
Mr. Frampton and Chairman McShane attended the National Wild Turkey Federation building dedication ceremony in Edgefield on July 10.
Mr. Frampton informed the Board that he plans to participate in the Atlantic Flyway Council and Atlantic Coast Joint Venture meeting in Dover, DE, on June 20-23.
Mr. Frampton will be in Washington on July 19-20 to meet with Congressional staff.
Mr. Frampton and Chairman McShane will meet with the Yawkey Foundation Trustees in Boston on July 26.
Chairman McShane reported that he and Mr. Frampton attended the last Cabinet meeting and at that meeting a commitment was made that the agency will be invited to work with the Governor on his Executive Budget before it is drafted.
Legislative Report
Derrick Meggie reported that the Governor held a signing ceremony for 4756 the Mitigation Trust Fund Bill.
XI. Deputy Directors’ Reports
1. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Mr.
Carmichael briefly summarized the key points contained in the recently approved
Lake Murray Shoreline management Plan.
2. Law Enforcement
Col.
Taylor reviewed the monthly case activities.
Col. Taylor gave an update on BUI training and enforcement and courtesy
boat inspections. Col. Taylor
participated in the Coast Guard’s Change of Command Ceremony. Col. Taylor informed the Board that Officer
Adrian Priester and Lt. Col. Van McCarty have been deployed.
3. Outreach and Support Services
Carole
Collins reported that the direct mail license renewal has slowed down but it is
expected to pick up again before hunting season. Ms. Collins stated that staff have been diligently working on the
activity based budget project from the Governor’s Office.
Mr.
Campbell commended the Titling and Registration staff for their work
accommodating the rush on Friday, July 2.
4. Marine
Robert
Boyles reported on the Cooperative Research program and stated that this will
begin in the fall once the grant is awarded.
Mr. Boyles announced that the SC Oyster Restoration and Enhancement
project was recently awarded a Coastal America Partnership Award. Mr. Boyles reminded the Board of the
Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series/Harry Hampton Marine Conservation banquet on
August 14.
5. Land, Water and Conservation
Freddy Vang
gave the Board a brief climate update.
XII. Executive
Session
At this time Mr. Campbell
made a motion that the Board hold an Executive Session to discuss contractual,
legal and personnel matters. Mr. Davis
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIII. Return to Regular Session
Mr. Ragsdale made a motion
that the Board approve the proposed budget for Waterfowl Stamp Funds for
2004-05 with appropriate oversight from the director. Mr. Evans seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
XIV. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
The next meeting of the DNR
Board will be held Friday, August 20, 2004, at the Waddell Center, in Bluffton.
The September Board Meeting
will be held on Friday, September 17, 2004, in Columbia.
XV. Adjournment
There being no further
business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was
adjourned.