Minutes
Rembert C. Dennis Building, Room 335
Columbia, SC
Friday, July 19, 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, July 19, 2002, at the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, South
Carolina. Notice of the date, time and
place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Vice Chairman Dr. Julius Leary presided at
the meeting. Board members present
included Ben Gregg, Malloy McEachin and Dr. Douglas Rucker. Board members absent included Chairman Joab
Lesesne, Danny Ford and M. Russell Holliday, Jr. Dr. Paul A. Sandifer and staff members of the Department of
Natural Resources were present at the meeting, as were various guests.
Vice Chairman Leary called the meeting to order at 9:30
a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Vice Chairman
Leary asked for a moment of silent meditation.
Cary Chamblee introduced Angela Viney, SC Wildlife
Federation; Marge Davenport, USGS; and Jenks Mikell, Marine Advisory Committee.
There were no requests for comment.
Dr. Sandifer mentioned an article from the July 2002
issue of the Lake Murray Magazine entitled “They Do It All”. This article is about the law enforcement
officers of District 6 and their law enforcement efforts on Lake Murray.
Dr. Sandifer commended Daryle Fontenot of the Land, Water
and Conservation Division on his election to a two-year term to represent
Region IV States’ to the Board of Directors of the Association of State
Floodplain Managers.
Dr. Sandifer commended Corporal Gene Morris on his
selection by the National Association of Police Organizations as an Honorable
Mention winner of the prestigious TOP COPS Award representing South
Carolina. The purpose of the TOP COPS
Awards is to educate the public about our nation’s heroes and to pay tribute to
law enforcement officers from federal, state, county and local agencies across
the nation for outstanding service to their communities.
Vice Chairman Leary congratulated Dr. Rucker on the
recent naming of a middle school in Lancaster the A. R. Rucker Middle School in
honor of his father.
VII. Items for Board
Information
Cary
Chamblee reviewed the proposed addendum to the 2002-2003 Rules and
Regulations. Mr. Chamblee then
informed the Board of the new schedule for the 2003-2004 Rules and Regulations. The delay in printing the Rules and
Regulations will allow legislation that passes in the final days of the session
to be included. Mr. Chamblee noted that
with the change in printing schedule, the Rules and Regulations will not be
returned from the printer until July 31.
There being no changes recommended by the Board, staff were instructed
to proceed with the addendum and change in printing schedule for the 2003-2004
Rules and Regulations.
B. FY
2002 Accomplishments/FY 2003 Objectives
Dr. Sandifer reviewed a summary of permanent
positions (FTE slots) from 1990 to July 12, 2002 and noted the reduction in
permanent slots and explained how some positions have been revamped and changed
from state funding to revenue or federal funding (chart included with minutes). Dr. Sandifer then reviewed an analysis of
state appropriated operating funds from 1990 through July 18, 2002 and noted
that the Department has had a 53% reduction in operating funds (chart included
with minutes).
Dr.
Sandifer then reviewed several accomplishments of the Department beginning with
land protection activities. The chart
below shows the record of permanent habitat protection of DNR during FY 2002.
|
|
Funding |
Acres |
|
Federally funded protection
projects |
$29,000,000 |
12,771 |
|
Non federal (private) |
$11,000,000 |
4,283 |
|
Heritage Trust |
$2,938,545 |
1,131 |
|
Total |
$42,938,545 |
18,185 |
Dr.
Sandifer then reviewed several accomplishments as listed in the Departments FY
2001-2002 Accomplishments.
Dr.
Sandifer informed the Board that he has assigned 10 staff to lead survival
strategy teams and described each team’s responsibilities.
C. Proposed
Future Management of Boat Ramps on the Santee Cooper Lakes
Dr.
Sandifer informed the Board that he and Buford Mabry have met recently with the
leadership at Santee Cooper regarding the management of the boat ramps on the
Santee Cooper Lakes. Dr. Sandifer
reported that due to recent budget cuts, DNR and Santee Cooper have agreed that
Santee Cooper assume full management responsibilities for the boat ramps. The Department will continue to provide
enforcement on the lakes and advise Santee Coastal. This agreement will result in a direct monetary savings and also
indirect savings, such as staff time.
A. Early
Migratory Bird Season
Derrell
Shipes reviewed the proposal as submitted in the Board meeting package. Mr. McEachin made a motion that the Board
approve the Early Migratory Bird Season as proposed. Dr. Rucker seconded the motion and the motion carried
unanimously.
B. Approval
of Emergency Regulations
Tim Ivey
explained that the proposed emergency regulations represent a portion of the
proposed regulations presented on March 22 that apply to deer seasons open
August 15. Mr. Ivey reviewed and
explained each of the changes. Mr. Ivey
then answered questions posed by Board Members. Mr. McEachin made a motion that the Board approve the emergency
regulations as proposed. Dr. Rucker
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
A. Potential
Emergency Action Regarding Blue Crab
Dr.
Miglarese introduced Dr. Elizabeth Wenner and David Whitaker and asked them to
present the status of blue crab stocks and fishery to the Board. Dr. Wenner explained the life history,
long-term monitoring, the impact of the drought and special studies that have
been and will be conducted with respect to blue crab. David Whitaker then reviewed management measures, current laws,
input from crabbers and management recommendations.
Dr.
Sandifer informed the Board that he will be traveling to Boston, Massachusetts,
for the seventh round of regional meetings of the US Commission on Ocean Policy
on July 22-24.
Habitat
Protection Activities
John
Frampton reported that the appointments to the Conservation Bank Board have
been completed.
XI. Deputy
Directors’ Reports
Carole
Collins informed the Board that she will report on the special mailing for the
license promotion at the September meeting.
Freddy
Vang distributed a Kershaw County Groundwater publication and recommended that
the Board review this book.
No further
report.
E. Law
Enforcement
Col.
Wright reported on the various activities of the Law Enforcement Division. Col. Wright noted that up until June there
were 25 boating accidents and 8 fatalities and in the month of July there were
33 boating accidents and 4 fatalities.
The Law Enforcement Division has chosen the Officer of the Year. Col. Wright noted that there will be some
restructuring in the Law Enforcement Division brought about by the lack of
funds for filling vacancies.
XII. Executive
Session
At this
time Mr. McEachin 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. Rucker
made a motion that the Board approve conservation district commissioner
appointments/reappointments and commissioner emeritus appointment as submitted
in the June meeting package (attached to original minutes). Mr. McEachin seconded the motion and the
motion carried unanimously.
XIV. Time and Location of the Next Meeting
Vice
Chairman Leary stated that the next meeting of the DNR Board will be held on
Friday, August 16, 2002, in room 335 of 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.
|
SUMMARY OF PERMANENT POSITIONS (FTE SLOTS) |
||||
| (Does not include temporary grant or hourly positions) | ||||
| Fiscal Year |
State |
Revenue |
Federal | Total |
|
SCWMRD |
||||
|
90-91 |
440 | 235 | 107 | 782 |
| 93-94 | 409 | 249 | 110 | 768 |
| SCDNR | ||||
| 94-95 | 515 | 262 | 114 | 891 |
| 98-99 | 516 1) | 282 | 96 | 894 |
| 99-00 | 517 2) | 309 3) | 96 | 922 |
| 00-01 | 517 | 317 | 96 | 930 |
| 01-02* Slots | 487 | 320 | 101 | 908 |
| Actual | 405 (21.7%) |
279 | 89 | 773 (16.9%) |
* To present 12 July 02
2) 1 new State FTE for Jocassee Gorges
3) 27 new revenue FTE's for Law Enforcement
("Drew's Law")
|
ANALYSIS OF STATE
APPROPRIATED OPERATING FUNDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FISCAL YEAR |
OPERATING FUNDS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCWMRD |
|
|
|
90-91 |
$5,735,634 |
|
|
91-92 |
$5,120,733 |
|
|
92-93 |
$4,689,398 |
|
|
93-94 |
$3,811,474 |
|
|
SCDNR |
|
|
|
94-95 |
$5,388,986 |
|
|
95-96 |
$4,159,493 |
|
|
96-97 |
$4,814,961 |
|
|
97-98 |
$5,318,665 |
|
|
98-99 |
$5,288,042 |
|
|
99-00 |
$5,105,649 |
|
|
00-01 |
$5,244,966 |
|
|
FY 02 |
$2,687,495 |
|
|
|
53% Reduction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted for inflation,
the 90-91 operating budget would be $7,685,750 in 2002 dollars. Our actual FY02 operating budget was only
35% of this amount. |
|
|