CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the July 17, 2000 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Carolyn Auckley, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Carolyn.Auckley@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met July 17 at Department Headquarters, Jefferson City. Commissioners present were:

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 August 20-21, 2000 at the Adams Mark Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri.

New officers were elected for the first half of Fiscal Year 2000-2001: Ronald J. Stites, Chairman; Randy Herzog, Vice Chairman; Anita B. Gorman, Secretary; Howard L. Wood, Member. On January 1, 2001, Commissioner Herzog will assume the Chairmanship and Commissioner Stites will become Vice Chairman.

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:

• Pete Kahrs, Production Manager, Osage Catfisheries, discussed Asian carp.
• Catherine Davis, Town of Weldon Spring Heights, discussed a proposed sale of conservation land bordering Weldon Spring Heights, Missouri.
• Waterfowl Hunting Program evaluation by Wildlife Division staff.
• Private Land Services Division overviewUrban and rural examples presented by Private Land Services Division staff.
• Photo tour of regional offices presented by Administrative Services Division Administrator David Erickson.
• Feral hog issue presented by Department staff.

At a special ceremony in conjunction with the meeting, the Commission Chairman presented service awards to the following long-term employees:

• Twenty-Five Year Service Awards to: Paul H. Schulte, Design and Development Division; Donna L. Shults, Administrative Services Division; Bernard H. (Lou) Eaves, Administrative Services Division; Robert D. Miller, Private Land Services Division; Robert M. Aubuchon, Forestry Division; Lloyd Johnston, Forestry Division; and Russell R. Titus, Wildlife Division.
• Thirty Year Service Awards to: Bill N. Brazeal, Forestry Division; William L. Klatt, Forestry Division; Walter Creed Millsaps, Protection Division; M. Gene Lindsey, Protection Division; Lawrence L. Buchheit, Forestry Division; Tim D. Frevert, Forestry Division; and Max Gorman, Forestry Division. Due to the untimely death of William Harold Hitchcock, Protection Division, his thirty year service award was presented to his wife.

At the ceremony, the Commission also recognized The Honorable Jerry McBride, retiring State Representative, District 149, for his strong support of the Department and his important leadership role in conservation legislation for many years.

Also at the ceremony, the Commission inducted Mr. Michael Milonski into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame. Former Assistant Director Milonski retired from the Department 1980. He was a leader of the campaign which resulted in passage of the one-eight of one percent conservation sales tax, and was nationally known as a pioneer in waterfowl management.

REGULATIONS

The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Commission, approving recommendations for definition of Nonresident Landowner in Wildlife Code and created six new permit types for nonresident landowner deer and turkey hunting. Opened Happy Holler Lake, Andrew County to fishing; and, closed a small pond on Mark Youngdahl Urban Conservation Area to public fishing, due to heavy fishing pressure. The pond will be designated for fishing clinics only by special use permit. Changed outboard motor regulations to allow motors in excess of 10 horsepower when operated at slow, no-wake speed on LaBelle City Lake and Monroe (Route J Reservoir). Closed Chillicothe R-2 School District (Litton Center Pond) to public fishing and placed Maryville (Mozingo Lake) under the 12 to 15 inch slot length limit to harvest an over abundance of small bass.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

• Accepted as a gift approximately 109 acres in Buchanan County from Albert S. Roach (as a life estate).
• Accepted as a gift from Lloyd Smith approximately three-quarters of a mile of abandoned railroad right-of-way (approximately nine acres), which crosses Little River Conservation Area in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties, as an addition to the Little River Conservation Area.