so you want me to vote yes on the ammendment to give the DNR more $$$...

[JohnWester]

so they can continue to pull crap like this?  i don't think so...

DNR broke law in amusements, training for wardens, auditor says

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources violated state law and inappropriately spent nearly $300,000 to host three days of training and amusements for U.S. and Canadian game wardens last year, the state Legislative Auditor said today.

The report by Auditor James Nobles largely confirms a report in the Star Tribune in May, but adds many details including that state conservation officers were paid to take out-of-town guests on a golf outing at the Manitou Ridge course in White Bear Lake and a fishing trip to Mille Lacs Lake.

In addition, state employees were paid to serve as shuttle-bus drivers, provide security for children of out-of-town guests and staff registration tables at the downtown St. Paul hotel where the conference was held in July 2007.

The auditor's report said the department "did not control fund-raising activities or ensure compliance with state law and department policy" and it said the DNR commissioner's office authorized a fund-raising letter that violated state law against soliciting money by state employees.

The auditors also found that conservation officers in uniform personally solicited donations. The auditors concluded that most of the $388,000 in state spending on the three-day conference was "inappropriate." For example, the department paid the admission fee not only for conservation officers who attended the conference, but also for other DNR staff members and spouses who worked as conference staff.

"Although the conference brochure stated that the fee for conservation officers was $175, the department actually paid $260 for each of its 205 officers," providing two outside groups with $17,425 in extra money, the report said.

Nobles is presenting the report at a meeting today of the Legislative Audit Commission, a bipartisan panel of 12 state legislators.

"We didn't find malicious intent on the part of individuals. It was really more of an organizational failure," Nobles said in an interview.

Nobles said that he will ask the state attorney general's office to get the $76,000 in profit back from the host groups. They are the Minnesota Conservation Officers Association, which is the union representing non-supervisory officers, and NAWEOA, the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association, the 8,000-member professional group for game wardens.

The report also said the department inappropriately spent money on travel by state employees to Arizona and Quebec to plan for the conference.

Three DNR employees, who are current or former officers of the union, refused to be interviewed under oath, citing their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, Nobles said. In interviews with the auditor's office, former DNR commissioner Gene Merriam, who left the agency at the end of 2006, said that he did not authorize spending state money for the conference, though he supported it as a "training opportunity."

Auditors said Merriam's position was poorly communicated throughout the agency.

Nobles said the money for the conference largely came out of the DNR's fish and game fund, which gets its income from hunting and fishing licenses. He said the department is considering reimbursing that fund from other state monies as a result of the investigations.

In May, the Star Tribune reported that DNR officials played a major role in the conference -- not only spending public money on it but also committing many hours of staff time to fundraising, planning and putting on the three days of training and entertainment.

The newspaper report prompted the auditor's investigation, and a separate departmental inquiry. The DNR retained the Parker Rosen law firm of Minneapolis to conduct an independent inquiry into officials' conduct. The results of that inquiry haven't be released yet.

Col. Mike Hamm, head of the enforcement division, and his wife, Capt. Cathy Hamm, a manager in the division who played a key role in planning the event, have been on paid administrative leave since May.

The House and Senate environment committees also are looking into DNR's use of public money and staff members to aid the conference. The committees have scheduled another hearing on Sept. 8 in St. Paul, and top DNR officials are expected to testify.

[thunderpout]

Yeah, Im afraid its our government again, just a different division.... like the school systems, putting their hands out asking for more.  And its not that we wouldnt get more $$ to them, its just how the $$ is spent.... no accountability.  Wasnt Merriam responsible for a lodge/retreat being built in northern MN to cater to/entertain DNR officials and polititians from around the country.... I cant see how this stuff happens, and further, Im amazed that people think its ok, and they will get away with this kind of crap!

[Joe@deerhunters]

The vote yes amendment is not a direct funding source to the DNR.  Please education yourself before drawing conclusions that may give folks inaccurate information on a very important issue.

The conservation organizations in MN fought very hard to make sure a citizens advisory council was a key component in passing the admendment. $100 million will do great things for fish and game for generations to come.

Go to YesForMN.org and read for yourself.  This will cost the average family a buck a week. Yet raise more money then all of the wildlife stamps have raised in 25 years all in one year!

I am voting YES

[thunderpout]

Joe, I am also planning to vote Yes on the amendment,I think you pretty much have to as an outdoors type person... and the advisory board is a great idea thats a long time coming, but money will still be going through the DNR for projects, through some of the same people.... Im waiting to see what effect our advisory panel will have in the future... it looks good on paper doesn't it.....? Remember, with people coming from different groups, having different agendas, wants, needs and views... it may prove to be interesting, and maybe not the perfect fit/solution.  It could be people working together for a common goal, or it could be folks just butting their heads together.

[UncleDave]

Tax tax tax tax.  It NEVER ends.  This is similiar to another recent thread on here that was beaten to death regarding a new walleye stamp (tax increase), but I will vote no on ANY bill asking for more money.  Regardless of the original intend or "feel good" reason for raising our taxes, it almost without exception gets redirected to something or another having little or nothing to do with the original reason of raising the taxes/fees and in a year or two they are raising the taxes/fees due to funding shortfalls.  They just raised taxes over 1 BILLION dollars last year and they are now asking for nearly a 1/2% increase in sales tax for some new pet project.  Again, IT NEVER ENDS.  I need to move to a socialist country where taxes are less than they are in the state of Minnesota.   

[camoguy24]

didnt know about this....i and its offical take back what i said about the walleye stamp..

[blazer]

I for one will not support this amendment.  Take a look at the groups that are supporting this amendment, granted there are some sportsmans groups supporting it, but art group far outnumber the sportmans groups.  If this amendment is truely about solving problems in the environment why attach the arts to same amendment.  My guess is so that they can sucker a bunch of sportmans into supporting a tax to support the arts.  I will not be voting for and I will be letting every sportmans I know my position on this money grab and hopefully this tax amendment will not pass this fall. 

[Joe@deerhunters]

Blazer,

Sportsmen fought for this for nearly ten years. Yes, in order to finally get it passed compromises were made. That is life in a democractic society. Orginally we did not want a new tax, we wanted it included in the existing tax. The whole reason for doing this is sporting issues including habitat never get enough of the general fund and the existing funding through license sales etc cannot provide the needed funding to keep up with loss of habitat and hunting land access to name just a couple of problems.

So what if the arts get a portion,  it is still 100 million for us and an additional 100 million for water quality which will also be directly and indirectly creating and conserving habitat. Then a splilt between parks, trails and arts. I use the parks and trails too. I don't see how we can loose. Less then 20% of the total 3 million will be directed toward arts.

On another thought what is it that helps raise money at habitat banquets oh yeah it is prints and sculptures called art.  Art and Wildlife conservation go together afterall.

I cannot think of one sportsmen group who has not signed on support in Minnesota. My count is at 48 sportsmen groups in Minnesota.  You can see that on the website.  I don't think a dollar a week is going to hurt my family. I will gladly pay to play now and for my kids. I hope you change your mind and VOTE YES

[UncleDave]

Joe,

  You just made my point for me.  Not enough (in your opinion) of the money from the general fund goes to YOUR cause.  That is because they have taken the money and redirected it to someone else's pet peeve project or cause.  They are forever redirecting funds away from one cause/group to another.  If I wanted to take the time and look it up, I guarantee you I could find DOZENS (probably hundreds) of new tax bills in recent years where we were sold the bill of goods and raised taxes to help this or that only to find out within a short time they need more money due to budget shortfalls for one reason or another and often because of money being reallocated (even when it was supposed to be dedicated funding).  The highway department and school referendums come to mind right off of the top of my head. 

Bottom line:  We are all grossly overburdened with taxes already.  They collect too much already.  It sounds like you were part of this as far as lobbying to get it done.  Rather than ask for more taxes, why not find a wasteful program (oxy moron as nearly every government program has waste and pork) or an obsolete program and ask for funding there?  That would take real work.  It's much easier to simply ask us for more out of our pocket.  That's what politicians do everyday.  That got us where we are now.  We have to work into April just to pay our taxes for the year.  APRIL!