spectr17
12-16-2002, 01:22 AM
Winds of change coming to DNR
Doug Smith, Star Tribune
Published Dec. 11, 2002
Change.
The folks at the Department of Natural Resources are becoming accustomed to it.
Once again the agency, which serves a diverse and passionate group of constituents ranging from hunters and anglers to campers, hikers, cross-country skiers and wildlife watchers, is facing possible wholesale leadership changes.
The departure of Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura and the election of Republican Tim Pawlenty ensures a changing of the guard at the top of the DNR. Pawlenty has said he plans to name a new DNR commissioner to replace Allen Garber, and that announcement could come any day.
That appointment could begin a game of musical chairs among the agency's top echelon, 16 members of which serve at the pleasure of the commissioner, including nine division directors. Those changes -- and how the new leaders deal with a looming budget crisis -- could ultimately affect hundreds of thousands of DNR constituents.
It's also possible the heads of both the Fisheries Division and Wildlife Division also could be replaced.
Listed below are some of the top DNR officials whose jobs are on the line. Some could retain their positions, others could be offered lesser jobs and some undoubtedly soon will be unemployed.
ALLEN GARBER
Position: DNR Commissioner
Salary range: Up to $114,288
Garber, 60, former chief of police in Champlin and a retired FBI agent, was appointed in 1999 after Ventura's first appointee, Al Horner, resigned after it was revealed he had some game and fish violations. Horner served only six days. Some criticized Garber's appointment because he had no training or experience in wildlife and wasn't an angler or hunter. Pawlenty has indicated he is looking to change the DNR leadership.
STEVE MORSE
Position: Deputy Commissioner
Salary range: $78,384 to $112,209
Morse, 45, a former DFL state senator from Dakota, Minn., is the point-person for Garber, representing the agency at the Legislature and to the public. Had Roger Moe won the governor's seat, Morse might have been named DNR commissioner. Instead, he's almost certain to be replaced. Morse recently said he is looking for other opportunities, and if possible, would like to stay in the environment and natural resources arena.
BRAD MOORE
Position: Assistant Commissioner for Operations
Salary range: $75,774 to $108,430
Moore, 41, a DNR employee for nearly 18 years, supervises the seven agency divisions and four regional administrators. Moore was one of the few top officials who is an avid hunter and angler. He also knows the inside workings of the DNR and has been mentioned as a possible commissioner candidate. While that appears unlikely, it's possible Moore could end up keeping a top-level DNR job.
KIM BONDE
Position: Assistant Commissioner for Administration
Salary range: $75,774 to $108,430
Bonde, 43, a former Champlin police officer who worked with Garber when he was Champlin police chief, originally was hired as Garber's special assistant. But last year she was promoted to assistant commissioner of administration, replacing Kurt Ulrich, a former Champlin city administrator who was Garber's boss when he was in Champlin.
TIM BREMICKER
Position: Wildlife Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Bremicker, 54, is one of the most visible DNR employees. He is a 30-year DNR employee who started as a wildlife technician and rose through the ranks, becoming head of the Wildlife Division (formerly section) in 1991. His job previously was protected under union guidelines. However, when wildlife was made a separate division along with fisheries and ecological services in 2000, all three division head positions lost union protection, meaning Bremicker and the others now serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. He said he is optimistic about his future. "I think the Division of Wildlife has done stellar work for a number of years, and this last year in particular," Bremicker said. "I'm hopeful I will stay with the department. I love working with the agency."
RON PAYER
Position: Fisheries Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Payer, 51, has headed the fisheries division since 1998. He's been with the DNR for 25 years, working his way up through the department. He was a senior research biologist, has studied Lake of the Woods walleye population and walleye hooking mortality. He often has been in the spotlight while the DNR recently dealt with several controversial issues, including walleye stocking, fish bag limits and the Lake Mille Lacs walleye management. Like Bremicker, Payer's position is vulnerable because of the organizational changes. "I'm very interested in maintaining the position," Payer said.
BILL BERNHJELM
Position: Enforcement Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Bernhjelm, 54, chief of the Edina police department for 26 years, was brought in by Garber. He, too, has faced several high-profile controversial issues, including reduced staffing of DNR conservation officers and court rulings that have substantially reduced the powers of conservation officers.
Others vulnerable
Several other employees are appointed by the commissioner and their jobs also are on the line. Among them:
• Bill Morrissey, director of Parks and Recreation since 1987.
• Lee Pfannmuller, director of the Ecological Services Division and a 26-year DNR veteran.
• Michael Carroll, director of Forestry Division.
• Dennis Asmussen, director of Trails and Waterways Division.
• Kent Lokkesmoe, director of Waters Division.
• Bill Brice, director of Lands and Minerals Division.
• Michelle Beeman, legislative affairs director.
• Dennis Stauffer, communications director.
• Felicia White, Garber's executive assistant.
Who's staying?
• Kurt Ulrich, 44, was hired as assistant commissioner of administration, an appointed position, but last year he switched jobs and was named Information, Education and License Bureau administrator, a job that paid less but offered job security because of union protection.
• The DNR's four regional directors: Paul Swenson, John Guenther, Kathleen Wallace and Cheryl Heide.
-- Doug Smith is at dsmith@startribune.com.
Doug Smith, Star Tribune
Published Dec. 11, 2002
Change.
The folks at the Department of Natural Resources are becoming accustomed to it.
Once again the agency, which serves a diverse and passionate group of constituents ranging from hunters and anglers to campers, hikers, cross-country skiers and wildlife watchers, is facing possible wholesale leadership changes.
The departure of Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura and the election of Republican Tim Pawlenty ensures a changing of the guard at the top of the DNR. Pawlenty has said he plans to name a new DNR commissioner to replace Allen Garber, and that announcement could come any day.
That appointment could begin a game of musical chairs among the agency's top echelon, 16 members of which serve at the pleasure of the commissioner, including nine division directors. Those changes -- and how the new leaders deal with a looming budget crisis -- could ultimately affect hundreds of thousands of DNR constituents.
It's also possible the heads of both the Fisheries Division and Wildlife Division also could be replaced.
Listed below are some of the top DNR officials whose jobs are on the line. Some could retain their positions, others could be offered lesser jobs and some undoubtedly soon will be unemployed.
ALLEN GARBER
Position: DNR Commissioner
Salary range: Up to $114,288
Garber, 60, former chief of police in Champlin and a retired FBI agent, was appointed in 1999 after Ventura's first appointee, Al Horner, resigned after it was revealed he had some game and fish violations. Horner served only six days. Some criticized Garber's appointment because he had no training or experience in wildlife and wasn't an angler or hunter. Pawlenty has indicated he is looking to change the DNR leadership.
STEVE MORSE
Position: Deputy Commissioner
Salary range: $78,384 to $112,209
Morse, 45, a former DFL state senator from Dakota, Minn., is the point-person for Garber, representing the agency at the Legislature and to the public. Had Roger Moe won the governor's seat, Morse might have been named DNR commissioner. Instead, he's almost certain to be replaced. Morse recently said he is looking for other opportunities, and if possible, would like to stay in the environment and natural resources arena.
BRAD MOORE
Position: Assistant Commissioner for Operations
Salary range: $75,774 to $108,430
Moore, 41, a DNR employee for nearly 18 years, supervises the seven agency divisions and four regional administrators. Moore was one of the few top officials who is an avid hunter and angler. He also knows the inside workings of the DNR and has been mentioned as a possible commissioner candidate. While that appears unlikely, it's possible Moore could end up keeping a top-level DNR job.
KIM BONDE
Position: Assistant Commissioner for Administration
Salary range: $75,774 to $108,430
Bonde, 43, a former Champlin police officer who worked with Garber when he was Champlin police chief, originally was hired as Garber's special assistant. But last year she was promoted to assistant commissioner of administration, replacing Kurt Ulrich, a former Champlin city administrator who was Garber's boss when he was in Champlin.
TIM BREMICKER
Position: Wildlife Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Bremicker, 54, is one of the most visible DNR employees. He is a 30-year DNR employee who started as a wildlife technician and rose through the ranks, becoming head of the Wildlife Division (formerly section) in 1991. His job previously was protected under union guidelines. However, when wildlife was made a separate division along with fisheries and ecological services in 2000, all three division head positions lost union protection, meaning Bremicker and the others now serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. He said he is optimistic about his future. "I think the Division of Wildlife has done stellar work for a number of years, and this last year in particular," Bremicker said. "I'm hopeful I will stay with the department. I love working with the agency."
RON PAYER
Position: Fisheries Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Payer, 51, has headed the fisheries division since 1998. He's been with the DNR for 25 years, working his way up through the department. He was a senior research biologist, has studied Lake of the Woods walleye population and walleye hooking mortality. He often has been in the spotlight while the DNR recently dealt with several controversial issues, including walleye stocking, fish bag limits and the Lake Mille Lacs walleye management. Like Bremicker, Payer's position is vulnerable because of the organizational changes. "I'm very interested in maintaining the position," Payer said.
BILL BERNHJELM
Position: Enforcement Division Director
Salary range: $73,017 to $104,671
Bernhjelm, 54, chief of the Edina police department for 26 years, was brought in by Garber. He, too, has faced several high-profile controversial issues, including reduced staffing of DNR conservation officers and court rulings that have substantially reduced the powers of conservation officers.
Others vulnerable
Several other employees are appointed by the commissioner and their jobs also are on the line. Among them:
• Bill Morrissey, director of Parks and Recreation since 1987.
• Lee Pfannmuller, director of the Ecological Services Division and a 26-year DNR veteran.
• Michael Carroll, director of Forestry Division.
• Dennis Asmussen, director of Trails and Waterways Division.
• Kent Lokkesmoe, director of Waters Division.
• Bill Brice, director of Lands and Minerals Division.
• Michelle Beeman, legislative affairs director.
• Dennis Stauffer, communications director.
• Felicia White, Garber's executive assistant.
Who's staying?
• Kurt Ulrich, 44, was hired as assistant commissioner of administration, an appointed position, but last year he switched jobs and was named Information, Education and License Bureau administrator, a job that paid less but offered job security because of union protection.
• The DNR's four regional directors: Paul Swenson, John Guenther, Kathleen Wallace and Cheryl Heide.
-- Doug Smith is at dsmith@startribune.com.