spectr17
10-24-2003, 11:21 PM
Oct. 24, 2003
DNR recombines fish and wildlife divisions
BY ASHLEY H. GRANT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL - After a three-year split, the fish and wildlife divisions were recombined Thursday at the Department of Natural Resources.
DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam appointed 28-year agency employee John Guenther to lead the combined division.
"I selected Guenther because we share similar philosophies, he has a deep understanding of our issues and organization, and I know I can count on him. I have every confidence in John and that's important to me," Merriam said.
The divisions had been under one person, along with the division of ecological services, for years until June 2000, after a six-month search to replace Roger Holmes, who retired after 41 years with the agency.
The position was offered to one person, who turned it down because it didn't pay enough. Former commissioner Allen Garber then decided to simply split the division into three parts.
Ecological services will remain separate under the reorganization.
The public may not notice much of a change as fish and wildlife are put back together, but it will make dealing with the agency easier for some constituent groups that deal with hunting and fishing, Guenther said.
Merriam and Guenther are longtime friends with mutual interests in hunting and fishing.
Guenther, who has spent the past decade as the DNR's regional director for Northeastern Minnesota, started his new job Thursday. Although he'll be traveling the state often in his new capacity, he said he'll be based in Grand Rapids.
He said he doesn't expect abrupt changes in the division, but he did see "adjustments" to strengthen the agency's relationships with constituency groups and the public.
Among his top goals will be making sure DNR data is always as solid as it can be to help remove skepticism some people have had about it in the past. He also wants to talk more with constituent groups to see what Minnesotans want.
"We have to try to build as much middle ground as we can," he said.
But, he acknowledged, "On some of our issues, there is going to be no consensus-building. DNR is charged with being the manager. We have to take our decisions and say this is for the betterment of the resource."
Guenther previously was special assistant and ombudsman to former commissioner Joe Alexander and a project manager to resolve conflicts under former commissioner Rod Sando. As regional director, he has worked with stakeholders and local governments on integrated natural resource management.
Gary Botzek, a veteran lobbyist on environmental and natural-resource issues, said the need for coordination between the two DNR divisions is always important. He said Guenther's experience will assist him greatly in the new role.
"John has been around for a long time," Botzek said. "He certainly knows the agency and the sportsmen groups that are out there, whether they are muskies or moose."
The men who have led the fisheries and wildlife divisions the past four years, Ron Payer and Tim Bremicker, respectively, have been asked to stay on as section chiefs.
"It simply makes sense to capitalize on their biological and management expertise," Merriam said.
A DNR spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment about whether the two would stay. Calls seeking comment from constituent groups about the changes also weren't immediately returned.
DNR recombines fish and wildlife divisions
BY ASHLEY H. GRANT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL - After a three-year split, the fish and wildlife divisions were recombined Thursday at the Department of Natural Resources.
DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam appointed 28-year agency employee John Guenther to lead the combined division.
"I selected Guenther because we share similar philosophies, he has a deep understanding of our issues and organization, and I know I can count on him. I have every confidence in John and that's important to me," Merriam said.
The divisions had been under one person, along with the division of ecological services, for years until June 2000, after a six-month search to replace Roger Holmes, who retired after 41 years with the agency.
The position was offered to one person, who turned it down because it didn't pay enough. Former commissioner Allen Garber then decided to simply split the division into three parts.
Ecological services will remain separate under the reorganization.
The public may not notice much of a change as fish and wildlife are put back together, but it will make dealing with the agency easier for some constituent groups that deal with hunting and fishing, Guenther said.
Merriam and Guenther are longtime friends with mutual interests in hunting and fishing.
Guenther, who has spent the past decade as the DNR's regional director for Northeastern Minnesota, started his new job Thursday. Although he'll be traveling the state often in his new capacity, he said he'll be based in Grand Rapids.
He said he doesn't expect abrupt changes in the division, but he did see "adjustments" to strengthen the agency's relationships with constituency groups and the public.
Among his top goals will be making sure DNR data is always as solid as it can be to help remove skepticism some people have had about it in the past. He also wants to talk more with constituent groups to see what Minnesotans want.
"We have to try to build as much middle ground as we can," he said.
But, he acknowledged, "On some of our issues, there is going to be no consensus-building. DNR is charged with being the manager. We have to take our decisions and say this is for the betterment of the resource."
Guenther previously was special assistant and ombudsman to former commissioner Joe Alexander and a project manager to resolve conflicts under former commissioner Rod Sando. As regional director, he has worked with stakeholders and local governments on integrated natural resource management.
Gary Botzek, a veteran lobbyist on environmental and natural-resource issues, said the need for coordination between the two DNR divisions is always important. He said Guenther's experience will assist him greatly in the new role.
"John has been around for a long time," Botzek said. "He certainly knows the agency and the sportsmen groups that are out there, whether they are muskies or moose."
The men who have led the fisheries and wildlife divisions the past four years, Ron Payer and Tim Bremicker, respectively, have been asked to stay on as section chiefs.
"It simply makes sense to capitalize on their biological and management expertise," Merriam said.
A DNR spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment about whether the two would stay. Calls seeking comment from constituent groups about the changes also weren't immediately returned.