Last month during a press conference here at the lake, Gov. Jay Nixon announced a “massive, unprecedented water quality enforcement sweep” and inspections of 400-some wastewater treatment plants.
When asked how a cash-strapped state would be able to pay for the extra work to be performed by the Department of Natural Resources, Nixon reacted with an aire of indignation.
We have the means, we’ll make it work, Nixon said rather defensively while avoiding answering the question directly. That scenario has repeated itself in subsequent Q&A sessions around the state since then.
On Tuesday, Missouri got at least part of the answer with the announcement that “more than 100 employees are being laid off in Missouri’s parks system because of declining tax revenues,” as reported by The Associated Press.
So if I read between the lines correctly, they’ll lay off 100-plus employees to pay for the job DNR should have been doing all these years? That’s the “means” Nixon referred to?
Mr. Nixon, if you rob Peter to pay Paul, it’s still stealing, even for the government.
DNR blamed declining tax revenue from the state’s 1/10-cent sales tax for parks, noting it’s operating budget now exceeds its income. So was the budget improperly prepared, or did DNR take funds away for allocation elsewhere?
While it’s easy to blame the recession for a lot of things, I find it more than a passing coincidence considering the AP reported “the layoffs come as the Division of State Parks has been facing public scrutiny and an internal investigation for its failure to close some beaches despite water tests showing high bacteria levels.”
Soooo, maybe they couldn’t get test results from DNR either? More inter-agency communication dysfunction?
That announcement was made public late last week, when Nixon blasted DNR for “longstanding, institutional problems,” according to the AP.
At least he’s beginning to catch on.
I would like to think that had begun to occur when it was pointed out to him that the agency was pursuing a lawsuit against – you read that correctly, AGAINST – the wastewater treatment plant operated by the cities of Osage Beach and Lake Ozark that has NEVER had a leak or spill because it opposed a 100-year mining and blasting permit for the property adjacent to the plant.
That action earned DNR the moniker Deserving No Respect from me.
Gov. Nixon refuses to meet with Mayors Penny Lyons and Johnnie Franzeskos, he says, because of the pending litigation.
Governor, how can DNR police Magruder Limestone quarries when it is PARTNERS with Magruder Limestone in a lawsuit?
Yes, Gov. Nixon, Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources has some misplaced priorities.
I personally first dealt with DNR 19 years ago when I lived in the city of Camdenton. I called them about an illegal tire dump behind the house I rented.
It was a relatively small dump, only about 20 or 30 tires, the DNR inspector pointed out as he informed me that it was really the city’s issue.
He said the landowner of the ravine behind my house was an absentee owner who had been contacted by the city and DNR numerous times, but had never done anything to remove the tires that were probably dumped there without his permission.
Nice guy that he was, the DNR man suggested I plant some shrubs in front the tires to block the view and left.
That was the first time I heard the agency referred to as DNR: Department of No Results.
Since that time, I’ve heard more horror stories ranging from Gestapo-like strong-arm intimidation to ignoring things (like beach closings?).
And I’ve heard countless acronyms for DNR, some of which I’ve listed over the years in various editorials and columns. But I know I only scratched the surface.
Let’s help Gov. Nixon’s effort to straighten out DNR by compiling a list of your favorite acronyms for the misfit agency.
E-mail them in or post them as a story comment online, and we’ll publish the list in the next week or so. Include your name and hometown– or at least your initials and hometown – so we all can see just how widespread the problem is.
I’ll be busy studying for a hydrology degree, so e-mail me at david.schiefelbein@lakesunonline.com. (See Cheers 'N Jeers )
