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Supporters hold own rally for dedicated funding
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Dedicated funding for natural resources -- a long-simmering plan that legislators have said they will approve in 2008 and put on next fall's ballot -- wasn't on the agenda for the DNR's roundtable.
And that was much to the dismay of supporters.
"Yeah, I'm disappointed it wasn't included," said Garry Leaf, executive director of Sportsmen For Change.org. "Dedicated funding is the most important sportsmen's issue in the history of the state."
So Leaf and his supporters offered a brief update and rally for roundtable participants in a room they rented at the same St. Cloud hotel as the DNR's roundtable.
"What we're trying to do is get some rank and file sportsmen engaged in this process," Leaf said.
Leaf and other supporters want a citizens council to oversee spending. The plan would raise the sales tax 3/8th of 1 percent, dedicating about $300 million annually to fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, parks and the arts.
DNR fisheries official hurt
Ron Payer, DNR fisheries chief, was hospitalized for several days because of injuries suffered in an accident Saturday night while returning from the roundtable meetings in St. Cloud. Two other top fisheries officials in the state van -- Linda Eastwood-Erickson, fisheries program manager, and Don Pereira, fisheries research and policy manager -- escaped injury.
The accident occurred about 6 p.m. on Interstate 94 near Monticello when their van was struck from behind by a semitrailer truck.
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