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#1506781 - 08/28/08 08:42 PM
Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
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FishingMN Family
Registered: 05/03/08
Posts: 23
Loc: Jackson, mn
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ST. PAUL (AP) ― The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources misspent $300,000 in state money when it helped host a wildlife enforcement officers conference last year, a state audit has found.
The report, by the Office of the Legislative Auditor, also found that the DNR failed to follow state and agency policies.
The report recommends that the DNR work with the state attorney general's office to get back $76,600 in profit earned by the Minnesota Conservation Officer Association and the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association, two officer groups who organized the conference.
The audit criticized the DNR for "implicitly" allowing fundraising for the conference -- even though such fundraising is against state law because of a conflict of interest. Money for the conference was donated by businesses and sporting good retailers, which the auditor said is a conflict of interest under state law.
Two DNR enforcement managers, Mike Hamm and his wife, Cathy Hamm, have been on paid leave since mid-May during the investigation. Mike Hamm is chief of the enforcement division, and Cathy Hamm is head of enforcement in the metro area. Cathy Hamm said the audit proves she did nothing wrong.
The audit does not place direct blame on either of the Hamms, but points out wrong decisions throughout the agency and in the commissioner's office.
"I definitely believe I should be reinstated," Cathy Hamm told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Cathy Hamm said she and her husband, though they don't working directly together, were unfairly targeted during the investigation. Mike Hamm was not available for comment, the Pioneer Press said.
DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten has said he would take final responsibility for any wrongdoing associated with the conference, which took place in St. Paul in July 2007. The DNR has not finished its internal investigation, Holsten said.  I don't know what to say I'm at a loss for words. Money could have been spent elsewhere.
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#1506840 - 08/28/08 09:19 PM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: LMITOUT]
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FishingMN Family
Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 138
Loc: Eagan, Mn
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I am at a loss too! Here is a link to the legislative audit. http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/fad/pdf/fad0821.pdf The other thing the Commissioner should be ashamed of is that he pulled all of his officers out of the field to attend this conference. There was more than one CO that spoke up and said this was wrong. A WHOLE state open to people that wanted to break the law. Shame on you DNR. 
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#1506924 - 08/28/08 10:40 PM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: SkitterPopper]
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IceLeaders Family
Registered: 10/23/04
Posts: 204
Loc: Foreston
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I wonder how the libs. will put their spin on this one? Another fine example of why we need less government in our lives and less taxes to pay for this kind of garbage. Do you folks still want to vote yes for that frivolous bill???
_________________________
The inherent vice of capitalism is the uneven division of blessings, while the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal division of misery. (Winston Churchill)
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#1506928 - 08/28/08 10:46 PM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: wall_guy_101]
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Sr HotSpotOutdoors Family
Registered: 01/16/06
Posts: 6727
Loc: St. Paul, MN
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So how many hundreds would I have to spend (at 37 cents per hundred) to hit the $300,000. Hmmmmm, yep, we need more taxes right?????
_________________________
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone
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#1506933 - 08/28/08 10:51 PM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: Sandmannd]
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IceLeaders Family
Registered: 10/23/04
Posts: 204
Loc: Foreston
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right-on!!
_________________________
The inherent vice of capitalism is the uneven division of blessings, while the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal division of misery. (Winston Churchill)
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#1507001 - 08/29/08 06:37 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: wall_guy_101]
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Sr IceLeaders Family
Registered: 12/24/00
Posts: 1318
Loc: Mars
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I wonder how the libs. will put their spin on this one? Why would the Libs put spin on something that was done by a DNR commissioner appointed by a Republican?
_________________________
“Madness is badness of spirit, when one seeks profit from all sources”
Aristotle
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#1507083 - 08/29/08 08:16 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: da_chise31]
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Sr HotSpotOutdoors Family
Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 3733
Loc: Willmar area
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That took a long time to get posted here? I read that 3 months ago.
_________________________
Keeping America beautiful is a one mans job!MINE!!
sparcebag0@yahoo.com
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#1507085 - 08/29/08 08:18 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: da_chise31]
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Sr FishingMN Family
Registered: 01/10/02
Posts: 503
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Also, not sure how this relates to constitutional amendment as NONE of that money goes to the DNR? I think it was brought up to show how fiscally responsible the gov't can be with our money. The money isn't going to go to the DNR??? From a pamphlet sitting in front of me as I type, and I qoute...... "Your outdoors. Your outdoor Amendment. Implementation of long range plans for waterfowl pheasant, grouse, turkey, big game, Wildlife Management Areas(WMA's) and conservation. Replenishment of our fisheries resources, aquatic management areas and trout stream restoration. Restoring native grasslands and wetland habitat benefiting pheasants, waterfowl, prairie chicken, wild turkey, deer and non game wildlife... ". Sounds to me like one way or the other the DNR is going to getting their hands on this money at sometime.
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#1507105 - 08/29/08 08:30 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: chub]
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Sr FishingMN Family
Registered: 04/06/07
Posts: 336
Loc: Duluth
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It's too bad it happened. Started out with the best intention, but something got hung up in the production. Our CO's have really tough jobs in any case, now this. Let's all try to keep things positive - can't believe there was any bad intent with this conference - just too bad.
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Well Jerry, we was drinkin'...
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#1507145 - 08/29/08 08:58 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: da_chise31]
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Sr IceLeaders Family
Registered: 05/04/04
Posts: 1583
Loc: St. Paul, MN
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I do not think this was a case of purposely mis-spending $300,000; rather it was two people in the DNR office who had the best intentions on putting together a decent seminar.
I read this 3 months ago and did not think it was a big deal. The $300,000 was offset by the attendance of other CO's from across the country - it made MN look better and made some solid connections.
_________________________
ducks are us
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#1507148 - 08/29/08 08:58 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: da_chise31]
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HotSpotOutdoors Pro Staff
Registered: 12/02/01
Posts: 5550
Loc: Hutchinson, MN
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No, no, no, Chub.....Don't you understand the special interest groups are getting all the dough?? Not the DNR. Why do you think they are all pushing for the amendment?? Silly you, Chub.  Now instead of having a little oversight of this money we'll have absolutely none. Doesn't that give you the warm and fuzzies to know your money will be getting spent like a drunken sailor on a weekend pass if the amendment passes?
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#1507182 - 08/29/08 09:25 AM
Re: Audit: Minn. DNR Misspent $300,000
[Re: chub]
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Sr IceLeaders Family
Registered: 05/01/02
Posts: 1696
Loc: Babbitt, MN
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The money for dedicated funding would have an oversight comittee that would include citizens. I would believe that the comittee wouldn't allow a project like this to come out of that.
This is definitely a bad deal. Mike Hamm should have known better and should be fired. The Gov. should take Holsten on a trip to the wood shed. It appears that Holsten should take a number of individuals to the wood shed also (Mlynar's involvement appears sketchy having a food business that was used for the conference).
This is a failure within upper management of the DNR. I certainly hope the fallout doesn't trickle down to the people on the ground, especially in other program areas, who do an excellent job of managing the state's natural resources.
Hopefully some of the cost can be recovered (like the $76K profit the report cited) without expending a ton of money to do so (a.k.a. hopefully it doesn't cost the Attourney General's office tens of thousands to get back the money)
_________________________
May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing
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