Field Notes: New Leadership, Tough Challenges

Gene Merriam, the new DNR commissioner, says he will draw on his passion for hunting and fishing, as well as his 22 years of experience in the Minnesota Senate, to lead the department through the most fiscally challenging times in recent history.

With the state facing a $4.56 billion shortfall during the next two years, Merriam says deep cuts are likely in DNR programs that rely on the state's general fund. Activities supported by license sales and user fees will be less affected.

One of the new commissioner's top priorities will be to make sure that funds raised through license sales and user fees are used for their intended purposes. "Fund integrity is going to be one of my watchwords," Merriam said. "We're not going to backfill general-fund revenue by using resources collected for other purposes."

As an avid hunter and lifelong angler, Merriam plans to pay close attention to hunting and fishing issues. "There's a perception that hunting and fishing have taken a back seat in the department's mission," he said. "We're going to work hard to reconnect with those interest groups."

Meanwhile, Merriam said it's also important to instill a sense of ownership in the DNR among all Minnesotans. "The DNR touches a wide array of people in the general public," he said. "Those who aren't regular users of DNR services need to feel some sense of ownership and connection to the agency. That's going to be a significant challenge for us."

Meeting that challenge will mean taking a close look at the department's structure and deciding what is important in the face of diminishing financial resources, said Merriam.

Merriam says his experience with budget oversight (he served six years as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and a decade as chair of the Senate Finance Committee) will be an asset in dealing with budget cuts.

Assisting Merriam, who took over Jan. 27, is Mark Holsten, a state representative from Stillwater who was appointed deputy commissioner by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. For the past four years, Holsten was chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Brad Moore, a 15-year DNR employee, was re-appointed assistant commissioner for operations. He served in the same capacity under the previous commissioner, Allen Garber.

While there have been discussions about splitting the divisions of fish and wildlife into a separate agency as part of a plan to better meet constituency needs, Merriam said further study will be necessary.

Likewise, Merriam wants to examine how the DNR delivers services at hundreds of locations across the state. "We need a structure that allows us to solve problems locally with the help of local residents."

Jason Abraham