SUN HERALD

Wednesday, October 21, 1998
 Section: LOCAL-FRONT
Page: A11

TIDELANDS CRITICISM ON RISE
PEER FAVORS PRESERVATION SPENDING

 
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

$30,000 for the private Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned wildlife. Much of the money was spent for pet food and veterinary bills.

PEER said those projects did not meet state requirements that tidelands money be spent to preserve, reclaim or educate the public concerning tidelands.

This is the same Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society which has owed me 
$7,790.00 plus profit and stolen tools since 1991.

I have notified the President of the University of Southern Mississippi, Horace Fleming about this matter. It seems as though the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society is located on USM property. Which means too me, that since the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society, has actually received $70,000.00 from tidelands leases which is overseen by the Secretary of State, Eric Clark. The transaction of funds came from the, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which goes the University of Southern Mississippi then to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society.

Even though the University of Southern Mississippi has received $70,000.00 I have never received one penny for the labor, materials, and tools.

It must be nice to be a President of a University and not pay of work preformed on there land.

GINA HOLLAND
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Money from tidelands leases on the Mississippi Gulf Coast should be used for preservation of the sensitive estuaries, not the myriad of projects now funded, a new report says.

A legislative watchdog committee tracked millions of dollars spent over the past two years for such things as shipwreck salvage work off the coast, orphaned wildlife rescues and a seafood museum.

 

counter

The Tuesday report, in response to concern among lawmakers about spending, found no wrongdoing but recommended more thorough evaluations of proposals for the money and follow-up on actual use.

``The projects are very worthy. It's not wasted money,'' said Rep. Frances Fredericks, D-Gulfport. ``There was no intention to do anything wrong.''

Mississippi tidelands leases, which have been required since 1989, have gotten renewed attention in recent years amid tense casino negotiations with the Secretary of State's Office.  

Local governments violate agreements

State law requires annual taxes from any person or company using the 504,304 acres designated as tidelands in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. Coastal land affected by the ebb and flow of tide belongs to the state.

And the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society, did not meet state requirements that tidelands money be spent to preserve, reclaim or educate the public concerning tidelands.

And at my expense too the tune of $7,790 plus profit and stolen tools.

Local governments receive some of the tax money, which is distributed by the Commission on Marine Resources.

The legislative Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee questioned the expenditures by local governments. All 17 governments that received grants in the last fiscal year violated their grant agreements, PEER found.

E.G. Woods, executive director of the Department of Marine Resources, concurred with the findings in the report but said his agency needs more staff to handle evaluations of proposals.

``Tidelands proposals submitted to the DMR for consideration continue to dramatically increase in number each year, requiring more and more manpower hours,'' he wrote in a response to the report.

Among questioned projects:

$40,000 for the Department of Archives and History to assess the condition, age and cultural affiliation of a shipwreck in the Back Bay of Biloxi.

$250,000 for the Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum for oyster schooners, museum equipment and programs.

$30,000 for the private Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation Society to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned wildlife. Much of the money was spent for pet food and veterinary bills.

PEER said those projects did not meet state requirements that tidelands money be spent to preserve, reclaim or educate the public concerning tidelands.  

Better screening recommended

While the report did not question the appropriateness of projects, it recommended better screening of proposals and that the Legislature be kept better apprised.

Fredericks said Gulf Coast lawmakers will ensure next year the money is being spent lawfully.

If this is true why is Fredericks being replaced by Glen H. Carpenter.

``The money is very important to the communities. It completes projects that we wouldn't otherwise have the money to do,'' she said.

 

STEVEN A. McCALEB

COMMENTARY