Snyder signs bill expanding role of volunteers in state conservation efforts
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation that supporters are hailing as a way for the Department of Natural Resources to better protect Michigan’s natural resources.
And that comes by allowing volunteers to assume an expanded role in the state’s land and wildlife conservation efforts.
Snyder issued a statement calling House Bill 4111 — now Public Act 65 of 2011 — "a perfect example of the kind of cooperation" the state wants to encourage.
Rick Snyder
The DNR has long relied on volunteers to ensure the state’s natural areas remain accessible, Snyder said, but under current law, volunteers are limited to assisting with park operations and maintenance.
HB 4111 removes restrictions on most types of duties volunteers are allowed to perform, opening up opportunities for volunteers to work on a wide range of conservation projects such as improving wildlife habitats in state forest areas and wetland preservation.
“This new law will help us ensure we have tremendous outdoor recreation opportunities now and in the future," DNR Director Rodney Stokes said in a statement.
According to Snyder's office, volunteers will be able to use DNR equipment and machinery at the department’s discretion, and they will be protected from lawsuits resulting from their work.
The legislation was opposed by the Michigan State Employees Association, as well as state Reps. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, and David Rutledge, D-Superior Township.
Among the many concerns cited by opponents, they say the legislation doesn't require any training or supervision for volunteers, meaning volunteers could end up doing more harm than good. They also fear it could lead to replacement of workers with volunteers.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Jim Pryce
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
I would like to ask Ann Arbor.com to make a trip to Chelsea to visit Cedar Lake Camp. Cedar Lake Camp is owned by the DNR & leased by Michigan United Conservation Clubs, & MUCC operates a Camp for Kids program. The MUCC couldn't use the Camp the last 2 years. The DNR gave the MUCC an estimated cost of a quarter million dollars to get everything up to code to reopen it. MUCC has it open with Volunteer workers & donated time & supplies. Go & find out about it AA.com, write a story about it, & let folks know what can be accomplished by volunteers. Please, check it out & do a story.
Rork Kuick
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
Lots of outdoor groups wanted this bill: <a href="http://www.mucc.org/index.php/hot-button/comments/michigan_legislature_sends_gov._snyder_mucc_bill_to_allow_volunteer_work_un/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mucc.org/index.php/hot-button/comments/michigan_legislature_sends_gov._snyder_mucc_bill_to_allow_volunteer_work_un/</a> Wanna volunteer? Stewardshipnetwork.org is a pretty good place to start.
David Paris
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
Another great tactic to reduce wages. Can someone please tell me, what has this Governor done for the people since elected, anything? I case anyone missed it, this is the last sentence of the article: "They also fear it could lead to replacement of workers with volunteers."
eagleman
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 5:15 a.m.
So you would prefer the land to be neglected due to lack of manpower just to remove the "potential" for job losses? You, sir, care not for the people.
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
Instead of using bulldozers to move dirt let's hire a thousand public workers and give them spoons....
Will Warner
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
Trying to econimize is doing things for "the people", not for employees of the state, but for "the people."
Jim Pryce
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.
A very large project was just completed by the Michigan United Conservation clubs. In Chelsea they just went in & re-opened the Cedar Lake Outdoor Camp for MUCC's Camp for Kids. It has all new electrical, all new plumbing, a new boat dock was installed, sand was hauled in to make a beach, etc. I would encourage anyone who would like to send their kids or grandkids to camp to please contact MUCC. Their website is MUCC.org. MUCC rents this property from the DNR, who didn't have the monies to maintain it, so the kids were unable to use the camp the past 2 summers. Once the DNR gave us the OK to do work in there, we whipped it into shape & kids are enjoying camp there this week as I write this.
amlive
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
I really doubt that much of the opposition is motivated by job protection (though undoubtedly some will be), but rather a genuine concern of the damage that can be done by people who have no idea what they're doing. Most volunteers will of course be well-meaning, and hopefully know enough about a particular ecology to do good work. Some may be well-meaning, but do more harm than good. Others still may have no interest in public good at all, but rather like to manipulate forests and streams toward their personal favor for hunting, fishing, etc, and not give a damn whether it may or may not harm other areas and interests. I agree there should indeed be as few obstacles as possible in the way of volunteers who really want to help. Still, there needs to be some level of safeguards and supervision when people go out to maintain or "improve" public lands. It's easy to write off the opposition as just protecting jobs (such an abominable act indeed), but don't be so quick to draw conclusions like that with certainty. Look at the big picture, and you may indeed find more noble aspirations in the intentions of those in opposition.
Dave
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
Indeed volunteers doing more harm than good might be a legitimate concern. But that doesn't make said concern irreconcilable with the proposed legislation. It's a good bill; they should coordinate a supervisory/training measure rather than strike down the proposal in its entirety.
braggslaw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
The actions of the MSEA and history of public unions demonstrates that jobs are the primary issue.
grye
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
The legislation was opposed by the Michigan State Employees Association, as well as state Reps. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, and David Rutledge, D-Superior Township. Among the many concerns cited by opponents, they say the legislation doesn't require any training or supervision for volunteers, meaning volunteers could end up doing more harm than good. Gee, did these guys get specific training on how to do their jobs? They also should have close supervision.
braggslaw
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
Red herring...
Bogie
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
It is hilarious to hear people ripping on the gov. about this. It is a great piece of leglislation. If our former gov. would have signed something like this, I still would have been giving her big kudos. I guess people are blinded by the R next to his name, or the continual whining of the public sector unions. Either way, it is sad.
grye
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
Very sad that Ray and his friends can't see that Rick is doing what he considers best for Michigan.
tdw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
Ray Example please.Got one ?
RayA2
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
Very sad that people don't see Slick for the thief that he so transparently is.
tom swift jr.
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Alrighty then! Yet another piece of our infrastructure being neglected because it doesn't directly fill the pockets of little ricky's corporate buddies....
grye
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 8:26 p.m.
They can't. It's more fun for them to continue promoting false information than come up with any substance.
tdw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.
OK my last post.I keep reading about Rick's corporate buddies benefiting from him.Could someone PLEASE give ONE, just one example of this ?
Dr. Rockso
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.
I don't believe anonymous posters who claim they do volunteer work which cannot be verified.
Will Warner
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
If you are basing any opinions on that belief, good Dr., you may be misleading yourself. Outdoorsmen take part in a lot of conservation efforts. Of course, they are conservationists as opposed to environmentalists, so they are concerned with habitat more than "the environment," so their motivations may not be pure enough for you.
tdw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.
Do you mean the TWO posters ?
braggslaw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
funny coming from a guy with a clown pic.... Can you verify you are a clown? ....no need I believe you. this is America, we can all choose to believe what we want.
braggslaw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
I volunteer for many outdoor projects and I was always irritated that the state workers were more concerned about protecting their jobs rather than actually improving the parks. If I want to donate my time and effort to creating trout "hiltons" in a blue ribbon trout stream, I should be able to do that. The training issue is a red herring, it is all about job security. We have wonderful groups like Trout Unlimited and the HRWC that are experts in the restoration and maintenance of watersheds. If we/they want to do it for free it benefits everyone.
braggslaw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
Trout Unlimited is a great organization and it helps harness the energy of those who care about healthy watersheds. The amount of experience and brain-power in Trout Unlimited is impressive.
Mike K
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.
Trout Unlimited!! Some here will probably argue that Trout Unlimited is a right wing feeder group out to bust unions by improving the streams they want to fish in. If you really want to help these streams, you need to become liberal.
grye
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
Get a life people. Rick is not a teapublican. Only you have made him up as one. He enables a program to allow volunteers to do good things and you act as if he dropped something in the punch bowl and then left the party. Quit looking down your nose and focus out front. You will see the good that is being done.
InsideTheHall
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:14 p.m.
Where did the Sierra Club, Ducks Unlimited, and other groups line up on this? Once again Jeff "I'm stuck in the 70's" Irwin and David Rutledge back the Old Michigan union position. Gotta protect those jobs but please don't dare use the word featherbedding! This is common sense legislation and should be hailed by all as a way to protect the outdoors with folks who use the resources most. It should go further and volunteers should be abale to qualify for free or reduced park entry, hunting, fishing, and camping fees.
lumberg48108
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:55 p.m.
The comments confirm that Gov. Rick will never get credit for anything positive - only negative! The same comments who are bashing him would have praised the very same bill under Granholm ... That folks - is politics!
Martin Church
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
So our local reps are opposed to our youth groups supporting our park service by working on service projects to benefit the park system. Reminds me of the battle I had to fight to get permission to clear a fire break back in the 70's at Lakeport state park. Another time the state had no funds to support our parks. Without the fire break the park would not be allowed to open thus resulting in the loss of twenty to thirty employees. I got the job done in 1 weekend when it would have taken the state two months to clear the trail. I say it's about time you liberals looking to protect the unions to get off your seat and pick up a broom and shovel and get to work like the rest of us.
Will Warner
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
"Since I trust our current snake oil selling governor no farther than I can see him, I have to believe this is just more of the teapublikan plan." If what "teapublikans" want is for the government to economize, I guess you're right. The state has realized that green zeal can be leveraged to get the work done by volunteers. By me, it's ingenious. Do you want the state to economize of not?
tdw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
Will it seems Ray is only capable of making accusations. just not answering questions or offering any type of facts
Will Warner
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
Do you want the state to economize or not?
RayA2
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
Will, On its face this is an addition of resources to park upkeep. My point is that we can not believe what we are told by Slick. You always have to ask why this was never done before. Maybe, for example, there have always been good reasons to keep volunteers from hopping on a park bulldozer or chasing wildlife around the park. Maybe trained personnel are required for these jobs or they don't get done right. I believe that the other shoe here is a substantial lay-off of trained park employees.
RayA2
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
NO teapublikan is to be trusted when it comes to our natural resources and the environment. Slick has shown that he doesn't do anything that isn't spelled out clearly in the teapublikan playbook. The teapublikan playbook clearly says: "Public resources, especially exploitable resources like land and mineral rights, are to be transferred to the top 0.1% of capital controllers at the earliest possible time. The transfer of said resources is to be done in the [euphemistic] name of 'privatization' and 'small government'. Said resources are currently enjoyed by peons outside the teapublikan 0.1% constituency. This fact flies in the face of our Faux Noise misinformation and manipulation program and must be halted before someone catches on." How could volunteers destroy our parks and natural resources? I can think of a thousand ways. Since I trust our current snake oil selling governor no farther than I can see him, I have to believe this is just more of the teapublikan plan.
Mike K
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:26 p.m.
tdw - yes, anything from a republican is bad. That's how it works. You are wrong; they are right. You are bad, they are good. Ray's best idea is that we all go to work and earn a paycheck. Then we cash it and throw it in a pot from which we all share. That makes sense, right? It's "fair".
SonnyDog09
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
"NO teapublikan is to be trusted when it comes to our natural resources and the environment." I find this a particularly ironic statement, given your photo of Teddy Roosevelt, who was, if my memory serves me correctly, a Republican before he became a Bull Moose. TR did a lot to preserve natural resources and the environment.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:49 p.m.
please cite your source -- the quote marks do not indicate a real quotation.
tdw
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
So I guess what your are saying is that it doesn't matter what Synder proposes, you are against it . Correct ?.Also could you please post a link to those "quotes" out of the playbook ? or are you just making that up ?