Morse 6 3 02

To: Steven Morse <steven.morse@dnr.state.mn.us>

CC: Senator Samuelson <sen.don.samuelson@senate.leg.state.mn.us>,

      "Rep. Dale Walz" <rep.dale.walz@house.leg.state.mn.us>

Subject: Fisheries harassment

 

June 3, 2002

 

Mr. Morse,

I assume that since you have not notified me that you have not received the letter copied below that you have received it.   

Thank you for you time and objective consideration of this matter.

 Sincerely,

John Reynolds

Midwest Fish and Crayfish

26385 County Road 3

Merrifield MN 56465

 

cc.  Senator Don Samuelson

Representative Dale Walz

 

May 23, 2002

 

Mr. Steven Morse

MN DNR Building

500 Lafayette Road

St. Paul MN 55155

 

Mr. Morse,

 Thank you for speaking with me after the Senate hearing on ATVs this spring.  Hopefully that will be the start of meaningful regulation of OHVs in our state forest.  At that time you said that you would take an objective look at the permit denial of May 31, 2001.

 Here are the facts.  I will not include copies of any of the documents because the Fisheries Division already has them in my file.  You have my permission to view the file.  

1. In 1995 I reported purchasing Orangespotted sunfish.

2. In 1996 I licensed ponds for Orangespotted sunfish.  The ponds were approved by Fisheries without conditions.

3. In 1997 I amended my license to include all species.  The amendment was approved by Fisheries without conditions.

4. In 1998 I licensed 6 new ponds for all species.  The ponds were approved by Fisheries without conditions.

5. In 2000 I reported selling Orangespotted sunfish.

6. In 2001 I licensed 2 new ponds for all species. I licensed another temporary pond for indigenous species only later in the summer.  The 2 ponds were approved by Fisheries without conditions.

7. On May 31, 2001 a permit to import/stock Orangespotted sunfish was denied by the Fisheries Manager who approved the new ponds in 1998 and 2001 for all species including Orangespotted sunfish.

8. No conditions were placed on any of the ponds except the temporary pond until 7 months after the permit denial on January 8, 2002.  At that time conditions were placed on the ponds licensed unconditionally in 1998 and 2001.

 In short I have bought, raised and sold Orangespotted sunfish in those ponds prior to filing the ethics complaint against Mr. Wingate for giving false testimony to the legislature.  After the complaint a permit to import/stock a fish species that all of my ponds except the temporary pond are licensed for was denied.

I would also appreciate it if you would find out the status of the ethics complaint I filed against Mr. Ron Payer in January 2002 for allowing his staff to harass me.  I have contacted Ms. Bonde several times but she refuses to give me the courtesy of an answer.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

John Reynolds

Midwest Fish and Crayfish

26385 County Road 3

Merrifield MN 56465