Article Options

MOTIVE OF IDNR LAYOFFS QUESTIONED: SOME SAY POLITICALLY CONNECTED RETAIN CONSERVATION JOBS

BY LES WINKELER
THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 7:00 AM CST

SPRINGFIELD -- While the Rod Blagojevich administration continues to insist recent layoffs within the Illinois Department of Natural Resources were not politically motivated, there appear to be some interesting coincidences.

"It was strictly position-based, meaning we looked for positions we thought could best be absorbed, the core duties and responsibilities by other IDNR personnel," said IDNR spokesperson Joe Bauer.

"That just made me laugh when I read that," said Andy West, the IDNR's site superintendent at Trail of Tears State Forest. "I've got to be honest with you, politics is what this is all about. In my 30 years, it's happened every time there has been an administration change.

"These are great jobs. It's no wonder people want them. It just troubles me they consider us political pawns."

West was one of two area site superintendents who will be laid off in January. Molie Oliver, site superintendent of the Tunnel Hill State Trail, was also terminated.

"The last three hires in our region have been politically appointed," West said. "They have little or no background in natural resources management."

"There was absolutely no political motivation whatsoever," Bauer said. "It was strictly position based."

However, some nagging questions about political affiliations remain.

Two site superintendents who kept their jobs are Jim Eaton at Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area and Eric McClusky at Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area. Eaton was appointed to his position in 2003 and McClusky earlier this year. The Saline County position had been vacant for nearly two years.

Eaton is the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee chairman. McClusky's father, Willie, holds that position in Saline County.

Additionally, The Belleville News-Democrat reported in October that Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville, assisted in getting jobs for his wife, Joyce, and Peter Geppert, the husband of one of his staffers, within the IDNR.

Reitz' wife was hired to inspect bait shops and rental cabins at state parks. Geppert was hired as site superintendent at Washington County State Recreation Area.

When presented with that information, Bauer changed his position slightly.

"All I can tell you is what I know," he said. "I asked if there was any political motivation. They said, 'Absolutely not.'

"As far as positions that were chosen, those were positions we felt could best be absorbed."

Bauer noted that layoff decisions were made by the IDNR executive staff and the Office of Management and Budget. Region 5 land manager Nick Dolce said he was asked for input, but was not part of the decision-making process.

In the meantime, West said there appears to be little planning for the transition that will take place in January. He has no idea who will assume management of the Trail of Tears State Forest.

"Nope, I haven't heard anything," he said. "Nobody has told me a thing. I've asked my immediate supervisor (Dolce). He doesn't even know. I have to say, he seems as frustrated as I do.

"Those of us who care about our areas are willing to work with the administration, whether we are getting laid off or not. Frankly, at this point, it's too late. It's just a shame. I think a lot of people that are being let go are the experienced people, too. They don't need to let the experienced people go. I would have worked with them."

While the layoff will have a significant immediate impact on West, he sees these decisions has having long-range effects on conservation efforts in Southern Illinois.

"The thing a lot of people don't realize, we still haven't recovered from the cutbacks of 1983," he said. "Then we had cutbacks in 1991 or 1992. IDNR has never recovered from that. We're not even at maintenance levels.

"We don't have clerical people. We don't have enough technicians, people out on the line during forestry and wildlife work. They're gone. It's a real sad state of affairs. It shows the political system in Illinois doesn't take natural resources or conservation seriously."

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com 618-997-3356 x15805