JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Conservation Commission will meet Thursday, March 26 at 9 a.m. for an Open Workshop and Closed Executive Session and Friday, March 27 at 8:30 a.m. for a Regular Open Meeting.
All activities will be at Commission Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City
Background documents related to open meeting agenda items are available for public viewing at Conservation Department Headquarters, Jefferson City, for eight calendar days prior to the meeting.
Any person who would like to comment to the Commission about a specific agenda item must make a written request to the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting. The time allotted for public comment and the number of speakers will be at the Commission’s discretion. Recording the open meeting is permissible, pursuant to any guidelines established by the Commission to minimize disruption to the meeting. Individuals wishing to record the open meeting by audiotape, videotape, or other electronic means should notify the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting so accommodations for such recording can be made.
To view live streaming of the open meeting, or to watch recordings of past meetings, go to http://on.mo.gov/2nodPJU.
The tentative agenda for the meetings:
March 26 at 9 a.m. — Open Workshop and Closed Executive Session
- Open Workshop on Budget and on Regulations
- Vote to close meeting
- 1 – Approval of minutes of previous executive session(s) (610.021 RSMo).
- 2 – Consideration of supporting documentation related to recommendations to suspend or revoke hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges (621.021(1), 610.021(14), 454.440.9, 211.321 RSMo).
- 3 – Consideration of confidential or privileged communications between the Commission and its Internal Auditor regarding work product (610.021(18) RSMo).
- 4 – Consideration of negotiated contracts (610.021(12) RSMo).
- 5 – Consideration of legal actions, causes of action, or litigation and attorney-client privileged communications as provided for in 610.021(1) RSMo.
- 6 – Consideration of potential real estate transactions/negotiations (610.021(2) RSMo).
- 7 – Consideration of recommendations relating to the hiring/firing/disciplining/promoting of personnel (610.021(3)(13) RSMo).
March 27 at 8:30 a.m. Regular Open Meeting
Call to order — Margaret F. Eckelkamp, Chair
Administration
- Director’s Comments — Jason Sumners, Director
- Action Item: Consideration of items on the Consent Calendar (to be approved with a single action unless any Commission member requests an item be removed and taken up separately). Items removed will be addressed as the last action item on the meeting agenda.
Regulations Committee — Laura Conlee, Deputy Director and Chair, Regulations Committee
3.Action Item: Report of the Regulations Committee and associated action items
- a) Presentation/Action Item: Recommendations for 2026 black bear season dates and quotas — Presentation by Nate Bowersock, Black Bear and Furbearer Program Coordinator. Action by Laura Conlee, Deputy Director and Chair, Regulations Committee.
- b) Presentation/Action Item: Recommendations for 2026 elk season quotas — Presentation by Aaron Hildreth, Cervid Biologist. Action by Laura Conlee, Deputy Director and Chair, Regulations Committee.
- c) Presentation/Action Item: Recommendations for 2026 dove season dates and limits, and 2026- 2027 migratory bird season dates and limits — Presentation by Reid Veigut, Migratory Game Bird Coordinator. Action by Laura Conlee, Deputy Director and Chair, Regulations Committee.
- d) Presentation: CWD Public Engagement — Jennifer Hoggatt, Public Involvement Coordinator
- e) Presentation: Camping/Unstaffed Shooting Ranges — Tyler Blake, Recreational Use Program Specialist, and Justin McGuire, Hunter Education & Shooting Range Specialist
Administration – Budget — Andrew Bond, Deputy Director Business and Operations
- Presentation: Financial Report.
Infrastructure Management Branch — Jacob Careaga, Infrastructure Management Branch Chief
- Action Item: Consideration of bid for construction of the Kendzora Conservation Area Lake Drain Structure Replacement project located in Edgerton, Missouri.
Human Resources Branch — Andrew Barnes, Conservation Agent III, and CEBP Chair
- Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan Update
Realty Committee — Aaron Jeffries, Deputy Director and Chair, Realty Committee
- Action Item: Recommendation for approval to purchase 3 tracts of approximately 277.50 acres within Lawrence, Jasper, and Barton Counties from The Nature Conservancy. The new tracts will continue to be named: Mt. Vernon Prairie, Wah-Sha-She Prairie, and Pawhuska Prairie.
- Action Item: Recommendation for approval to accept the transfer of 384.79 acres in Atchison and Holt Counties, from The Nature Conservancy as an addition to Deroin Bend CA.
- Action Item: Recommendation for approval to dispose of 11.07 acres in Butler County, Crane Roost Access via online auction.
Administration:
- Legislative Update — Aaron Jeffries, Deputy Director
- Action Item: Consideration of items removed from the Consent Calendar, if any.
- Action Item: Recommendation for approval of nomination of Tom Wekenborg for recognition as a Master Conservationist — Laura Conlee, Deputy Director
- Action Item: Recommendation for approval of nomination of Dan and Connie Burkhardt for recognition as Master Conservationists — Laura Conlee, Deputy Director
Other matters of interest
Adjourn
FUTURE MEETING DATES
- May 28-29, 2026
- July 9-10, 2026
- September 10-11, 2026
- October 22-23, 2026
- December 10-11, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR
Items on the following Consent Calendar either require Commission Action (if noted) or may be written reports presented for Commission information only.
The Consent Calendar covers routine items to be taken up by the Commission as the first order of business and approved with a single action. Any Commission member may request an item be removed from the Consent Calendar to be addressed individually. Any Commission member may abstain from voting on an item without removing it by specifying the item number and his/her desire to abstain prior to the vote. Items removed from the Consent Calendar are taken up in numerical order as called by the Commission Chair or as listed on the regular meeting agenda.
C.1 Action Item: Approval of minutes of previous open meeting(s)
C.2 Action Item: Recommendation for approval to suspend or revoke one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of individuals for cause — Kyle Atkinson, General Counsel
C.3 Action Item: Recommendation for approval of policy changes for one Department policy: Employment of Relatives — Tom Neubauer, Human Resources Branch Chief
C.4 Action Item: Recommendation for approval to authorize to increase the previously approved contingency fund for the existing contract with Flowmaster Construction, LLC of Mexico, Missouri for construction of the Eagle Bluffs Pump Station Flood Repairs Project located in Boone County — Jacob Careaga, Infrastructure Management Branch Chief