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Chuck Gipp makes plans to be an accessible DNR Director

Posted: Sun, Jun 3, 2012 1:40 PM

When the announcement was made Thursday that Iowa Governor Terry Branstad had appointed Decorah native Chuck Gipp as the state's new DNR Director, Chuck Gipp was in southern Iowa.  Near Keosauqua.  In a state forest.  In the rain.

The incident typifies the hands-on management style Gipp says he wants to bring to the position--one in which he'll make sure the 1,000 DNR employees across the state get to meet him and discuss the operations of the agency.

He hopes to restore stability to an agency that has had six directors in 12 years.  He also hopes to use his background as a long-time state legislator to strengthen the agency's ties with the state legislature.

The Iowa DNR "impacts ever Iowan's life," notes Gipp.  The agency has a state budget of $12 million, but federal funds and other funds push that figure to $200 million.  Some of that funding has been reduced in recent years as governments go through "a real difficult time," so Gipp says the agency needs to do a better job of explaining to the public and to state legislators what the agency does.

One of the DNR's jobs, of course, is to enforce environmental regulations (although he is quick to point out the agency doesn't create regulations--it enforces them).  Gipp says he wants agency employees to go out into the field and work with businesses and individuals to educate them on how to comply with the regulations.  He believes most people want to comply with environmental regulations, although he notes the actions of "chronic violators" can lead to calls for more legislation.

All of this will keep him busy as he handles office work in Des Moines, speaking appearances and staff office visits around the state--and his commute back to his home in Decorah.

It's an interesting development for Gipp, who notes that he first became involved in politics because of issues involving the Winneshiek County Landfill--which is regulated by the DNR.  Now, years later, he is heading the agency that regulates the landfill and caused him to get into state government.