Nodler: Firing Not Neccessarily A Resolution to DNR Problems

Gov. Jay Nixon has extended the suspension of Department of Natural Resources Director Mark Templeton until an internal investigation surrounding E.Coli-gate is complete -- something Republican Sen. Gary Nodler called for last week.

While Nodler said the entire controversy could "reach the level of a firing offense," the Joplin Republican said he does not want to see a "scapegoating process."

*WATCH GIVE & TAKE ABOVE*

"We don't need to be in the business of looking for some kind of satisfaction of our anger by chopping off someone's head," Nodler said last week. "I won't accept a firing as a resolution to the problem."

MEANWHILE: The Missouri Senator leading a review of the delayed E.Coli results is using stronger language. Sen. Brad Lager said Wednesday there's been an "organized cover-up" by the Department of Natural Resources and and outside investigation may be warranted.

Gov. Nixon sidelines DNR Director

Gov. Jay Nixon has put the director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on unpaid administrative leave for two weeks after new revelations about how the agency handled high E.Coli levels at Lake of the Ozarks in May.

Nixon, who spoke to reporters on a conference call from Branson, said he learned on Tuesday that Park Beach 1 at the lake was not closed as DNR documents had indicated.

The Governor said DNR documents provided to him showed that Park Beach 1 was closed after May 18th and May 27th tests showed high levels of E.Coli. But that was not the case.

Nixon called the revelations "unconscionable" and "nothing short of an outrage."

"These were abysmal failures," said Gov. Nixon, putting blame on "individuals in the department."

He added that the inaccurate documents allowed him to "unwittingly pass along false information," which he said he regretted.

As a result, Director Mark Templeton has been put on unpaid administrative leave.

Nixon has ordered the interim director to launch a full investigation of the mistakes made.

More to come on The Notebook and on Ky3 News @ 5, 6 and 10.

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SNL Report: DNR Official Requested E.Coli Report for Meeting With Gov. Nixon

HOW BIG IS THE DRIP?

E-mails suggest that the deputy director of the state Department of Natural Resources asked for a copy of a report on high levels of E.coli in Lake of the Ozarks to take to a meeting with Governor Jay Nixon, according to the Springfield News Leader.

NOTE: AP ISSUED CORRECTION ON MEETING DIRECTLY WITH NIXON -- THAT DID NOT OCCUR

But, writes Chad Livengood, Nixon's office says (the official) visited their Capitol office on June 4 for a meeting about energy policy with an industry lobbyist and deputy legislative director Kristy Manning -- not water quality or E. coli."At no point in that conversation would the Lake of the Ozarks or E. coli have come up," said Nixon spokesman Jack Cardetti.

Read the entire piece HERE.

KEY POINTS:

*E-mails show that Deputy DNR director Joe Bindbeutel requested a copy of the withheld E.coli report to take to a meeting with Governor -- but it's not clear if Bindeutel ever actually took the report to the Governor.
*The Governor's office said the E.coli report was never discussed during the meeting in question.
*Minutes from a June 12th meeting between DNR officials included this label: "DNR/LOWA Meeting May Bacteria Test Results/Press Release Discussion."
*Bindbeutel is paraphrased as saying, "the recent water testing has drawn the attention of the Director of DNR as well as Governor Nixon," according to the minutes, which were taken by a LOWA volunteer.
*Bindbeutel goes on to say: "(DNR Director) Mark Templeton has reviewed the balance sheet from a business and scientific point of view and all believe that this (lake) asset needs to be protected. ... The bad perception by the public that would be created if the report was simply published without explanation of what the numbers mean."