This time, GOP blames Nixon for Johnson’s Shut-ins’ shutdown
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder plans to travel to the shutdown Johnson’s Shut-Ins state park on Monday for a 1 p.m. press conference “to address the actions by Missouri Attorney General Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon in relation to the legal status of pending lawsuits that are delaying the opening of the park.”
Kinder, a Republican, is slated to be joined by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson’s chief-of-staff, Lloyd Smith (who took time off last year to oversee the campaign of former Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo.).
Post-Dispatch environmental reporter (and occasional blogger) Ken Leiser wrote this account of the matter earlier this week.
But last November, state DNR officials also warned that the park might not open this summer — in part, citing different reasons.
Here’s the top of Leiser’s story at the time:
“State officials who had hoped to reopen the water-scarred Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park next year warned Monday that stream restoration work is at a standstill, jeopardizing that goal.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers issued the warning to Reynolds County officials who have been dealing with the environmental and economic aftermath of the Dec. 14 Taum Sauk reservoir breach….”
“Boulders and sand also altered the East Fork of the Black River and the flood plain within the park boundaries. The Department of Natural Resources in September approved AmerenUE’s stream restoration plan and urged the utility to begin the work immediately.
“But it hasn’t, Childers said in a prepared statement.
“Some of the work can’t proceed until the river is restored, Childers said, adding that Ameren is “dragging its feet.’ The stream restoration plan is intended to stabilize stream banks, prevent erosion and reduce sediment. The work was expected to take three to five months to complete.”
” ‘Ameren originally thought they could have it done in 2007,’ ” Childers said in an interview. ‘We are certainly apprehensive about getting it done in (2007) with these delays.’ “
“Childers suggested that uncertainty about Attorney General Jay Nixon’s investigation into the reservoir collapse may also be a factor. Should the probe result in criminal charges, he said, Ameren may not be able to recover the cost of repairs under its insurance policy….”
At that time, Nixon’s staff declined to comment, and an Ameren spokeswoman said that “the utility still believes the park could reopen next year ‘if all parties work together effectively.’ “
Maybe my party’s energies would be better expended on showing how the Democratic Party has fouled up the City of St. Louis? A failing school system, police being shot at on a regular basis, car thefts up………
How long have the Dems been in charge in STL? 25% to 50% of the students don’t have regular attendance in school and we are bashing Jay Nixon on his delay on the Taum Sauk Restoration. Ah yes, nothing like having priorities as they say!
List the things that the Democrats have messed up?
Too long a list. But what’s worse, is that they have had so much ’success’ in the city of st. louis, NOW we are getting the ’same thing’ in the County.
Ah-another idiotic comments by the boring other side. Real quick, Republicans Take police of the streets, phony up education and arm the poor and uneducated. It would be unfair to blame a political party for for all the ills of a city. oh, wait that is what you guys did
You don’t have pingback, so The Sky is Falling, Blame Jay.
And you all might want to take a look at this.
You can’t expect Ameren to keep on spending money while Nixon continues to threaten prosecution. No liable party is ever going to start paying for remedies until a settlement is approved. That’s where we are, and Nixon is the one messing it up. So who should be managing the restoration of a state park, the AG or the DNR? The answer is obvious, and Nixon should mind his own business.
Doesn’t work that way, Nick. I suggest you read the posts I linked. And read the DNR and Ameren press releases today.
This one rests on the DNR and Childers. And the fact that this event has been used to meet the governor’s political agenda.
Not much different than what’s happening nationally with Gonzales.
Remember, the AG was ordered by Blunt and a Reynold’s county judge to pursue a criminal investigation. The only reason he is doing so is that the county district attorney had to recuse himself because of conflict of interest.