IA DNR: Environmental Protection Commissioners to Attend Reception April 7

COON RAPIDS - Elizabeth Garst of Coon Rapids will be hosting an informal reception for the Environmental Protection Commissioners following their tour of the POET Biorefining plant on April 7.

The reception will be held at Garst's River House, 1313 Fig Avenue, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Garst chairs the Natural Resources Commission that provides direction for DNR's conservation and recreation activities. The reception is open to the public.

Garst has also been a driving force behind the Garst family's donation of more than 1,800 acres to form the Whiterock Conservancy, a cooperative effort to protect and restore diverse habitats and economically sustainable farming practices.

The reception will be followed by dinner at Charlie's Restaurant at 6:30 p.m., at the corner of Hwy. 71 N and 18 Street in Carroll. The commission's regular meeting will be held April 8 at 9:00 a.m. at the Carroll County Conservation Board, 22676 Swan Lake Drive in Carroll. Public participation will open at 10:30 a.m.

Look for more information about the agenda items on the DNR Web site under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.gov.

The members of the commission are David Petty, chair, Eldora; Charlotte Hubbell, vice chair, Des Moines; Suzanne Morrow, secretary, Storm Lake; Henry Marquard, Muscatine; Ralph Klemme, LeMars; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines; Paul Johnson, Decorah; and Scott Mahr, Coralville. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold.