Forestry Chief John Shannon Resigns
by February 10, 2012 11:54 am 136 views
After a tumultuous 3 months, State Forestry Commission director John Shannon resigned.
The state agency has been embattled as reports of financial mismanagement plagued its operations and led to layoffs of 39 employees. Some funding has been restored allowing for the re-hiring of 15 fire fighters.
A damaging legislative audit report pointed more blame towards Shannon’s oversight of the Forestry Commission. He tenured his resignation late Thursday (Feb. 9) effective at the end of the day on Friday, Feb. 10.
“John Shannon has helped develop the Arkansas Forestry Commission into a widely respected agency that Arkansans count on, especially in times of crisis,” Gov. Mike Beebe (D) said. “However, after Legislative Audit’s review of the financial troubles at Forestry, I agree that a change in management is needed. I thank John for his years of dedicated service to Arkansas.”
The Arkansas Forestry Commission will make a recommendation to Beebe for an interim agency head.
The Governor’s office said Shannon’s resignation does not change Beebe’s supplemental request for the rest of the fiscal year and will not alter plans to re-hire 15 firefighters with reallocated Agriculture Department funds.