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Private company pledges donation; commission accepts $60,000 package for wetland work and survey support
Summary
Minder, a firm that handles IT asset disposition, pledged funds routed through OMES to the Oklahoma Wildlife Foundation. The commission approved acceptance of a package totaling $60,000 to support wetland habitat work, millet seeding, annual goose roundup supplies and the midwinter waterfowl survey.
Commissioners accepted a donation package during the meeting that agency staff said will support wetland habitat work, migratory bird program assistance and the department’s midwinter waterfowl survey.
Sean (agency staff) introduced Kent Taggart of Minder, who described his company’s business and a corporate pledge to give a portion of profits back to land and wildlife conservation. “Every year, 5% of our profit goes back to land and wildlife conservation,” Taggart said. He said Minder participates in reverse logistics for end-of-life IT equipment and pledged to direct revenue generated in Oklahoma back to state conservation efforts.
Nathan Wall, administrator of Capital Asset Management at the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), described how OMES and Minder engaged after a procurement process and said OMES supported routing donor funds to the Wildlife Foundation. He told commissioners the partnership arose after an RFP process and that OMES “jumped on it” when Minder proposed giving back to the state.
Agency staff presented the donation as a three-part package that will be administered through the foundation and the department. According to the presentation, the funds—described in staff materials as a $60,000 total—are proposed to support (1) wetland development and habitat work on Red and Grassy Slough, including contract disking and millet seeding; (2) additional supplies and equipment for the department’s annual goose roundup and migratory bird program; and (3) the agency’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey.
Commissioners moved to accept the donation as routed through the foundation and recorded the motion as approved. Several commissioners voiced “aye” during the roll call. The presentation noted that members of the donor organization have volunteered to assist with hands-on work for the millet seeding and goose roundup projects.
The commission did not attach conditions to acceptance beyond routing the funds through the foundation and placing work in wildlife division project plans. Staff said the donation will be used in coordination with U.S. Forest Service partners and other conservation groups for on-the-ground habitat work.
