A former state senator who has directed the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission for the past year and a half will lead the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission beginning next month, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday.
Bruce Holland's appointment to the position comes two weeks after director Randy Young announced his retirement after 31 years.
Holland, 48, was appointed director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission by Hutchinson in January 2015. The commission focuses on the health of livestock and poultry, the development of the industries and the administration of laws surrounding them, according to its website.
The Natural Resources Commission funds and regulates soil conservation, nutrient management, water rights, dam safety and water resources planning and development, according to its website.
Holland is a former Republican state senator from Greenwood who served from 2011 until the end of 2014. A former cattle rancher, he also served as chairman of the state Senate's Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.
In 2012, Holland pleaded guilty to charges of fleeing, careless driving and improper passing in connection with a police chase along Arkansas 10 that a deputy said reached speeds of 110 miles per hour.
Holland earns $101,448.88 annually as the director of the Livestock and Poultry Commission and will earn $112,755.55 -- the same as Young -- as head of the Natural Resources Commission.
"[Young's] steadfast devotion to the ANRC for the past 45 years will be missed," Hutchinson said in a statement. "However, Randy and I are confident in Bruce Holland's future leadership of the ANRC.
"Bruce's professional background, along with his past experience in the Arkansas Legislature, makes him an ideal fit as the new director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission."
Holland did not return a phone message left Tuesday seeking comment, but he said in a statement sent from Hutchinson's office that he wanted to build on Young's contributions.
"Proper management of our state's natural resources is a critical element for future economic development, higher-paying jobs and quality of life improvements for Arkansans," the statement read.
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has worked with farmers and conservation districts on water conservation efforts and nutrient management planning. The commission also has dealt with poultry farmers after Oklahoma's attorney general sued Arkansas poultry companies in June 2005, accusing them of polluting the Illinois River that runs from Northwest Arkansas through Oklahoma to the Arkansas River.
Recently, commission officials have discussed the need to be proactive about an expected proliferation of poultry farming in northeast Arkansas.
A part of the Arkansas Water Plan -- done by the commission -- initially stated that the commission will "encourage" the Legislature to "require" nutrient management plans for the application of poultry litter and animal manure throughout the state. That would have expanded requirements that already exist in Northwest Arkansas following the issues with Oklahoma over the Illinois River.
But pushback from the agricultural community led the commission to change the language in the water plan, w̶h̶i̶c̶h̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶i̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶d̶o̶p̶t̶e̶d̶,̶which was officially adopted Feb. 1,* to "may encourage" the Legislature to "consider the need for" nutrient management plans.
Holland replaces Young, 67, who will retire at the end of the month after working with the commission since 1971 and serving as director since 1985.
Last week, Young attended his final meetings of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission's board and the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, of which he has been a member since its inception.
Young was honored at those meetings for his time with the state, which included the funding of the state's drinking water revolving-loan fund.
Young said he lobbied legislators in the 1970s against the wishes of Gov. Dale Bumpers to fund the program, which existed but had no budget.
Over the years, that fund has spent millions of dollars providing grants and loans to water districts across the state to build and repair water systems to serve more people.
"It's been fun," he said. "I've enjoyed it immensely."
Metro on 07/27/2016
*CORRECTION: The Arkansas Water Plan was officially adopted Feb. 1. This article incorrectly identified the status of the plan’s implementation.