Great Lakes Article:

Kyle Hupfer, backer of Dunes hotel, resigns from Ind. DNR
By Diane Krieger Spivak
Merrillville Post-Tribune
Published November 22, 2006

Kyle Hupfer has resigned as director of the state's Department of Natural Resources.

Hupfer, who headed up the DNR for slightly less than two years, led an unsuccessful push for a hotel at the Indiana Dunes State Park. He submitted his resignation to Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday.

Hupfer accepted a position as general counsel for ProLiance Energy, Indianapolis.

Daniels appointed Rob Carter, director of DNR law enforcement, to replace Hupfer, whose resignation is effective Dec. 1.

Carter, 41, a native of downstate Brazil, served as Clay County sheriff for two terms. In his current position, he oversees 250 DNR conservation and law enforcement employees.

Carter told the Post-Tribune Tuesday he will spend the next month "getting up to speed on a lot of issues" before taking over the top DNR spot.

"I need to get out in the field to see what's going on," he said. One of Carter's goals is to procure more state property for hunters and fisherman.

"Land is getting more and more scarce," he said.

Carter said he still has to familiarize himself with the running of Indiana's state parks and has limited knowledge of the DNR's push within the last year to locate a hotel at the Dunes State Park.

"I don't know much about the Dunes issue," Carter said. "I have to get with Kyle about it before he leaves."

Tom Anderson, executive director of the Save the Dunes Council, said he wished Hupfer well in his new position.

Save the Dunes criticized a plan for a hotel project the DNR had hoped to locate near the beach on Lake Michigan at the park. That proposal on hold, with no private investors stepping forward to construct the building.

"We both agree Indiana ha wonderful resources that need to be protected for future generations," Anderson said of Hupfer.

"I wish the best of luck to the new director, too," Anderson said. "We look forward to working with him."