Kurt Granberg hasn't exactly received the red carpet treatment since he was named director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources late last week.

Two IDNR employees didn't even know his name when a phone call was placed to the department Friday. Environmental and wildlife groups are mounting campaigns asking their members to fight his confirmation.

Hunters and anglers are calling him a political hack.

Granberg has seen and heard all the comments.

"They don't know me," Granberg said. "They don't know my record. Every election, I've been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. I've been one to protect the environment. I passed legislation over the objections of the Farm Bureau to prevent clear-cutting timber along waterways.

"I was the lead person calling for the timberland tax to be reversed."

Many constituent groups point to Granberg's efforts to get a lodge built at Carlyle Lake that involved habitat of the endangered massasauga rattlesnake. Granberg claims environmental agencies subsequently said the area in question had mistakenly been identified as massasauga habitat.

The 20-year state legislator from Carlyle has also heard the complaints that he lacks a background in biological sciences.

Given criticism coming from virtually all sides, Granberg said his first priority is to reach out.

"I don't think that's happened in the past," he said. "I'm going to reach out to various groups impacted by IDNR, whether it be environmental groups or groups like Ducks Unlimited, to seek their counsel, advice and expertise and how to address the very serious issues at IDNR."

Among the issues facing IDNR are inadequate funding and low morale among employees.

"I think they (employees) just need to see a change in leadership," Granberg said. "I think they want to see some enthusiasm brought to the department. I'm going to be a strong advocate for the agency, for an increase in funding."

To address some of those issues, Granberg said he hopes to visit every state park in Illinois in the near future. In terms of funding, he said he will attempt to have a portion of Illinois' income tax dedicated to the department.

With the number of layoffs the IDNR experienced in the past few years, Granberg said he will try to broker a deal with labor unions through which trainees could perform maintenance work at state sites.

And, there is the golf trail idea that has been maligned by his critics. Granberg insists a golf trail tied to lodging at state parks could develop into a source of revenue for the department.

Finally, with the tenuous situation facing Gov. Rod Blagojevich, longevity is an issue. The IDNR director serves at the will of the governor. Granberg has admitted that he and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn have not played well together in the past.

"I'm going to talk to the lieutenant governor next week," Granberg said. "I think this department needs continuity more than anything. They need a stable leadership structure."

The IDNR has been without a full time director since Joel Brunsvold stepped down in December of 2005. Sam Flood has been acting director since that time.

Asked why Gov. Blagojevich was content to leave the post vacant for nearly four years, Granberg simply replied, "I don't know."

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5088