The Business Journal has this story. 

Commissioner Mark Winkelman resigned as the head of the Arizona State Land Department Monday.

Winkelman said he is returning to work in the private sector but did not elaborate, saying only: “I plan to stay actively involved in real estate.”

In a long letter distributed via email Winkelman recited some of his accomplishments, including revenue exceeding $1.7 billion from state land sales and leases during six years on the job. That number is larger than the total of all state land transactions in the previous 90 years, Winkelman said.

“I am proud that the land department was able to set numerous records during my tenure ... these records reflect increased proceeds from the sale and lease of land that go directly into the State Land Trust, which provides vital funding for education in Arizona,” he said.

Last year, according to Winkelman’s resignation letter, the State Land Department contributed more than $100 million to the Arizona Classroom Site Fund.

Winkelman also mentioned some shortcomings, including the inability to enact legislation to help curb poorly executed development on former state lands.

“I regret that we were not able to reform the laws that govern the state trust lands during my years of service and I hope that these efforts will continue and ultimately be successful,” he said. “I also hope that during these difficult budget deliberations, the legislature will see the wisdom in providing the land department the resources to continue to produce substantial revenues to help fund education in our state.”

His last day will be May 22. Deputy Land Commissioner Jamie Hogue is staying on, but there was no mention of a replacement.

Gov. Jan Brewer is charged with appointed a new commissioner to head the department, which oversees about 9.3 million acres of state trust lands, representing about 13 percent of Arizona.

On April 30, 2009 ARPA participated in the Annual Spring Thaw held at the Mesa Holiday Inn

ARPA was asked by Dave Brown, Mesa Field Office Supervisor, for assistance in planning and promoting Spring Thaw 2009.  Steve Trussell stated, “We had concerns about attendance for two reasons first past turn out and the economic times we are facing.   Last year there were only 60 people in attendance, so the planning team set a general goal to double that number.  We felt if we pull that off it would be a vast improvement.  We had well over four times more than last year.  That kind of participation is testament to the value of the topics offered and interest in sharing timely information that at the end of the day brings us home to the ones we love.”

But the best part was the line-up which included; Dave Brown, Richard Laufenberg, Tina O’Shields,  and Hillary Smith from MSHA Joe Hart and Frank Rabago from the  Arizona State Mine Inspector’s Office, Tom Vanderwalker, SRMG, Laura Beverage, Jackson Kelly, Richard Hudson, Resolution Copper, H.L. Boling, H.L. Boling and Associates, Mark Rock, CalPortland.  ARPA’s Steve Trussell emceed the event.  Topics ranged from agency updates to conferencing, ground control management, regulatory case law and compliance, contractors, the SLAM program, and involvement at all levels.

ARPA would like to thank MSHA for the opportunity to be involved in the event along with industry partners and gracious speakers.  The planning was made up of the following individuals; Dave Brown, Tina O’Shields, Tom Vanderwalker, Brian Krauss, Mike Flynn, Lee Travis and Ben Dorris.