Gov. Tim Pawlenty has appointed four men to serve on the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council, the new advisory group that will make legislative recommendations on how to spend money authorized by the new voter-approved constitutional amendment.

Eight other appointed members will join the governor's appointees to advise lawmakers on how to spend the estimate $90 million a year in fish and wildlife habitat money. The money comes from the increased sales tax that is part of "The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment."

The governor's appointees are:

• James Cox, of Cologne, owner of Midwest Thermo Equipment.

• Wayne Enger, of Perham, the Otter Tail County director of the Farm Service Agency.

• Scott Rall, of Worthington, an active member of organizations carrying out habitat and natural resource protection in southwest Minnesota.

• Bob Schroeder, of Minneapolis, former deputy chief of staff to Gov. Pawlenty from 2003 to 2008.
According to state law, the other eight will come from:

• Two public members appointed by a Senate subcommittee.

• Two public members appointed by the speaker of the House.

• Two members of the Senate appointed by a Senate subcommittee.

• And two House members by the speaker of the House.

The Outdoor Heritage Council is named in honor of Bob Lessard, a former legislator who long championed a constitutional amendment for the outdoors.