City Deer Harvest Proposed
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw's first regulated "urban deer harvest" may take place this fall if final details can be ironed out.
A plan to hold a tightly controlled deer hunt that would also provide food to needy families is expected to be finalized within the next couple of weeks, Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank told the city council Monday.
"We have an awful lot of deer within the corporate city limits," Plank said. The deer are causing problems and spurring an increasing number of citizen complaints, he said.
The city is working with a wildlife management resources group on allowing a limited number of bowhunters to harvest deer within specific areas of the city.
"A modest, highly controlled program may be able to stabilize the problem," Plank said.
The deer that are killed would be processed and kept in freezers, to be distributed according to a voucher system, Plank said.
No hunting would be allowed in populated areas of the city, he said, and he suggested testing the bowhunters who are selected to participate. When asked how many hunters would be included, Plank said, "A handful."
In other matters, city council is considering a noise ordinance generally based on the one used by Fort Wayne. The suggested criteria include a limit of sound being audible 30 feet from the source.
Police now can use a common nuisance ordinance in enforcing regulations against loud music, but Plank suggested giving law enforcement an ordinance with teeth.
"The issue is, when the need arises, do the police have something they can enforce?" he said.
Council members Mac Silveus and Tammy Rockey will look into the matter further for discussion at the October council meeting.
In other business:
• The council approved an appropriation of $5,000 for a second helmet camera for the Warsaw Fire Department. The council originally approved funding for one helmet, at a cost of $25,000, and a monitor for $10,000. Fire Chief Ken Shepherd said instead of ordering the monitor he will use that $10,000 toward a second helmet, along with $10,000 that has been approved by the Wayne Township Board. A second helmet, Shepherd said, "may mean the difference between life and death someday."
• The Warsaw Park Department scheduled a grand opening at the skateboard park for 5 p.m. Friday.
• The council approved raising the speed limit on a portion of U.S. 30 to 50 miles per hour. The change will affect traffic on U.S. 30 from 1,000 feet west of Ind. 15 to 1,000 feet west of Parker Street, approximately 2.12 miles.
• The council heard a request from Kosciusko Development Inc. that the city contribute $1,500 to KDI to fund 1996 promotions. The proposal was tabled until the October meeting.
• A review session for 1997 departmental budgets was set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25.
• Also on Sept. 25 a press conference will be held by Ralph M. Williams & Associates, Marion, on their plans to develop a new hotel near Center Center. The conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the ViewPoint. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw's first regulated "urban deer harvest" may take place this fall if final details can be ironed out.
A plan to hold a tightly controlled deer hunt that would also provide food to needy families is expected to be finalized within the next couple of weeks, Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank told the city council Monday.
"We have an awful lot of deer within the corporate city limits," Plank said. The deer are causing problems and spurring an increasing number of citizen complaints, he said.
The city is working with a wildlife management resources group on allowing a limited number of bowhunters to harvest deer within specific areas of the city.
"A modest, highly controlled program may be able to stabilize the problem," Plank said.
The deer that are killed would be processed and kept in freezers, to be distributed according to a voucher system, Plank said.
No hunting would be allowed in populated areas of the city, he said, and he suggested testing the bowhunters who are selected to participate. When asked how many hunters would be included, Plank said, "A handful."
In other matters, city council is considering a noise ordinance generally based on the one used by Fort Wayne. The suggested criteria include a limit of sound being audible 30 feet from the source.
Police now can use a common nuisance ordinance in enforcing regulations against loud music, but Plank suggested giving law enforcement an ordinance with teeth.
"The issue is, when the need arises, do the police have something they can enforce?" he said.
Council members Mac Silveus and Tammy Rockey will look into the matter further for discussion at the October council meeting.
In other business:
• The council approved an appropriation of $5,000 for a second helmet camera for the Warsaw Fire Department. The council originally approved funding for one helmet, at a cost of $25,000, and a monitor for $10,000. Fire Chief Ken Shepherd said instead of ordering the monitor he will use that $10,000 toward a second helmet, along with $10,000 that has been approved by the Wayne Township Board. A second helmet, Shepherd said, "may mean the difference between life and death someday."
• The Warsaw Park Department scheduled a grand opening at the skateboard park for 5 p.m. Friday.
• The council approved raising the speed limit on a portion of U.S. 30 to 50 miles per hour. The change will affect traffic on U.S. 30 from 1,000 feet west of Ind. 15 to 1,000 feet west of Parker Street, approximately 2.12 miles.
• The council heard a request from Kosciusko Development Inc. that the city contribute $1,500 to KDI to fund 1996 promotions. The proposal was tabled until the October meeting.
• A review session for 1997 departmental budgets was set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25.
• Also on Sept. 25 a press conference will be held by Ralph M. Williams & Associates, Marion, on their plans to develop a new hotel near Center Center. The conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the ViewPoint. [[In-content Ad]]