MOUNT VERNON — The majority of residents attending a Planning and Zoning Committee meeting on Monday night were against a proposal to allow deer hunting on a Vernonview Drive property.
Lenor Cochran owns 40 acres located north of Upland Terrace and south of Woodside Drive. The western side of the parcel that fronts on Vernonview Drive is a field; the wooded area on the eastern side of the parcel extends behind Country Court Nursing Center on Coshocton Avenue.
Cochran requested that deer hunting be allowed because of overpopulation of deer in the area, saying she has counted 12 to 18 deer in her front yard. She also said people have bow hunted there for many years; she was unaware of any objections until two years ago.
Woodside Drive resident Julie McCoy favors allowing bow hunting on the parcel. She said that over the years, around 12 to 14 deer have died on her property as a result of car accidents.
Craig Slessinger, 19 Upland Terrace, opposes the bow hunting. He said he saw five deer Monday and sees 12 at most. He said there has been no Lyme disease and no property damage from the deer. He pointed out that children play in the surrounding residential areas, there is a bus stop nearby and seniors walk in the area.
“Who’s going to be responsible if someone gets hurt?” he asked. “If you okay hunting, what does that do to the value of my home?”
His other concern was whether background checks would be done on the hunters and how many hunters would be allowed to hunt.
City Law Director Rob Broeren said the city would have nothing to do with enforcing or overseeing the hunting. If council allows deer hunting on the parcel, Cochran still has to get a deer damage permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The property owner controls who hunts the deer.
Councilman Sam Barone said his research shows that many cities’ ordinance includes a setback of around 400 feet from residential properties, campgrounds and other occupied sites. He questioned whether Mount Vernon needs to include such setbacks in its deer hunting ordinance, noting that if the city does not already have such protection in place, it should.
During its legislative session, council gave a second reading to the ordinance revising areas where deer hunting may occur. Councilwoman Nancy Vail, committee chairwoman, scheduled another committee meeting before the Nov. 13 council meeting. Councilwoman Janis Seavolt arranged for Game Warden Michael Budd to attend the next meeting.
The legislative session otherwise was routine, with council approving transfers and appropriations and authorizing the safety-service director to enter a five-year contract for copiers and supplies. Council approved several appointments and reappointments:
*Kim Lenkei, the Civil Service Commissioner
*James Brown, Shade Tree and Beautification
*Susan Simpson, Board of Property Maintenance Appeals
*Jim Gastin, alternate to the Board of Property Mainenance Appeals
Council also adopted a resolution challenging the constitutionality of amendments to the Ohio Revised Code relating to the state collecting municipal income tax and returning it to municipalities for a fee. Council gave a first reading to an ordinance authorizing Broeren to join other municipalities is a lawsuit challenging the ORC revision.