Committees deal with deer and snow removal

Talk about it

The City Council’s Public Works Committee agreed Thursday to make a one-time payment to defray 2010 snow removal costs on Country Club Road and the Police and Fire Committee agreed to look for ways to rid Jamestown of encroaching deer.

Police Chief Dave Donegan said there have been five vehicle-deer crashes in Jamestown since January, primarily at the bottom of Mill Hill.

Mayor Katie Andersen said she’s received a number of phone calls about deer in city backyards mostly in hilltop areas. She said the callers first called the regional office of North Dakota Game and Fish. Those officials recommended the residents call City Hall.

Ramone Gumke, chairman of the Police and Fire Committee, suggested he and the chief contact Game and Fish to discuss the best way to deal with the problem. Other committee members agreed. Councilman Pat Nygaard wondered how Fargo had dealt with a similar problem. He said he thought they had a hunting season.

Gumke said it’s too late for a bow hunting season on the deer. He added he lived in the area and had a child who played in the yard. He didn’t like the idea of allowing hunters with guns to go after deer in the neighborhood. Besides, he added, the state has deer licenses that go begging, so he didn’t know if hunters would be willing.

“And Game and Fish has to authorize a hunting season,” he said.

Councilman Ken Schulz said he didn’t have a deer problem, but he wouldn’t mind seeing a rabbit hunting season in Jamestown.

The Police and Fire Committee tabled the problem until its November meeting to gather more information and options for eliminating the deer population within city limits.

The Public Works Committee, chaired by Andersen, agreed to reimburse Homer Township for half of its cost — $220 —in hiring someone to bulldoze snow banks on Country Club Road last winter. Township Supervisor Ray Greenwood said the county did not have the manpower or the equipment at the time to clear the road. He said he was advised to hire it done.

Andersen said her understanding was the city and county shared responsibility for the road. City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said the city and county have an agreement regarding some roads on the periphery of city limits for graveling and snow removal.

“Whoever gets there first opens the road,” he said, and added if it’s the county, the city pays half the cost.

“But we have no agreement with the township to pay half of its snow removal costs,” said Jeff Fuchs, city administrator. “The bill should have gone to the county.”

Schwartzkopf added the city has no legal authority in this situation.

“Our agreement with the county is to share the cost of snow removal and graveling on some roads. That’s all,” he said.

Andersen said she understood both sides of the situation and how the misunderstanding occurred. She was willing to cover the cost this once to maintain a good relationship with Homer Township.

“I want it understood this is a one-time exception to our policy,” she said.

The Public Works Committee voted unanimously to pay Homer Township $220.

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, public works, snow removal, mill hill, news, jamestown, city, deer