The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Council defeats wildlife hunting proposal

Ohio gets $335M in housing help
New 29 min. ago
State child  care fraud forces costly fix
8:30 p.m.
Education law signed locally fading away
8:17 p.m.
A&E show bungles Jungle Jim’s home
8:01 p.m.
Congressman’s son arrested in Oxford
7:52 p.m.
> More headlines

By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer 11:07 PM Wednesday, July 14, 2010

HAMILTON — Hamilton City Council shot down a wildlife hunting ordinance Wednesday night, July 14.

The ordinance for city-organized control of nuisance animals was defeated 5-2, with only Kathleen Klink and Vice Mayor Rob Wile voting in favor of the issue.

The proposal would have allowed the city manager to permit hunting in certain parts of the city at a time approved by city officials.

The issue failed after it was criticized by area residents, including former City Councilman Jim Noonan and Mel Dabb.

Noonan and Dabb told council the ordinance was cruel to animals and put children and others at risk.

“It’s unsafe being in the city limits and it’s only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt,” Dabb said.

“This is just not safe for the community,” he added. “There have been so many illegal hunters that have been killing deer and dragging them out of my neighborhood and I’m just very, very concerned.”

The topic was presented in April by Hamilton resident Dr. James Stever, whose West Side neighborhood is inundated with deer.

Stever’s proposed solution was for the city to adopt a measure similar to one in Oxford and Indian Hill that would give the city manager power to manage all wildlife — beyond just deer.

Councilwoman Carla Fiehrer said Dabb convinced her the proposal was bad idea.

“I don’t want it to be on my watch to have someone injured ... it’s just something I’m not comfortable with,” Fiehrer said.

In other business, council members approved a resolution to name a street in Crawford Woods Park after Hamilton native and Colorado Rockies Manager Jim Tracy.

Tracy will be at the park for a dedication ceremony of the new Jim Tracy Way at 5 p.m. Friday.

Share this article