City Council Round-Up: Expanding Bow Hunting Ordinance, Burglary Trends, and “One Top Notch Police Force”

Fort Thomas City Council met last night for the first time since early August last night, returning now to their normal, biweekly schedule. Here’s your rundown of the minutes of the meeting:

Firefighter Kyle Kaufman

FTFD Chief Mark Bailey badges Ft. Thomas’s newest firefighter/paramedic, Kyle Kaufman.

FTFD Chief Mark Bailey kicked off this week’s meeting by officially badging Kyle Kaufman Fort Thomas’s newest firefighter and paramedic. Mr. Kaufman will wear badge #11 for the Fort Thomas Fire Department. Mr. Kaufman’s wife and several other firefighters and paramedics were in attendance to congratulate him.

Archery Ordinance / Deer Population

Fort Thomas first passed an ordinance allowing bow hunting for deer population control within city limits, back in 2007. Photo via FtThomas.org.

Council spent a considerable amount of time during last night’s meeting discussing Fort Thomas’s archery ordinance.

Fort Thomas first passed an ordinance back in 2007 to allow bow hunting as a means of deer population control, during a 42 day window of KY’s hunting season, during certain hours of the morning, and only certain distances away from residences and businesses.

Now, City Administrator Don Martin reported to Council that the KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has determined that, until Fort Thomas more fully explores an expansion of its hunting allowances as a means of controlling deer population, it will not approve any alternatives to deer population control. 

According to Mr. Martin’s report, the Dept. has also determined that, despite residents’ continued concern over the issue, census data indicate that the current bow hunting strategy is working to control Fort Thomas’s deer population.

This decision comes from a request to Council earlier this summer from a Fort Thomas resident to explore non-weaponry based solutions, such as sterilization and birth control. 

Council debated this issue at length. Councilman Eric Haas expressed his disappointment at the Dept.’s findings, but encouraged Mr. Martin to continue cooperating in good faith. 

Councilwoman Lisa Kelly also chimed in, however, wondering “But at what point is our hunting going to be enough?”

Mayor Mary Brown was also scratching her head: “I’m having trouble accepting the fact that the deer population is reducing.” 

Councilman Roger Peterman agreed with the Mayor, expressing concern that vehicular accidents involving deer in Fort Thomas have not decreased in the last six years.

Ultimately, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have final approval in these matters. 

As a result, Council approved a motion with a 3-2 vote for city staff to draft an amendment to the archery ordinance to expand hunting options within the city by increasing the number of hunting days throughout the year. The amendment will also allow for the combining of adjacent lots when determining the legality of bow hunting on private property (currently, a plot of land must measure three acres to accommodate bow hunting).

Once the amendment is drafted, Mr. Martin will present it to Council for a vote.

Not surprisingly, this is probably not the last we’ll hear of this issue.

“One Top Notch Police Force”

Mr. Mike Meyers, of Highland Heights, visited Council last night to commend the FTPD on their assistance in a shooting incident in Highland Heights earlier this summer, referring to the FTPD as “one top notch police force.”

Fort Thomas Police responded to assist the Highland Heights Police Department in securing the scene. According to Mr. Meyers’s account, with FTPD’s help the scene was secured and civilians were packing up to go home after just 40 minutes.

FTPD Chief Mike Daly commented, thanking Mr. Meyers for visiting and commending Lt. Rich Whitford, Sgt. Casey Kilgore, and Off. Christopher Goshorn for the leadership they demonstrated during this incident.

NKY Burglaries

FTPD Chief Daly also commented on the Department’s announcement last week of the string of daytime burglaries currently trending across the region. “This is a trend that’s affecting the whole region,” Chief Daly explained, “and it’s hitting Fort Thomas pretty hard all of a sudden.”

Last week, FTPD released an E-lert, briefing Fort Thomas residents on the details.

2013 Street Program

Mr. Martin also announced last night that the 2013 Street Repair is on schedule to begin major construction on Clover Ridge and Rossford by the beginning of October. Mr. Martin advised residents to expect delays in this area.