(Posted Aug. 27, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
The village of West Jefferson will allow bowhunting on specified land, with permits issued through a lottery system.
Council voted unanimously on Aug. 20 to allow bowhunting on 93.85 acres near the intersection of Routes 29 and 40, behind Jefferson Industries. Council is temporarily waiving a section of the codified ordinances to allow for such hunting—the one about shooting and throwing missiles.
Bow hunters are allowed on Nature Conservancy and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) land under these stipulations:
– No gun or firearm of any kind will be used on any animal at any time for any reason.
– A schedule of weeks assigned through a lottery will be provided to the village.
– A permit to hunt on land within the village must be displayed at all times.
– The right to hunt on the land can and will be revoked by the Nature Conservancy and ODNR game warden.
– The waiver applies to the regular 2018-19 bowhunting season only. This is a test/trial experiment and may be renewed for future seasons if there are no problems or incidents.
This provision is for deer hunting only. In May, ODNR approved Sept. 29, 2018, through Feb. 3, 2019, as bowhunting season.
In other action, council hired Choice One Engineering to provide administrative services during construction work at Routes 29 and 40. The Sidney, Ohio, company will provide a project engineer for 25 hours a week Sept. 4-Nov. 30. The Choice One work is not to exceed $56,000.
Also approved was a resolution outlining village amenities of water, sewer and police protection for 25 acres of land in Jefferson Township that is on a fast track to annexation to the village.
Council held a first reading on an ordinance that would narrow Veterans Way from 33 feet to 24.6 feet and North Center Street from 66 feet to 56.6 feet. Council President Steve Johnston said a public hearing on the proposed changes will be held at council’s next meeting, set for Sept. 4, a day later than usual due to the Labor Day holiday.
Council gave the go-ahead to purchase $15,000 worth of new sound and recording equipment. The system will replace the microphones at each council member’s and village leader’s seat in council chambers.
Johnston said the new setup also will hook the microphone at the podium into the recording system so the village will have a better record of proceedings. Two hanging microphones also are planned.
Mayor Ray Martin announced that a town hall session will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at the West Jefferson Community Center. Residents are invited to attend to learn about a variety of happening in the village.
“We’re going to explain everything that is going on,” Martin said.
