Public works director reports on upcoming elk cull, dirt berm at brush site

Contained in the consent agenda, the Council recently approved three permits applications related to in city hunting. Listed applicants for the west side properties include Cody Fanjoy of Boyd, Tanner Miller of Strum, and Ryan Chwala of Stanley.

The permit applications for Fanjoy and Miller both list an area of approximately 113 acres located south of County O and north of present Ace Ethanol, otherwise delineated as that land surrounding the Haas pit. The application for hunting by Fanjoy and Miller further lists “whitetail deer, turkeys, geese, and ducks” as the intended quarry, with bow, shotgun, and muzzleloader as well, but excluding rifles. As to the second area to see hunting in the city, Chwala’s permit lists an undeveloped area northwest of Industrial Park Road along the Wolf River. The permit lists compound bow for whitetail deer at the site, with a prospective hunting window stretching from the present until January 8 of next year. The permit application includes a release from liability on the part of the city by the applicant as being city owned land. The permit applications for Fanjoy and Miller relate to privately owned land located within the city, containing no such release.

Shifting from in city hunting to city public works, department operator in charge John Hoel made known that three bull elk were due to be harvested shortly, with street sweeping and a new dirt berm at the city brush site also in the mix.

“…cull out three of the bull elk,” Hoel stated in his bi-monthly report for Oct. 13. The elk cull comes as the city approaches year three of a five-year quarantine pe riod with regards to CWD, the quarantine getting a reset after a cow (female) elk escaped the fence and was away from the herd longer than allowed for reinstatement per regulation.

Elk herds are dominated by a single male with several females, making the close quarters of the elk pen presenting a hazard in mating season.

The City cannot transfer elk during the five year quar – antine.

As to fall chores, Hoel reported that street sweeping was coming up, with falling leaves clogging gutters absent removal. Tree trimming was also planned, along with a replacing a section of sidewalk removed for a water service repair and installation of the new cemetery sign on a poured slab if the sign has been painted. Last but not least there’s a new addition to the city brush pile off Fourth Avenue: a dirt berm several feet high, with potential to become a boundary marker.

“The dirt berm has been completed around the brush site,” Hoel told the Council. “Going forward if we would need to add a gate to help police the brush site the berm will act as a perimeter fence.”

Hunting with bow, shotgun and muzzleloader will be taking place just past Carter Road on the west side, outh of County Highway O. Image courtesy Chippewa County GIS.