The President's Corner

This month’s column is dedicated to an issue that will appear on your Tuesday, March 15 Primary Election ballot which, unfortunately, has not received a lot of attention. In fact, the same issue will appear on the ballot not only in Parma, but also in Parma Heights, Seven Hills, North Royalton, Strongsville, and Broadview Heights. Issue 13 on the Parma ballot will state the following: 

“Shall the City Council amend Section 618.11 Hunting or Trapping Prohibited; 618.21 Hunting Prohibited; and 961.02 Park Property of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Parma to permit the limited hunting of white-tailed deer by crossbow or long bow by licensed individuals conducted from elevated platforms, under terms and conditions established by the State of Ohio and City of Parma, and under the supervision of the Chief of Police?” 

For months, my colleagues and I have heard from a multitude of residents asking what can be done to solve the “deer problem.” From health and safety concerns to the destruction of expensive landscaping, elected officials in Parma and throughout Northeast Ohio have been seeking a solution that would prove effective, yet not cost prohibitive. In fact, Parma City Council has held a multitude of meetings and heard from many experts. Unfortunately, most of what we have heard did not convince us that these two goals could be achieved. 

The biggest dilemma in the eyes of many elected officials was that an intra-city solution was not going to work. Quite frankly, you can cull all the deer you want in Parma, but deer do not know city boundaries. In fact, we learned of cities that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attempting to cull their herds which continue to have an overpopulation of deer. Therefore, the conclusion was drawn that only a regional solution would work. I am happy to say that the mayors and city councils of cities mentioned above are working together to make this happen by placing the issue on the ballot for the voters to decide. 

If passed, the ordinance will allow for the following: 

* The Police Chief may issue Municipal Deer Control Permits to qualified archer applicants, following the issuance by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources of its own Deer Management Control Permits to allow only bow-hunting (long bow or crossbow) 

* Hunting in areas of not less than five contiguous acres by state-licensed hunters proficient in the use of bow and arrow, subject to such rules and regulations as the Chief may prescribe 

*Hunting shall be conducted on an elevated platform only 

*Written permission from the property owner(s) must be obtained 

*Qualified archers must pass a state approved archery proficiency test and hold a valid Ohio hunting license 

*The Chief of Police is authorized to create any other rules and regulations necessary to ensure public health and safety 

Interestingly, as I was typing this column, I received an e-mail that the Cleveland Metroparks culled 40 deer yesterday in the West Creek Reservation on Ridgewood Drive in Parma. The meat from their culling operations is donated to local foodbanks, which is also the intent of the program described here. 

Please note that in order to vote on March 15, you must be registered by February 16.  Voting by mail will begin on February 17. Voter registration forms and vote by mail applications can be obtained from your city hall, the Cuyahoga County Public Library, or by calling the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at 216-443-VOTE. 

In closing, I want to thank the many residents who have contacted me about this issue and I urge you to vote “YES” on Issue 13 in the March Primary Election. I am hopeful that the issue will pass in Parma and the other cities, so that a regional solution to the overpopulation of deer will finally be addressed for the health, safety, and beauty of our cities.