While I support a limited hunt in the parks, I applaud the Common Council’s diligence in researching the issue and allowing public input before making a decision.

West Bend officials will begin researching the logistics associated with hunting deer on the grounds of Lac Lawrann Conservancy.

Common Council members voted to approve a motion made by Alderman Steve Hutchins during Monday’s meeting to table the issue and return several weeks later, allowing staff to develop a plan to allow hunting at the conservancy and address what he claimed was a deer problem within city limits.

“I still don’t have a problem going with Lac Lawrann, I think it is a great idea,” Hutchins said. “The problem is that if you want to manage deer like that, taking it in one spot just to see if the system works, that is OK but it is not going to solve the problems in the other areas.”

Council members referenced a memo that Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Craig Hoeppner wrote with recommendations of Parks and Recreation Commission members.

According to the memo, they suggested that no action be taken because of public safety concerns, associated program costs to West Bend, an insufficient deer population in the area to warrant action, and cited evidence they were not effective in communities that established deer management programs.