(A more in depth version of this story will appear in this next Faribault County Register.)

After discussing the deer problem in the city for several months, the Blue Earth City Council voted last Monday night to take some action on the matter.

They voted 6-1 to both budget for an inside city limits deer hunt for the fall of 2019, and to form a city subcommittee composed of residents to study the situation further and eventually come with recommendations to the council.

The vote to proceed was made during the regular meeting but most of the council’s half hour work session before the regular meeting had also been devoted to the deer problem issue.

Councilman Russ Erichsrud said the deer in town problem had been bad last winter, but now had continued into the spring and summer with deer eating flower and vegetable plants right in people’s yards.

Creating a citizen task force was one item listed in the council packet as a possible solution. And, council member John Huisman had previously proposed the special city deer hunt in the past.

In the end, the council decided it could be in the best interest of the city to try and do both have a deer hunt and form a citizen committee. However, the vote was just to budget to do the hunt, while the vote for the hunt could come at a later date.

Councilman Glenn Gaylord, who was the dissenting vote on the motion, said the best solution was not to have a city hunt, but instead put pressure on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to increase the number of deer hunting permits in the area.

“This problem lies with the DNR,” Gaylord said. “They are not managing the state’s deer herd properly. Why not have two permits issued to a person per year? They could solve this problem, but they just don’t want to.”

Gaylord attempted to amend the motion to split it into two votes, but his motion to amend it died for lack of a second.

“I am in favor of forming the committee, but not of the city hunt,” Gaylord said. “It would not solve the problem.”

In other business at the meeting, the council:

Heard from Chris Cyphers of B & B Sanitation about a hike in recycling costs to his company from the purchaser of the recycles he picks up.

Cyphers asked the council if it would be possible to raise the rate the city pays his company for recycling, due to his increased costs.

The council took the matter under advisement, but did not take action at this time.

Voted to transfer ownership of an alley behind the Three Sisters buildings in downtown Blue Earth to the Rural Renaissance Project (RRP) group. The city had already voted to vacate the alley at an earlier meeting.

RRP needs the space for construction of an elevator if their proposed project for the Three Sisters is accepted.

Voted to designate two dogs that had chased a mail carrier as potentially dangerous dogs, under the terms of the city ordinance.

Heard updates from the city engineer about the various construction projects going on around the city.