City plans to kill more deer in January

By Scott Aust, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, December 19, 2006

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RAPID CITY -- City sharpshooters will be allowed to kill another 120 deer starting in January in addition to the 180 authorized to be taken this month.

The city applied for 180 deer tags from state Game, Fish & Parks officials a couple of weeks ago, but the state recently sent back a letter authorizing the city to kill as many as 300 deer in total based on the GF&P survey numbers that indicated an 8 percent increase in population compared to last year.

On Monday, the city council authorized using $9,000 in January from money budgeted for deer management in 2007 to kill an additional 120 deer.

Last year, 478 deer were counted over a two day period during the GF&P survey, a 17 percent increase over the 407 deer counted in October 2004.

Sharpshooters have killed 500 deer since the city council resumed its deer management program in December 2004 after a two year hiatus. The program was restarted in response to concerns about a rise in deer-related traffic accidents.

The GF&P survey does not indicate the total size of the deer herd, only the number counted during the survey. The city really doesn’t know how many deer stay year round and how many wander in and out throughout the year.

In a report to the city council this week, the city’s deer task force recommended implementing a long term deer management plan that would set a maximum population number and include options for maintaining the population at that level.

The task force also advocated hiring a consultant to prepare the management plan that would include an in depth census of deer and migration patterns; implementation of nonlethal management alternatives such as birth control, road barriers and cautionary signs; education and marketing to citizens on methods used to control the population; and costs associated with each method.

Citizens can sign up to receive deer carcasses field dressed by city sharpshooters by calling 394-4175. Last year, more than 400 people signed up for the 300 deer killed.

In other business on Monday:

n An agreement to transfer 150 acres of undeveloped land along Skyline Drive still has not been worked out to the city attorney’s satisfaction.

City attorney Jason Green said he, Mayor Jim Shaw and parks and recreation director Jerry Cole met with representatives of the Skyline Drive preservation group late last week and discussed an alternative version of a conservation easement.

The preservation group and Northern Prairies Land Trust, a nonprofit corporation who would hold the conservation easement, are reviewing the city’s alternative easement, Green said, but need some additional time.

The council put the issue on the agenda of the Dec. 28 special council meeting, a meeting in which the city wraps up any business remaining before the new year.

After the easement issue is worked out, the land would be turned over to the city and become part of the city park system.

n The council authorized spending as much as $75,000 from 2012 funds to prepare schematic designs, a construction estimate and develop a capital fundraising campaign strategic plan for building a proposed performing arts center project.

A coalition of performing arts groups wants to build a 400 to 500 seat theater near The Journey Museum.

n The council received six bids for the first phase of the Kansas City Street reconstruction project and awarded it to Heavy Constructors, which had the low bid of $2,688,281.

The first phase of the project would rebuild Kansas City Street between Fifth and Eighth streets with two, 12-foot driving lanes and the elimination of most of the center turn lane except at the intersections with Eighth Street and Fifth Street.

The project will include replacing all underground utilities, including water lines, sewer lines, storm sewers, phone, electric, natural gas, cable TV and fiber- optic lines. The streets will be resurfaced, curbs and gutters replaced, and streetscaping and other features added to make the downtown area more attractive.

Last month, high estimates caused the council to delay reconstruction of First Street between Omaha and Kansas City Street that had been planned as part of phase one. The estimate just for the Kansas City portion had increased from $1.47 million to $2.58 million.

Three more phases are planned for the project including rebuilding Kansas City Street between Fifth Street and East Boulevard and six side streets between Omaha and Kansas City streets.

Construction is anticipated to occur over the winter and be finished before next summer to lessen the impact on downtown businesses when tourists start arriving.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com