WILMINGTON — After receiving two requests to either hunt or fish on county-owned property, commissioners plan to explore what a policy would look like for future guidance.
Commissioners voted 3-0 against a request to bow hunt on land off Fife Avenue during the 2017-18 hunting season, and turned down 2-1 a man asking to fish at a quarry lake.
The chief reason to deny the hunting request is the area’s proximity to a walking trail, public parks and a couple commercial business facilities — Alkermes and EMSAR (Equipment Management Service And Repair) — with numerous employees, according to commissioners.
Clinton County Commissioners President Kerry R. Steed said the 1326 Fife Ave. location could be regarded “an urban property,” and is too congested and hence not an area suited to hunting.
Clinton County Commissioner Patrick Haley suggested a letter be sent to the person making the request, giving the reasoning for the denial, namely safety concerns with that particular property.
On the fishing question, Clinton County Commissioner Brenda K. Woods said if other people would see someone fishing, the commissioners office could expect more requests.
Woods, who recently went to and observed the quarry lake property, said the signage there needs improving and the fence needs mending. There needs to be some parameters spelled out regarding the water and safety, thinks Woods.
The person who asked to fish the quarry lake is a neighbor and keeps an eye on the property, but Woods said while she appreciates the neighbor being on the lookout, she doesn’t think that justifies granting him permission.
Haley expressed a concern that allowing hunting and fishing on county-owned property exposes the county to liability, and he thinks having a policy in place for future requests is a pro-active measure.
He thinks it is not the same situation when a private farm owner receives similar requests. “It’s a little bit different with government,” Haley added.
Steed voted in favor of the fishing request, noting that the man requesting is, as it were, an “unofficial caretaker” of the property, and, unlike the hunting request on Fife Avenue, Steed does not have a problem with the fishing request.
Steed described himself as pro-hunter and pro-fisherman.
Commissioners discussed bringing in a game warden from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the county sheriff in preparing to draft a possible policy.
Haley said he would be interested in hearing about legal aspects from the county prosecutor’s office.
Clinton County Administrator Mary Ann Foland said she would like to get input from the county’s insurance provider, which is the County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA), especially in respect to hunting.
In other business, commissioners approved Alkermes’ PUD (planned unit development) rezoning request for its Olinger Circle site. Plans for new construction there are in conjunction with the global bio-pharmaceutical company’s five-year plan, which includes significant growth in Wilmington.
As reported in April, Alkermes plans to add about 90 jobs at the Wilmington facility this year, with expectations that probably about 90 jobs will be added year over year such that by 2021 the employee base will approach 900.
Alkermes’ once-monthly prescription medication Vivitrol is driving the growth, say company officials. Vivitrol is used to treat alcohol dependence, and to help prevent relapse to opioid dependence, following opioid detox.
Vivitrol already is manufactured at the company’s Wilmington plant, as is Aristada for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
