Deer Plan Passed to Solon Council

Solon's safety committee recommended the to the full city council Thursday.

The plan was recommended by a 2-1 vote, with councilmen Bill Russo and Rick Bell approving it and Councilman Ed Kraus voting against it. Kraus said he approves of most of the plan, including lethal methods, but he is against bow hunting, which is part of the plan.

The plan was passed on to the full council so that it can begin deliberations on what's been a . Meanwhile, Public Works Commissioner Jim Stanek will continue a , which city officials have asked to manage the city's culling and other deer management efforts.

Stanek said he will try to have cost figures to city officials by next month.

Committee members discussed whether they liked the entire plan or if they wanted to vote on different parts of the plan – say, in favor of sharpshooting but not bow hunting.

The bottom line is that officials know they have to decide one way or another very soon.

"Somewhere along the line we are going to have to figure out: 'This is what we are going to do,' " Stanek said. "If we don't start making decision, it's going to get late pretty fast."

If city officials want to have bow hunting this year, they will need a program and all permits in place by late September or early October, when the bow hunting season begins. Any sharpshooting program would have be in place by early 2012, Stanek said.

Meanwhile, opponents of deer culling are with hopes of making deer hunting illegal in Solon.