Board amends hunting and trapping ordinances, accepts grant
By Kellen Olshefski
Staff Writer
The Walworth County Board progressed the concept of the White River County Park on Nov. 12 by accepting a $1 million grant and changing an ordinance to allow hunting and trapping in county parks.
The 190-acre property in the Town of Lyons, owned by Duane Clark, consists primarily of farmland and woods and has about 9,200 feet of frontage on both banks of the White River.
The county secured an option to purchase the property in early 2013 for $1.91 million. Walworth County was awarded a $1 million Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grant last month to cover half the cost of the acquisition. County Administrator David Bretl included the funds needed to purchase the property in his preliminary 2014 budget.
Amendments to the county’s code of ordinances with regard to hunting, fishing and trapping in county parks were sent back to committee at the board’s Oct. 8 meeting after an 8-2 vote by county supervisors.
The amendments to the ordinance were approved last week on a 9-1-1 vote, with Supervisor Carl Redenius voting no and Supervisor Tim Schiefelbein absent.
The $1 million Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to help purchase the park property requires the county to allow hunting, trapping and fishing in the park.
The board accepted the $1 million grant on an 8-2-1 vote with supervisors Redenius and Richard Brandl opposed.
Supervisor Dan Kilkenny said the board’s Park Committee has grappled with the concepts of the ordinance, trying to figure out what the DNR wants. He said the committee has sorted through it and created a draft that meets the requirements and balances the uses of parks for all citizens.
“It may not be perfect with what everyone wants, but I think, on balance, it provides that,” he said.
With hunting and trapping being allowed by permit only under the ordinance, Supervisor Carl Redenius raised concerns about the number of permits available and how long they would be valid for.
Chairman Nancy Russell said her understanding is that all permits would be approved. However, the board wants to be aware of who will be hunting and trapping in the park and make sure they have licenses to do so and are aware of the ordinance and where adjacent homes are located near the property.
Walworth County Director of Central Services Kevin Brunner said while a permit system would be developed with the DNR, permits would likely be issued on an annual basis.
“We want this to be as easy as possible to obtain,” he said. “We want it to be readily available.”
Redenius said he didn’t want to see the board vote on the matter only to find out later permits would be extremely limited and discourage citizens from hunting or trapping.
He said it isn’t feasible for hunters to run around and get permits every time they want to hunt.
Russell said the DNR would review any permit system, and a contract for the grant would only be issued after all reviews were completed.
“I think, Carl, that the DNR is not going to allow a permit process that doesn’t comply,” she said.
The ordinance follows hunting, trapping and fishing seasons allowed in state parks, Bretl said.
Hours will follow whatever is open season at the time, and the county park would be able to determine park hours for hunting, such as an hour before sunrise and hour after sunset.
As for fishing, Bretl the current rule for state parks is if an individual lawfully enters the park during park hours, that individual can continue to fish after park hours.
Kilkenny said the Park Committee has worked to educate the public and has to work out details or any future problems with the DNR.
Russell said her position with regard to the park has changed since a previous park meeting.
“To give this up, we would never have an opportunity like this one come along and I would hate that this board, and me, as the leader of this board, be identified as people who passed up this wonderful opportunity to have this park for all of our citizens to use in the future,” she said.
