Before they take any action, officials wish to hear what residents have to say about a suggested ban on hunting with firearms and the discharge of firearms in a particular section of Oxford Township.
‘I don’t want to bring on Big Brother to somebody that doesn’t want it,? said Trustee Sue Bellairs. ‘I would kind of like to see some more input first.?
The township board will conduct a public hearing at its Wednesday, Oct. 10 meeting (see public notice on page 23) regarding the possibility of prohibiting firearm hunting and discharge in Section 31 of the township which is bounded by W. Drahner Rd. to the north, S. Coats Rd. to the east, Stanton Rd. to the south and Baldwin Rd. to the west.
Ann McKinley, a resident on S. Coats Rd., approached the board last week about implementing a ban.
‘We have a number of relatively new subdivisions that have increased the density in that area dramatically over the last several years,? she told officials. ‘A number of the parcels, although they may be five acres, are quite narrow, which really doesn’t allow much safety margin for people shooting.?
Of particular concern was the upcoming firearm deer season, which starts Nov. 15.
‘The sounds of shots are so close frequently, a lot of us we’re reluctant to walk on our own property during deer season because we don’t know who’s out there,? McKinley said. ‘We are not sure where the hunters are and how safe they are being.?
It was noted during the meeting that the state already prohibits hunting deer with rifles in all of southern Michigan, which includes Oxford Township.
Only shotguns, muzzleloading rifles and certain handguns are permitted.
But this failed to abate residents? concerns or allay their fears.
‘There is no room to fire safely even a shotgun in that area,? said resident Brian Kersey. ‘It’s just not safe.?
‘I don’t feel safe 400 feet away from a shotgun being discharged (while) walking on my own property,? said resident Gail Kersey.
Under state law, if a municipality determines ‘the safety and well-being of person or property are endangered by hunters or discharge of firearms,? it can request via a resolution the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ‘recommend closure of that area . . . to relieve the problem.?
The DNR would then set a date to hold a public hearing in the community. Following this hearing, the DNR would submit its findings and recommendations to a municipal board, which either disapproves of what’s prescribed or approves and enacts a local ordinance.
Township officials were divided in a failed 3-3 vote on a motion requesting the DNR conduct a public hearing.
‘Don’t we have to base that on something besides one request? That’s a big area there,? Bellairs said. ‘I would have liked to have seen some more residents.?
‘I just want to know if there’s enough reason to even do it,? she explained. ‘I don’t know how many people this even involves.?
Because she thought her appearance before the board was a ‘preliminary? step, McKinley didn’t think it was necessary to get a bunch of neighbors to come to the meeting that night.
She thought ‘their support would be more necessary later on? in the process.
Trustee Charlie Kniffen pointed out there’s already a state law prohibiting hunting within 450 feet of an occupied building, house, cabin, barn or any other building used in a farm operation without written permission from the owner or occupant.
‘Not everybody follows state law,? replied Supervisor Bill Dunn.
Dunn, who’s an avid hunter himself, said he’s ‘familiar with the area? in question and ‘can see the concern.?
Dunn favored asking the DNR for a public hearing as did Treasurer Joe Ferrari.
Trustee Doleen Behnke suggested readdressing the possible hunting ban at the Oct. 10 township board and notifying residents of Section 31 that the issue will be on the next regular agenda.
‘That way we’re going to know exactly what the people want,? she said.
Bellairs agreed.
‘I’m not sure how many people in that area knew this was going to be on the agenda tonight,? she said.
But Dunn and Ferrari felt it was the DNR’s job to hold a hearing on this and garner public input, not the township’s.
‘That’s not our role at all,? Ferrari said.
Ultimately, the board voted 4-2 to place it on the Oct. 10 agenda.
Fire Chief Jack LeRoy recalled the last time the township addressed a similar hunting issue in the area surrounding Country View Estates, it drew lots of people.
‘There were people that actually came to the public hearing from many miles away to voice their opinion concerning hunting in Oxford,? he told the board. ‘It was a very volatile meeting to say the least.?