Jason Miller
Senior Editor and Founder of Thomas Paine’s Corner
http://thomaspainescorner.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/anarchovegan
NAALPO Press Officer
http://www.animalliberationpressoffice.org/
---------------------------------------------------------
I received this response from Randy Knight Community Relations Manager Johnson County Park & Recreation District :
Mr. Miller – I wanted to assure you that your comments related to the deer population in Shawnee Mission Park have been shared with each of our board members and also with Michael Meadors, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Bill Maasen, Superintendent of Parks and Golf Courses. Please know we take the concerns you expressed very seriously and we appreciate the opinions you have shared.
Please also know that we are working diligently to resolve this very complex and challenging issue. For the past several months we have been reviewing a wealth of information provided by an assortment of wildlife, biology and health experts, comparing a wide range of experiences shared by other agencies that have dealt with similar situations, working cooperatively with all the jurisdictions that have authority in this matter, and giving careful consideration to the widely diverse opinions that have been voiced – sometimes very passionately – by you and so many other concerned citizens.
Now we are in the process of finalizing a management plan to safely and effectively resolve the deer situation. District staff will present its recommendations for the plan at our board’s Regular Monthly Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17. The meeting will be held at the Lenexa National Guard Armory at 18200 W. 87th Street Parkway, which is just east of the 3 & 2 baseball complex. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to participate in the meeting, and we certainly hope your schedule will allow you to attend. As part of our board’s review of the proposed plan, you would have an opportunity during the meeting to address the board and share your thoughts on staff’s recommendations. For your convenience, at least one week prior to the meeting a copy of staff’s recommendations will be posted on the Resource Management page of our website at www.jcprd.com.
You also are welcome to attend the Parks and Golf Courses Committee meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 8. Along with other agenda items, staff will be discussing elements of the proposed deer management plan with members of the committee in preparation for the formal presentation on June 17. Unlike the regular board meeting, however, there will not be an opportunity for public comment during the committee meeting. The meeting will be held in the Boardroom of the JCPRD Administration Building in Shawnee Mission Park at 7904 Renner Road.
As to the specific questions you asked in your email:
- In item #2 you asked for “a little bit of compassion” and generously offered your yard as a relocation site for a couple of deer. Unfortunately, relocation (which you also suggested in Items seven and eight) is not allowed in the state in Kansas. According to our research, the mortality rate through relocation can be as high as 85% and it results in a highly stressful death.
In addition, it is an option we were unable to get the Humane Society of the United States to support.
- R.J. Jubber, who’s right to address the board you questioned in Item #5, listed his address as Shawnee rather than Eudora on the sign-in sheet. Even if he were not a resident of Johnson County, however, it is our policy to allow non-residents to address the board at our public meetings and hearings. Point of residence does, though, factor into the consideration given to public comments.
- The city representative you inquired about in Item #6 was Sergeant Brad Hill of the Lenexa Police Department. According to his statement to our board he was asked by the city to present a small brief on the city’s stance on the deer problem.
Thank you again for your active interest in this matter. If you would like to discuss it further, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at (913) 894-3323.
Randy Knight
Community Relations Manager
Johnson County Park & Recreation District JCPRD Administration Building, Shawnee Mission Park
7904 Renner Road, Shawnee Mission, KS 66219-9723
Phone: 913.894.3323
Fax: 913.492.7275
Cell: 913.909.3334
Email:
Visit the District website at www.jcprd.com Consider the environment. Print this email only when necessary.
Note: Kansas has a broad public records law. Your e-mail may be subject to public disclosure.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
