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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

CITY OF COOK

Annual citywide bowhunt endangered

Mayor opposes, city council divided on event

Crystal Dey
Posted 8/1/19

COOK – An annual bow hunt for deer in the City of Cook may be nixed. Council members were divided over whether to proceed with the 2019 hunt at their Thursday, July 25 meeting. Mayor Harold …

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CITY OF COOK

Annual citywide bowhunt endangered

Mayor opposes, city council divided on event

Posted

COOK – An annual bow hunt for deer in the City of Cook may be nixed. Council members were divided over whether to proceed with the 2019 hunt at their Thursday, July 25 meeting.
Mayor Harold Johnston and council member Kim Brunner voiced opposition to the hunt.
“I’ve just seen too many holes in them when they’re walking around,” Brunner said.
Council members Jody Bixby and Elizabeth Storm said they would support a hunt this year. Council member Karen Hollanitsch was not in attendance at the meeting.
The hunt was proposed to begin Aug. 22 continuing through Dec. 31 with an orientation for hunters on Sept. 4. Official sign-up for the event takes place after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources press release is printed in newspapers, usually during the first full week of August.
A total of 25 bow hunters are permitted for a cost of $20 each. The deadline to signup is Aug. 22 at noon, that is if a hunt is approved.
The council took no definitive action on the bow hunt. Since the council was divided and the hunt begins before the next regularly-scheduled council meeting on Thursday, Aug. 22, the council will be setting a future meeting date to address the issue.

Other business
The council also discussed citywide safety during the meeting. Ambulance Director Tina Rothleutner, who was not at the meeting, reported a concern for retaining staff and a need for more EMR and EMT volunteers. The council approved the ambulance report as part of the consent agenda. Ambulance personnel responded to 31 calls during the month of June.
Rothleutner reminded the council of National Night Out which will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cook Community Center. The event will include local emergency personnel, animals from Cook’s Country Connection and a visit from the North Memorial helicopter.
In other safety-related discussion, City Administrator Theresa Martinson said OSHA will be coming to the city to conduct a workplace safety session on Oct. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Cook Community Center. The session will be open and free to area businesses.
Storm introduced a crosswalk signage project she said she has seen used effectively in other communities. The project involves hanging receptacles fashioned out of plastic piping affixed to existing street signs and orange flags near high-traffic crossings. When a pedestrian is crossing the street they would remove the flag and wave it as they cross, later depositing it in the receptacle on the opposite side of the street. Participation is voluntary.
“Right now, when our traffic is heavy people are not stopping for a pedestrian,” Storm said.
The council agreed the city will purchase a crosswalk station to place at the high-traffic area and the Lions Club will make and install the flags and receptacles.

In other action, the council:
• Approved putting infrastructure work out to bid for the Zup’s rebuild on Hwy 53.
• Approved a bulletin board policy and expanded hours for the library.
• Approved a propane bid from Lakes Gas for 88 cents per gallon.
• Heard an update from Storm on the “Feed My Sheep” free lunch available on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cook City Park. The lunches will be available through the last Wednesday in August.

Cook, bowhunt, hunting, city government