Ortonville- No hunting allowed within the village.
That is the message the village council will convey after a current ordinance is amended.
At their Dec. 11 meeting, the council asked Village Manager Ed Coy to amend a current ordinance that prohibits the discharge of firearms or cartridges, except by peace officers performing their duties, within the village limits.
‘We will add a section making it unlawful for any person to engage in the sport of hunting within the geographical limits of Ortonville, including using firearms, bows, crossbows and the like,? said Coy.
The amended ordinance will be brought to council at their next meeting, scheduled for Jan. 8.
The council decided an ordinance prohibiting any kind of hunting within the village limits is needed after two tree stands were observed on the 48 acres of property the village owns that runs from Granger Road north to Mill Street, directly west of the Crescent Hills subdivision, and east of the H.T. Burt/Harvey Swanson complex.
‘Years ago, hunting on village property was permitted,? said Coy, who noted that up until now, the ordinance did not prohibit bow or sling shot hunting. ‘The village has since grown. If we’re going to have trails back there, we want to make sure no one gets hurt.?
Coy was referring to a nearly 1-mile nature trail proposed on the land by some local citizens recently.
‘People were told in the past (hunting) was OK,? said Coy. ‘But it’s not anymore. If any tree stands or hunting blinds are found (on village property) they will be taken down, if still there in January.?