by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Dec. 2 meeting of the Sewanee Community Council, the Council approved a speed limit reduction on two streets and passed a resolution thanking the Sewanee Civic Association for its work to commemorate the desegregation of the Franklin County Public Schools. Domain Manager Nate Wilson reported on the success of the deer cull to date.
The Council passed a resolution of gratitude drafted by council member John Flynn thanking the Sewanee Civic Association for its work to commemorate the 1960s desegregation of the Franklin County Public Schools with a historical marker at Sewanee Elementary School. A lawsuit brought by a coalition of 16 local African-American and white citizens led to the realization of desegregation in the county. Council members plan to attend the Sunday, Jan. 19, commemoration ceremony at SES set to coincide with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20.
Police Chief Marie Eldridge proposed reducing the speed limit on Green’s View Road from 20 mph to 15 mph and lowering the Kentucky Avenue speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph. Eldridge cited the absence of sidewalks and shoulders on these streets, making travel potentially perilous for pedestrians. The day-care facility on Kentucky added to the risk, Eldridge said.
Eldridge also recommended crosswalk markings on Georgia Ave. at Stirling’s to accommodate high pedestrian traffic due to the library. Crosswalk markings painted on a road indicate pedestrians have the right of way.
Vice Chancellor John McCardell recommended a trial period of four to six months to gauge the effect of the speed limit change. The Council approved the speed limit reduction on both streets and the addition of crosswalk markings on Georgia Ave. Eldridge said the next step was to seek approval from the County Commission and sheriff.
Plans call for speed limit signs at the beginning and end of both streets as well as “Pedestrians Present” and “Slow, Children at Play” postings.
Domain Manager Nate Wilson reported the pre-cull was highly successful, citing the addition of designated “in-town” hunting zones; 171 does had been harvested and 195 deer total, surpassing the goal, the largest harvest since the cull began. In addition to reducing the total number of deer, the goal is to reduce the buck-doe ratio to 2–3:1. Last summer’s assessment showed the ratio had decreased from 9:1 to 5.5:1.
Hunting has been called off until the main cull on Dec. 18–Jan. 5, Wilson said. Archery hunting will be allowed in all zones, but only approved hunters who have harvested at least two deer in “in-town” zones will be allowed to hunt with muzzleloaders and shotguns and only in the outer zones. Of the 65 approved hunters, only 15–16 hunt regularly, Wilson said. Hunting is not permitted in hiking trail areas.
Wilson predicted a decrease in the deer population next year, but cautioned that the challenge was to monitor migration from areas like Lost Cove, where the deer seek refuge.
The next meeting of the Sewanee Community Council is scheduled for Jan. 27.
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