From left, council members Jack Wilhite and Jeff Grose. InkFreeNews photo by Maggie Kenworthy.

WARSAW — During a relatively short Warsaw Common Council meeting held tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 3, the council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing deer nuisance areas in the city.

The ordinance determines the existence of deer nuisance areas within the city limits and sets the dates when task force archers can hunt whitetail deer in the city. Those dates are Sept. 15 through Jan. 31, 2020. This will be the 14th year that the program has been used in Warsaw.

“This resolution will allow the management team to establish what are called reduction zones,” explained Councilman Jeff Grose who spearheads the program. “If reduction zone status is given, that will allow our archers in the program to go into those reduction zones and take deer. The state of Indiana has given us urban zone status again for our city and the surrounding zone area.”

New this year, taskforce member Nate Howett has created a “log program” which allows archers to enter their information immediately using their smartphone. In the past, the information was gathered through email or paper forms. Grose said that since the existence of the program the taskforce has claimed over 500 deer.

Grose said any landowners who wish to apply for reduction land status can find the appropriate paperwork online here. The paperwork then must be turned in to the Warsaw Police Department. After that, the property will be reviewed to see if it meets the requirements to receive reduction land status.

Mayor Joseph Thallemer applauded Grose and the many volunteers for their efforts. “Thanks for your work. I know you guys have this running like a well-oiled machine. I know that we have taken the lead and the state has modeled their programs in other communities after what we’ve done.”

The council also unanimously approved both a tax abatement and a tax abatement waiver for Texmo.

This tax abatement was originally approved by the council in June, but the company failed to file its tax abatement documents with the county by the required deadline. The county requested that Texmo file for a waiver with the city in order to receive their tax abatement as previously approved.

The council saw no problem with approving the abatement and its waiver.

City Planner Jeremy Skinner presented an ordinance to address conflict of interest concerns when issuing permits. He explained that the state recently passed a state statute requiring the ordinance. In the event that a conflict of interest is identified, a meeting will be held with city officials to address the possible concerns.

The council approved this ordinance on first reading. The ordinance will have it’s second and final reading during the next council meeting.