Cornell City Council - Open season on park geese?

Although a few methods have been tried, to persuade the wild Canadian goose population at Mill Yard Park in Cornell, to go elsewhere, nothing has worked. The city has tried spraying grape seed extract around the park, which the geese find distasteful, and installing a coyote statue, to scare them off, but to no avail. However, it may be time for more intense methods, which was brought up, July 2, at a Cornell City Council meeting, by alderperson Tim Smith. Smith posed the question about allowing hunters to take care of some of the population. If the city opened the park to allow firearms near the river, a hunter could harvest the waterfowl, during the regular DNR-sanctioned goose season(s). It was agreed to send the matter to the Public Health and Safety Committee, for more discussion. “We can’t control the hunt, but we can control where you set up,” said city administrator Dave DeJongh. DeJongh also followed up with Cattail Enterprises, on their promised lifetime warranty, guaranteeing materials and labor of the resinous floor coatings, for the kitchen, bathroom floors and stage, at the Mill Yard Park pavilion. The proposal of work, for $4,430, was approved. “If there’s going to be a problem, it’s going to be in the first five years or so,” said DeJongh. He also wants Cornell residents, who have not had the cross-connection inspected for their water system, to know that they may receive a letter, stating they could have lead pipes in their residence. The DNR and EPA informed the city, that residents have to be notified, that they are not aware of what the service line materials consist of, at this time. “If it’s galvanized or lead, it should be noted,” said De-Jongh. “We test our water for lead – but that’s before it gets to your house.”