The Oxford City Council discussed annexing land near the airport, hiring professional deer control services and contined the conversation on building a restroom in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park during its meeting on Oct. 7.
Oxford prepares to annex land near airport
The city council approved the annexation of land near the Miami University Airport. The new area acquired opens opportunities for economic development for the university.
Council member David Prytherch said the annexation will help make the area safer.
“The annexation enables us to have greater control over the streets that are adjacent [to the land annexed], in other cases it's allowed us to reduce the speed limit,” Prytherch said. “On Brookville road it’s 55 [mph] right approaching our park entrance.”
City seeks professional deer control services
Assistant City Manager Jessica Greene presented a resolution to enter into a contract with White Buffalo Inc. to assist local efforts to control the deer population.
A lack of natural predators has allowed deer populations to increase to unsustainable levels. The overpopulation of deer has caused overgrazing, poses a threat to biodiversity and increases the spread of tick-borne diseases.
Professional biologists will conduct a survey to determine the current deer population and the amount of deer that need to be culled. The deer will be humanely euthanized and their meat and hides will be donated.
“If you’re a property owner you know how frustrating it is to see the deer and the damage to your property,” Prytherch said. “This is a problem only the municipality can solve.”
New restroom to be built in MLK Memorial Park
A new public restroom building in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial park has been approved.
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Sam Perry, Oxford community development director, presented this resolution. His presentation highlighted the current problem of community members having to use the restrooms of local restaurants and businesses. The restroom’s $517,755 budget includes funds to replant any trees removed for the construction of the restrooms.
Additionally, the restrooms will provide a place to display local art.
“[There are] anchors designed into one side of the building so that it can rotate and have juried exhibits on there,” Perry said.
Parks and Recreation director addresses skate park closure
Chad Smith, director of Oxford Parks and Recreation department, took time to thank members of council and the Oxford community for their patience and understanding regarding the closing of the skate park on Sept. 30.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Smith said, “it was a decision that was made based on safety and budget.”
Council will meet again on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Oxford Courthouse.
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