Photo by Madeline Scarborough Council member Bruce Rogers expresses safety concerns about the urban deer hunt at the Vienna City Council meeting Thursday. He noted that arrows are sharp and can cause injuries.

VIENNA — The deer problem in Vienna has been a topic of interest at city council meetings for many weeks, and a solution has not been reached.

In a Vienna City Council meeting on May 23, an ordinance that would have prohibited the feeding of deer within city limits did not pass.

At Thursday’s council meeting, the resolution on the urban deer hunt failed due to a lack of being seconded after hearing citizens speak out against Vienna holding an urban deer hunt and with safety concerns pertaining to it during the public forum.

“The deer you would be hunting would run and die on other properties, but what is worse is that they are not like the white tail deer we hunt in the woods; these will walk right up to you; it is almost barbaric to kill them,” said Greg Delli-Gatti, a Vienna resident who lives near Ohio Valley University, which was a discussed location for the hunt.

He brought in a petition that had 46 other signatures from citizens in the area that did not want the hunt to take place.

Another citizen who lives near OVU, Jerry Nestor told council that he and his wife love their deer, which would likely be affected most by this hunt.

“We have generations of deer who visit our home and feel safe there,” he said.

Another of council’s discussions was whether to eliminate the position of economic development director, now that Paul Thornton is retiring.

Council member Roger Conley said he felt it not only overlapped since Wood County has an economic development director, but that the position should be returned to part of the mayor’s job as it had been in previous years.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp said it is important to have someone who can travel and sell the city.

“If we as a city do not continue to sell ourselves, then we will be left in the dust,” Rapp said.

Council member Jim Leach said the position was needed, especially with the factory parcel at Johns Manville becoming close to being usable land again.

Council voted four to three to keep the position. Council will vote at the next meeting on whether the position will be full time or part time.

Other topics voted on at Thursday’s meeting:

* An amendment to Ordinance 105.02, Competitive Bidding Purchases, to increase the estimated triggering cost or value of materials, supplies or equipment from $5,000 to $10,000 was passed on second reading.

* A resolution passed to transfer funds leftover in the city’s community development block grant from past years’ projects to the 2018 grant year funds for buying the equipment and paving the walkway for the adult playground in Jackson Park.

* A resolution passed to change the starting hourly rate for a new hire police officer to $18 an hour.

* The first reading passed for amending and re-enacting building codes to fit 2019 West Virginia State Fire Commission updates. City Attorney Russell Skogstad said anyone who wanted more information, the ordinance containing the codes are listed on the Vienna city page or they can contact the city code enforcement.

* An ordinance passed on first reading to allow Sunday alcohol sales beginning at 10 a.m. to reflect changes in state law.

Madeline Scarborough can be contacted at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com