Commission OKs night hunting, spotlighting; plans elimination of 9 EMS positions

IRON COUNTY — The Iron County Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve an ordinance allowing people to hunt at night with spotlights; and discussed the elimination of EMS positions following the sale of the Iron County Ambulance service to Gold Cross Ambulance.

The ordinance allows hunters to use spotlights while hunting on public land at night provided the hunter has first obtained a permit from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office.

It is good having the Sheriff’s Office involved in the process, Commissioner Dale Brinkerhoff said, because it lets them know where hunters will be at night in case residents call to report people hunting with lights at night.

“The permit designates the night and location,” Brinkerhoff said.

According to the resolution, the permits allow for the spotlight hunting of coyotes, red foxes, striped skunks, raccoons and jackrabbits. Hunters are not permitted to use the headlights of a motor vehicle, or operate a spotlight while inside a vehicle.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office is charged with issuing the permits, Brinkerhoff said, and people can submit the required paperwork at the front desk of the Sheriff’s Office at 2132 N. Main St. The permits cost $20.

It will take about five days after submitting paperwork to receive the permit, Commissioner Alma Adams said, so hunters should plan ahead and apply for a permit in advance.

The commission also hopes to implement an online permit process in the near future, Commissioner David Miller said, so the process could be speeded up.

At the meeting, the commissioners also discussed the possibility of having hunters report back to the Sheriff’s Office within two days of their hunt to report the number and species of animals taken.

After some discussion with commissioners, Sheriff Mark Gower said requiring people to call in with that information would not be the best option.

“I don’t know why we would need to track how many animals they took,” Gower said. “They aren’t protected animals.”

All three commissioners agreed with Gower, and the requirement for hunters to call in after hunting was removed.

According to the ordinance, hunters are still required to have either a Utah Hunter Education Certificate of Completion, a current Utah Small Game license or be born on or before Dec. 31, 1965. Hunters under age 16 may receive a free permit if a legal guardian purchases a permit at full price.

Spotlighting is not allowed within 600 feet of a residence, city or town boundary, and spotlighting is not allowed on private property without written permission from the property owner.

Those found violating a provision of the ordinance can face charges of a class B misdemeanor and will lose the privilege of holding a spotlight permit for a minimum of five years.

Reduction of EMS staff

During the personnel portion of the meeting, the commissioners discussed and took action regarding the elimination of emergency medical service positions.

Because the commission is planning to sell the ambulance service and assets to Gold Cross, the county would no longer be providing EMS service, and would no longer have a need for the positions.

Adams made a motion to take action and eliminate the positions held by nine full-time EMS workers, and the motion passed unanimously.

“That will take effect on the day the sale to Gold Cross Ambulance is final,” Adams said.

While an exact date has not yet been set, Adams said, it is their hope the sale is final by May 1.

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7 Comments

  • fun bag April 13, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    YEE-HAH BILLYBOB WE’S GOING COON HUNTIN’ TONIGHT! WOOOO-WEEE!

    • anyonemouse April 14, 2015 at 9:17 am

      Don’t forget striped skunk. Whooo-EEEEE!

  • beentheredonethat April 13, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    PTSD……Probably Taggin Some Deer

  • Laura April 14, 2015 at 6:55 am

    How sad that the war on wildlife continues.

  • An actual Independent April 14, 2015 at 7:16 am

    Was there really a pressing need to go out and shoot animals in the dark?

  • fun bag April 14, 2015 at 10:56 am

    WHOOOOOOO-WHEEEE! WE’S GOIN’ HUNTIN’ IN THE DARK! GONNA GIT ME A COON SKIN HAT! GONNA SHOOT UP A BUNCH ‘EM ANMALS IN THE DARK! GONNA SNEAK UP ON ‘EM AND BLIND ‘EM WITH MA BIG OL’ LIGHT! COON SKIN HAT!! YEE-HAH!

    • mesaman April 14, 2015 at 10:00 pm

      If the light is not shining in your eyes you have nothing to worry about.

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