ESCANABA — A plan to amend the city’s code of ordinances to prohibit hunting in Escanaba was met with questions by the city council, who worried the language of the ordinance could inadvertently allow hunting around Ludington Park.

During Thursday’s regular city council meeting, Escanaba Parks and Recreation Director Kim Peterson presented the ordinance, which would expand the city’s current ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms and other hunting weapons, such as crossbows and airguns, to prohibit all hunting, baiting, and blinds within the city limits.

The changes were spurred by an ongoing issue of hunting blinds being put on land within the Westside Recreation Area. Currently, individuals can only be ticketed if they are seen discharging a firearm, but the number of blinds appearing over recent years has the city concerned for public safety.

“We think there’s just going to be a lot more use back there,” said Peterson, referencing the effects of more than $25,000 worth of upgrades recently made to the recreation area to elevate boardwalks.

Despite the primary reason for the new ordinance being the Westside Recreation Area, it was a provision specifying the distance waterfowl hunters needed to be away from residences that got the council’s attention.

Specifically, the proposed ordinance prohibits the discharge of firearms or other weapons, baiting for the purpose of hunting, or construction or using of blinds including “hunting waterfowl in Lake Michigan within 400 feet of a residence that is lakefront property.”

The stipulation was added to address issues with waterfowl hunters near Lakeshore Drive and is based on state law. However, council members were concerned it would allow hunting near Aronson Island.

“The issue is Escanaba cannot regulate the lake. Once you’re off the land, it’s not Escanaba. I mean, this isn’t like China asking for … 100 miles off their shore. Escanaba doesn’t get 10 feet off their shore,” said Council Member Ralph Blaiser.

Because Thursday’s reading of the ordinance was only the first reading — the issue will be readdressed with a second reading, public hearing, and possible adoption on May 6 — council directed City Attorney John M. A. Bergman to look into the issue.

“I would have to look into whether the statues provide for something like a park or something like that. My initial reaction would be that most likely discharging a firearm in a public park is, as the Germans would say, ‘verboten,’ but I’d have to look into that, which I can do,” he said.

In other business Thursday, the council

— Postponed the possible condemned a home located at 226 North 12th Street. The building was heavily damaged by fire last year, and family members of the property owner have been working to restore the home to a livable condition.

— Set a public hearing on the city’s proposed 2021-2022 fiscal year budget for the May 6 regular council meeting.

— Approved the hire of Great Lakes Fireworks of West Branch, Mich. for the annual Independence Day fireworks display, scheduled for Saturday, July 3. The cost of the display and labor will be $10,000, and the city’s recreation department will be raising additional funds to contribute to the display. Great Lakes Fireworks is a sole source supplier.

— Awarded the contract for sanitation services and portable restrooms for the 2021-2022 seasons to Stenberg Brothers, Inc. of Bark River. The company way one of two that submitted bids to supply the services.

— Awarded concession contracts for the summer season to Bobaloon’s of Escanaba and Sticky Fingers Confections of Gladstone. Bobaloon’s will operate in the territory comprised of the Escanaba Municipal Marina and the Municipal Beach and Aronson Island. Sticky Fingers will operate in Ludington Park.

— Approved annual chemical bids for the city’s water and wasterwater plants.

— Approved the hire of Coleman Engineering of iron Mountain to provide filter media sampling and testing at the water plant for an amount not to exceed $4,100. The item was included in the city’s budget for this fiscal year.

— Approved a traffic control order to place stop signs on North 30th Street on the northwest and southeast corner of 3rd Avenue and North 30th Street intersection to create a three-way stop.

— Approved the hire of Independent Roofing of Escanaba for the replacement of the water treatment plant roof for an amount not to exceed $114,900. The council deviated with the initial recommendation of Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Lampi by approving the hire due to a possible miscommunication over the length of the roof’s warranty between Lampi and the bidder he recommended.

— Went into closed session to discuss an ongoing legal case on the advice of the city attorney and the pay rate for dispatchers.