Fayette County’s bow hunters should know Thursday night if their sport will come under the regulations of the Fayette County Commission. Currently, the county has no rules related to bow hunting.

After numerous discussions on the issue, the Fayette County Commission decided last Wednesday to bring the issue to a vote Thursday night.

Currently, there are no regulations outlining where bow hunting or archery can occur in the unincorporated parts of the county. Commissioner Eric Maxwell had asked Chief Marshal Ed Collins to look into the issue and see how other jurisdictions regulated the activity.

In Fayetteville, it’s unlawful to shoot a bow and arrow or compound bow within 100 yards of a residence, while Senoia’s regulation states it’s unlawful for any person to shoot an air rifle, BB gun, bow and arrow or crossbow in the city limits.

Georgia law dictates that a gun or pistol cannot be discharged within 50 yards of a public highway or street. In Fayette County, firearms cannot be discharged within 100 yards of a public roadway; 200 yards of a home and 200 yards of a public recreation area.

On Wednesday, a representative from the Department of Natural Resources attended the County Commission workshop and suggested the county adopt an ordinance that would forbid shooting a bow 50 yards from a road.

But resident Ray Schmeck, who appeared at the meeting in December, said the distance requirements were still too stringent. He said the county should adopt a standard that prohibits bow hunting 25 yards from a road, 50 yards from a home and 150 yards from a playground. He said the county was moving too fast.

Schmeck has worked with the 4-H program for years, and said the group had an archery range in Brooks years ago, but it was closed after neighbors raised concerns.

In other actions, the county will

• Consider a resolution regarding the franchise fees collected from state cable and video service franchises.

• Consider a resolution stating the board’s intention to introduce local legislation concerning salary levels of the State Court.

• Discuss a proposed mission statement for Fayette County.

• Discuss and further consider the proposed job classification and compensation study performed by the University of Georgia.

• Discuss the Water Committee’s recommendation to amend the County Code of Ordinances to enable the Water System to take over individual community septic and drip irrigation systems within a subdivision.

• Hear an update from the director of the water system on the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Toilet Voucher Rebate Program.

• Consider a recommendation from the facilities management director to expand the Community Service Worker Program to include federal probationers.

• Receive a presentation of the results of the fiscal year 2007 audit by the county’s accounting firm of Cherry, Bekaert, and Holland, LLP.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the county administrative complex on Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville.

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