The Franklin City Board of Public Works and Safety on Jan. 22 approved a request by Ted Bishop, owner and general manager of Legends Golf Club, to address an acute infestation of Canada geese on the course under a Department of Natural Resources license.

Bishop told the board he had procured a DNR license that would allow him to remove up to five geese per day once attempts at nonlethal deterrence — including use of a green laser — proved insufficient. He said the flock had been roosting in snow-melted mounds and causing turf damage and frost kill that will not recover until warmer weather.

The request included asking the board to allow a narrow waiver of local ordinances that otherwise prohibit discharge of firearms within city limits. The board’s attorney and members noted that waterfowl management is under DNR jurisdiction and that the city would limit any waiver to this specific circumstance to avoid setting a broad precedent.

Mayor Barnett, who moved approval, said the city wants to ensure neighbors are alerted when eradication would occur and that police would not be put in an uncomfortable enforcement position. Staff agreed to notify dispatch and neighborhood HOA moderators so officers and residents are aware when shots might be heard. Bishop said DNR gave no specific guidance on disposal of harvested birds but offered that anyone interested could take the meat.

The board approved the request by voice vote and emphasized the approval was a limited, case-by-case accommodation tied to Bishop’s DNR permit. No formal roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote.

What happens next: Bishop said he planned to try nonlethal measures first and would coordinate dates with the chief and dispatch. The board did not adopt any permanent change to city ordinance language and said future similar requests would be judged separately.