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Urban Wildlife Task Force member resigns, citing discord over deer-culling discussions
Summary
Chad Gochanour resigned from the Urban Wildlife Task Force, saying meetings became unproductive and alleging some members pressed to cull Anaconda deer contrary to a 6-3 Task Force vote; Commissioner Ed Beaudette disputed the account during the work session.
Chairman Kevin Hart read a resignation letter from Chad Gochanour at the Feb. 10 Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission work session in which Gochanour said he was stepping down "effective immediately" as the West Valley board member of the Urban Wildlife Task Force.
In the letter Gochanour wrote that meetings had become "unproductive" and accused several members — he named three — of continuing to "insist we cull the deer now" even after the Task Force voted 6-3 to delay culling until education and research efforts were pursued.
Commissioner Ed Beaudette responded in the same session, saying he did not find Gochanour's description accurate. "These meetings were contentious, but it was not an issue of my not allowing Mr. Wyant to do anything," Beaudette said, adding that he believed the meetings were difficult because of leadership struggles rather than intentional obstruction. Beaudette recommended granting Gochanour's resignation because Gochanour cited scheduling constraints and said he could no longer attend meetings.
The resignation and the conflicting descriptions do not record a formal commission decision beyond acknowledging the letter; the matter will affect Task Force membership and scheduling going forward.
