Marietta city council members hear from citizens concerned about proposed gun range

The Marietta Times is reporting that plans for an open gun range at Washington State Community College met with some neighborhood resistance during a public meeting about the proposed facility earlier this month.

According to the article, many expressed concern about the safety of a firing range in proximity to their homes and properties, and it appears members of Marietta's City Council would agree with those neighbors, some of whom are circulating a petition asking council to block the development of a shooting range on the college campus. Council would have to repeal the current city code prohibiting such facilities in the city and enact new legislation.

From the article:

"On the surface this may look like a good idea, but maybe the college should look at building an indoor range or developing it somewhere else," said Councilman David White, R-1st Ward in which the college property is located.

"I have to represent my ward, regardless of my personal feelings," he said. "And I think it's pretty clear where the constituents in my ward stand on this issue."

John Burdette, commander of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) at the college, says the range on campus would be used for firearms qualification for academy students as well as for mandatory certification by area law enforcement agencies.

He said the range would have a long-term benefit for the community as city police and the Washington County Sheriff's Office would save time and money by having a local qualification range. The agencies, as well as OPOTA students must currently travel a half hour each way to use the Fort Harmar Gun Club range several miles north of Ohio 26.

"Everything is revenue-driven," Burdette added. "The college can't afford a large outlay for a gun range. There's just no room in the school budget. But the college does have 160 acres it already owns, and by putting a range there we wouldn't have to purchase other property."

Councilman Jon Grimm, R-3rd Ward, noted to the newspaper that city code currently does not allow shooting ranges within the municipal limits.

"I belong to a gun club, but I would have to base my feelings on what the neighborhood wants," he is quoted as saying.

Councilman Harley Noland, D-at large, said he would like to see the college abandon the idea of a gun range on campus.

"There is a long-range plan for a multi-use pedestrian and bike path that will eventually run from the River Trail to the Kris-Mar woods trail, and that path would cross the college property," he said. "I wouldn't want to be walking with my family in that area with a firing range nearby."

Councilman Andy Thompson, R-at large, said he understands the convenience of a range located on campus.

"But it just doesn't seem to have the neighbors' confidence," he said. "The public perception is that this presents a safety concern."

Mike McCauley, D-2nd Ward, a former city policeman who used to live near the area of the proposed range, agreed.

"I understand the need for a range, but in that neighborhood it's the wrong thing to do," he said. "And the range should go outside the city limits.

Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward, said although this issue would not affect his ward, "I would be surveying the residents to see what they say about it first."

For her part, Councilwoman Kathy Shively, D-at large, told The Times she has had no calls or concerns voiced about the proposed range.

"I would like to learn more about the issue," she said. "But I can understand where the residents in that area are coming from."

Council President Paul Bertram III described the gun range as an emotional issue.

"But I don't agree with putting a firing range within the city of Marietta," he said. "There should be no open range in the city."

Bertram noted that a lawsuit was filed around 16 years ago that resulted in the Fort Harmar Gun Club open range being moved to its present location off Ohio 26.

Bertram said his home is located more than a mile from the proposed site of the campus range, and he would not be affected by the facility.

"But I just don't believe we should allow an open gun range in town," he said.

White suggested the college look into the possible use of an indoor gun range off Ohio 7 in the Reno area, across the road from the Ohio State Highway Patrol barrack.

He said the U.S. Army Reserve used that facility in the past.

Burdette said building an indoor range on campus would cost roughly $2.5 million, and the school could not afford it. He said an open range could be built with mostly donated in-kind services of earth-moving equipment and operators.

"I believe 95 percent of the cost of the project would be related to earth-moving," he said, noting that the proposed design would include 85-feet-high earthen backstops.

Burdette said the college would not be footing the bill for the facility, but would only provide the land. He said grant funding is being sought to cover any costs.

"We respect the neighbors' feelings about this project," he said. "The whole purpose of this month's public meeting was to hear what they thought. It's an issue that galvanizes people.

"But we also had neighborhood comments prior to the meeting from people who supported the project or who said they wouldn't oppose it," Burdette added.

Burdette told the newspaper the public reaction from the meeting would be the topic of discussion during an upcoming gun range committee meeting.

"The bottom line is, whatever the city government decides we will support," Burdette said. "But we hope they will consider the long-range benefit to the community."