GRPD range discussed

The Green River City Council will likely fund an indoor shooting range at the city's police department building after discussion last night.

Meeting in a workshop to discuss possible uses for about $333,000 in consensus grant money from the State Lands and Investments Board, the shooting range was the major topic of discussion.

The shooting range would be located in the bottom floor of the new police and court building. Chris Steffen, Green River's police chief and interim city administrator said plans for the shooting range were initially made when the facility was being designed. However, when the city moved forward with plans to build, the shooting range was cut from construction to bring the building cost towards the funding amount available for the project. Steffen said the area was built with a shooting range in mind, with him viewing it as a "someday down the road" project. Because the space was set aside exactly for that use, it can't be used for other uses such as office space or storage.

The total cost is estimated between $300,000 and $310,000.

While the city does have an outdoor shooting complex near FMC Park, Steffen said an indoor facility would help officers by allowing them to train in low light and no light situations while allowing them to train when outdoor shooting would be hampered by the weather. Steffen said the range could be utilized by other law enforcement agencies, as well as potential use by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in hunter's education courses.

Councilman Gary Killpack asked if the range could be used publicly to generate money for the city. Steffen said a number of the officers received handgun and light rifle NRA certification as a result of the city hosting the National High School Finals Rodeo's shooting competitions, but said he had reservations about allowing residents into a secured section of the building to practice shooting. Also, more people using the shooting range would result in increased wear on the facility, speeding up the need to replace equipment.

"I don't see how you can make it a money maker," Steffen said.

While using the range to generate money may not be feasible, some council members and one person seeking office think the range could fill a gap for youth shooting instruction.

Ted Barney, who is running for the open city council position in Ward II said the range could have a similar role to the range that used to be at Monroe Middle School, giving children the opportunity to learn firearms safety and marksmanship.

Barney himself learned how to handle a firearm on the range when he was in middle school.

"I have fond memories of that range," he told the council.

According to Tom McCullough, the range was ultimately shut down because maintenance and ventilation required to keep the range operational were too expensive for the district. Mayor Hank Castillon, who previously served on the school board, said another issue involved the district not being able to have certified instructors teaching the courses. Barney said regardless of if youth firearm instruction would occur there or not, the range should be built.

Other councilmen also voiced support for completing the building through installing the shooting range.

"I'd hate to see us leave it unfinished. The space can't be used for anything else," Castillon said.

Councilman Brett Stokes and Mark Peterson voiced similar opinions as well.

The money discussed is part of $1.2 million allocated to the city through a process involving the county commissioners, representatives from both cities, as well as officials from the county's smaller towns. The money can only be used in capital expenditures, and has already been used in the purchase of four police vehicles, self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Green River Fire Department, and will be used in an upcoming boiler replacement project at City Hall.

Other uses for leftover funding include the construction of a second columbarium at Riverview Cemetery and slurry seal work on city streets. A columbarium is a place used to store urns containing the ashes of a deceased person.

The columbarium at Riverview is running out of space, with only five of the 96 niches in the columbarium open for use, according to Kevin Sadler, a parks and recreation supervisor for the city. Estimates for a second columbarium place its cost at around $32,000.

Slurry seal work prolongs the life of the city's streets. According to Mark Westenskow, the city's utilities manager, said the slurry fills in the cracks that develop over time after a new street surface is set. He said the slurry projects can be skipped for a year without problem as long as the city resumes slurry seal projects.