If built, new shooting range in Brown County would include public access
Some folks have questions about a new gun range that could be built in Brown County.
Nothing is set in stone yet, emphasized Jacquie Ermer, who is a wildlife supervisor for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. But residents at Tuesday's Brown County Commission meeting expressed their thoughts.
The shooting range would be paid for by the state's shooting range grant program, which is funded by the Pittman-Robertson program. The Pittman-Robertson program is funded through federal excise taxes on firearms, handguns and archery equipment. Brown County would have to apply for some of that money to build the range.
No money has been applied for or allotted yet because a plan, including a location for the shooting range, needs to first be finalized.
Graham Larson of GFP said after the meeting that because the project is still in early developmental stages, there is not yet an estimate of how much it might cost. If the project is approved, 75% of the money would come from the Pittman-Robertson program. The other 25% would have to be matched, whether that is through fundraising, private donors or hunting licenses.
That is all under the assumption that Brown County is awarded any funds it might apply for. Ermer said Aberdeen was identified by the state as one of three priority areas for a shooting range. The other two areas are Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
Ermer said that if the county does not use the funds within two years, they will have to be sent back and will likely be allocated to another community.
She said that GFP was initially looking to expand the Sportsman's Club of Brown County range south of Aberdeen, which is only open to members. The membership fee is $50 per year. When that plan fell through once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, other options that would be free to the public were considered.
The shooting range would be modeled after one in Watertown that opened in 2018. The Aberdeen range would be a few miles outside of town.
Ermer said GFP is considering the range only being open during daylight hours, with video cameras set up to catch people who are not following the rules.
Because weather and topography must be considered, Ermer said GFP is looking at an area near the Brown County Landfill, which is west of town at 13225 379th Ave.
Like the Watertown shooting range, it would have an awning and berms so people would essentially be forced to shoot straight ahead to lessen the chance of stray bullets.
One person at the commission meeting raised concerns about the possibility of vandalism, citing an incident in 2020 in which the Watertown shooting range was vandalized even though it has cameras. Ermer said gates could be one option.
Other concerns mentioned included the cost of upkeep due to the need to purchase new targets and ensuring that everyone at the range is using guns safely.
Ermer said there are no plans yet set and that public input is welcome.
Aberdeen City Manager Joe Gaa said at the meeting that letting shooting clubs figure out how to give public access to their ranges would be a better plan, given the concerns.
“I don’t know that, city-wise, we want to put anything on the table until there’s a plan that the shooting enthusiasts support,” he said.
After the meeting, Ermer said GFP will meet once again with staff at the Brown County Sportsman's Club to see if, instead of building a new shooting range, the already existing one can be enhanced with an area that is open to the public.
If Brown County is awarded money from the Pitman-Robertson fund, it would have to follow certain stipulations for 20 years that would need to be worked out with the club.
"No matter where it goes, safety is our number one priority," Ermer said.
Medical cannabis ordinance
The board also unanimously passed the first reading of its medical marijuana ordinance.
Commissioners then discussed several factors that were not resolved in the reading of the ordinance, such as how many medical marijuana licenses would be issued within the county and what the licensing fee should be.
The board discussed a licensing fee of $5,000, with half of that money refunded if the application for a license is denied by the state. Commissioner Mike Weise recommended the county have one dispensary.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Public access shooting range could come to Brown County
