4/19/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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92 UL Ir?9N�. APR 19 1994 that several years ago the Sheriff requested a shooting range for use by law enforcement personnel. A committee was formed of representatives from the Sheriff's office and local shooting enthusiasts. The County Commission members at that time were opposed to spending money to purchase land for a range, but they indicated that they might be in favor of a County -operated range if there was surplus County land available. The problem was that everybody was in favor of a shooting range but nobody wanted it in their back yard. The committee decided that none of the County - owned property was suitable. Landowners in the western part of the county were contacted to see if any of them would donate land, but nobody came forward. The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) was contacted to determine whether any of their land might be suitable for a range, and they responded that a 52 -acre site at the 20 -mile bend of SR -60 might be suitable. However, an environmental survey revealed that at least 1/2 the total acreage was environmentally sensitive wetlands. The committee asked St. Johns to keep the County in mind in its acquisition of additional land that might be suitable. Meanwhile Mr. Coraci, the owner of some property west of I-95, offered to donate 100 acres of his land for a shooting range. It would be a good site because of its remote location, but the only access is a private road that goes - through Mr. Coraci's ranch and under I-95. The cost of providing public access to that property would be considerable.- Commissioner Bird wondered if any of the properties that are acquired under the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (LAAO) process could be developed into a range. Commissioner Eggert understood the desire of people to have a shooting range, but she was opposed to spending taxpayers' money to purchase land for that purpose if there is some other way to get it, particularly when there are so many other needs in the county. Commissioner Bird mentioned that the committee obtained information about the Black Canyon shooting range in Arizona, which probably is the premier shooting range in the United States. The committee learned that it is located in the desert on land -that was donated, and embankments provide a natural berm. Although it is -a premier facility where numerous shooting events are held and fees are charged, it has an annual deficit of several hundred thousand dollars and must be subsidized by the local government. Chairman Tippin thought it would be naive to think the County could afford to purchase land for a shooting range. He hoped that the County could open a shooting range on acreage that is purchased as part of the environmentally sensitive land acquisition process. 10