Rich Civic Times
On October 8, 2014 a public hearing was held by the Garden
City Town Council. One of the topics at
the hearing, which was part of a regular council meeting, was a discussion of a
potential gun range 600 yards south of the Sweetwater Trailer Park on land west
of SR 30. The land at the site belongs
to the state. The trailer park is not
part of Garden City. It is currently
legal to discharge a firearm in the area proposed for a gun range.
About 35 people attended the hearing, the majority of whom
expressed a favorable opinion about having a range at the location. Exactly one person who lives in the trailer
park attended. The state parks personnel
had recently done work on evaluating the land for potential ancient artifacts,
breeding grounds for sage hens, and had conducted firearm sound testing in the
area. No artifacts are believed to be
present. The sound tests were compared
with data from the gun range in Cache Valley (results were similar) and were
available at the hearing. The maximum
decibel level detected at the edge of the trailer park when measuring sound
from a variety of firearms discharged at a point in the proposed gun range produced
results similar to the ambient sound in a large retail store (e.g. WalMart). It was pointed out by an attendee that the
sounds from different sources, though equal in decibel levels, have different
effects on humans and animals. For
example, fireworks, guns, ATVs, and boats can all produce significant and
nearly equal decibel sound but have different effects on those who hear them.
Management of the proposed range was briefly discussed but is
still in the very preliminary stages.
There would likely be some fee associated with the gun range use; while hours
of operation, and access issues have not been settled. Questions of liability insurance were raised
but the process is not far enough along for specific answers.
Jeff Rasmussen, Utah State Parks representative from Salt
Lake, was present and commented that there had been a number of issues,
questions, and opinions raised by some of those who live in the trailer park
and he had hoped for a greater attendance from that group. Rick Bywater, the one trailer park resident
who did attend, stated that “There are only about 5 or 6 people who oppose the
range, the rest are in favor”. Mayor
Spuhler stated that he believed that if asked, 90% of the citizens of the
county would favor the gun range.
However, neither Mr. Bywater nor the Mayor had any data to substantiate their
remarks. Commissioner Bill Cox noted the
absence of trailer park property owners at the hearing and wondered if public
hearings should be held in Salt Lake City.
Another resident said that perhaps St. George would then be appropriate
for a hearing.
All wishing to speak having done so, the public hearing was
closed.
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