The Franklin County Planning Commission tabled a discussion that could lead to the revocation of a special use permit of a local rifle range. At last week’s meeting, owners of the Great Plaines Precision Rifle Range were ready to answer questions and possibly make adjustments to the range to make users of the newly opened section of the Flint Hills Trail safer. The range sits about a mile and a half from a new bridge that opened on Saturday. The fear is that stray bullets from the range could travel to the trail and possible injure someone. According to an attendee at the meeting, nearly three times as many people in favor of the range spoke as did opponents. People from over two dozen cities spoke and several local and state officials attended the meeting.
The owners of the Great Plains Precision Rifle Range want to present the positive economic impacts the facility brings to the county, with shooters coming in from other areas and spending their money at gas stations, restaurants and other businesses, as well as being known as one of the best facilities in the area plus hosting a variety of events, educational training events as well as youth and womans outdoor groups.
The Planning Commission carried the issue over to a study session sometime in July.
