An open house will be held this month to discuss a proposal to build a gun range for the Festus Police Department on city property at 2300 Sunshine Drive (Old Hwy. A), about a half mile west of Larry G. Crites Memorial Park.
The open house is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Monday, June 16, at the Festus Public Library meeting room, 400 W. Main St.
Festus Police Chief Doug Wendel said in a written statement that anyone may attend the open house.
“We would like to invite all of the citizens to come out and review the information about the proposed shooting range,” he said. “There will be studies and visual aids for you to view and have the ability to ask questions about the project. We would like to hear from everyone at this open house. Whether you are a proponent or supporter, all are welcome.”
The department posted on Facebook that it will report acoustic testing information and receive comments from attendees on the proposed shooting range during the open house.
Several residents of the Blue Ridge Terrace subdivision, which is near the proposed shooting range site, attended the April 14 City Council meeting and said they were worried about potential noise from a shooting range. They also talked about the possible negative effect the shooting range could have on property values in the area. Council members also reported receiving calls from residents asking about the shooting range, which led the council to recently table a vote on a construction contract for a portion of the project and later schedule the open house.
Also at that April 14 meeting, Wendel said the department had conducted studies indicating a shooting range would not create a noise problem for nearby neighborhoods. He also said the department as a whole would only need to use the shooting range during daytime hours approximately nine times a year to meet state-mandated weapons firing requirements and possibly a few other times a year for new hires to qualify to meet the requirements.
Festus Councilman Brian Wehner of Ward 2 said he will attend the open house because he believes more discussion is needed about the proposed shooting range. He said he supports the Police Department but is not sure the shooting range proposal is the best way to provide Festus Police the opportunity to train with their weapons.
Wehner also said he believe those who have opposed the shooting range proposal or who have expressed worries about the proposal have been portrayed unfairly online.
“There needs to be transparency with the citizens as far as the gun range goes,” Wehner said. “The people opposed to the gun range are 1,000 percent pro police. It’s not an anti-police issue. We want, collectively, what is best for our officers safety-wise.
“This is not a done deal. There are alternatives to this site, such as purchasing memberships for each officer to the Arnold Rifle and Pistol Club.”
He said many police departments in the region train at Arnold and Pistol Club.