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June 28, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 27, 2004 Parks commission delays decision on gun club By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission has delayed approving the Ashland Gun Club's request for a lease extension, citing the need for further research about potential impacts to the historic site. At a Monday night meeting, commissioners directed parks staff to research whether a wetland survey should be conducted, if the site is contaminated with lead from bullets and whether gun club activities pose risks to the historic nature of the site, plants and wildlife. The gun club has leased land under the commission's jurisdiction near the airport since 1968 and is seeking to extend that lease until 2029. But members of the Ashland Historic Commission have worried that shooting on the site could jeopardize the property's chances of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ashland's early residents piped lithium-rich water from the site in hopes of transforming the town into a world-class mineral-water resort. Although the gun club lease does not expire until 2009, members are seeking an extension now to become eligible for grants to make improvements. "It's more important to make a well-informed decision," said Parks Commissioner JoAnne Eggers, advocating for additional time to research issues before considering the lease extension. Aaron Benjamin, who lives near the gun club, worried that lead could contaminate groundwater and his well, and also advocated time limits for shooting events. "I'm not against the gun club. They've been very good neighbors," he said. "But I would strongly recommend some consideration be given to the hours of shooting - perhaps 9 (a.m.) to 5 (p.m.) When they start shooting at six in the morning, it's hard to get any sleep." Ashland Historic Commissioner Dale Shostrom said the costs to clean up the Reeder pistol range were $75,000, and that range was used less often than the gun club site. Gun club members have said they monitor for lead in the berms that surround the shooting ranges, and remove spent bullets when necessary. The gun club counts more than 400 local families as members. The site also is used by the Ashland and Talent Police Departments, gun safety instructors and others. In other business Monday night, the commission learned the parks department has awarded a bid to Meza Construction to build a stairway and make other improvements near Calle Guanajuato. The $97,040 bid came in above the $80,000 budget, but the difference will be made up with leftover funds from the Hunter Park tennis court resurfacing project. The new bid was substantially lower than the lowest bid of $181,000 that came in last year and was rejected by the parks commission, according to parks staff. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams