TGC gun range is back in business

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2016

A controversial gun range is back in business.

The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors shut down the TGC Outdoor Range last month amid safety concerns after receiving complaints from neighbors of bullets coming near and into their homes.

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Owner Josh Gregory was told by the board in April to make the range, located on Highway 7, compliant with the original approval of the planning commission when it first opened.

Before Monday night’s monthly supervisors meeting, discussion of the rifle range was added to the agenda. Supervisors heard from county inspector Joel Hollowell and county engineer Larry Britt who both advised they inspected the facility last week and that Gregory had made the required improvements to the range, including upgrading the berms.

“Everything we looked at appeared to be in compliance with the original site plan,” Hollowell said.

Erosion improvements also were made to the facility and inspected. Hollowell said he would like to have more site visits to the range to inspect the berms.

“There’s a lot of potential for erosion, so this needs to be an ongoing process to make sure that we’re not having any trouble or issues with erosion control,” Hollowell said.

Supervisor David Rikard, who also toured the range last week, asked Gregory if the range would have someone on duty at all times while the range is in use, and Gregory confirmed someone will be present at all times.

In April, several residents who live near the rifle range came before the board to voice their concern for their safety.

Gregory voluntarily shut down the range after being encouraged by supervisors to do so until improvements could be made and an inspection made.

There was no opposition from those attending the meeting to the gun range reopening.