NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — At a study session on Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners agreed to let the budgeting process continue for the shooting range that is to be built by the Reno County Sheriff's Office near the county landfill.
"Hutton Construction is on hold right now," Partington said. "We have paid them for some of their work, but they are on hold until we know a budget and how far the commission wants to go with this range. The recommendation is to find consensus to give me direction to work on budgeting and financing of how we can afford this without raising taxes, if you guys are okay with this project going forward. Obviously, the berms are being built. There's going to be a range. That can't be scrapped, but the building part and the tower, we need kind of direction of what you might be willing to approve when it comes back to a commission meeting for action with, at that point, financing options."
There are also options above the county level for potential funds, according to Partington.
"If this becomes a priority for the County Commission, I have talked with one of our U.S. Senator's staff," Partington said. "We could ask for federal money to help pay for some of this. We're not guaranteed anything, but we could see if it could be put on as an earmark, direct funding from the federal government. It would need to be considered a priority of the Reno County Commission to get very far in that process."
The commissioners all agree that the training of the sheriff's officers is very important.
"It seems like there's good consensus here for Randy to continue to work with the Sheriff on a refined budget, potential financing options, it sounds like there's great interest in finding grant funding, if we can find it, that might speed the process up. I don't know what it takes to get to that."
Friesen also asked Partington to let him know when the U.S. Senators are in the area so he can talk to them about the issue when there is an opportunity.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.