Re: Utah Shootouts Schedule 2013
This is the email notice I just sent out.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Utah Shootouts Update</span> 12/12/12
<span style="font-weight: bold">Utah State Sniper Shoot</span> Sept 14-15, 2013:
There are 27 requests for slots. Plus 6 of their buddies I don't have names for. We will be needing more Range Officers / Safety Officers. Total number of shooters depends on number of Officers.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Other Events:</span>
There will be practical precision matches as stated on our website
www.utahshootouts.com also we'll fill in between with other shooting events such as beginner, carbine - pistol, long distance only, team and over the edge only matches.
<span style="font-weight: bold">"Changes" </span>at the Range update:
As you can see above, we are planning a full year of events. I will try to explain, as I understand it, what has happened concerning the range and what the plans are. This may be boring to most people but may be very interesting to some.
I just got back from spending a couple weeks at the range. I talked to many people about the future of the range.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Who's in charge:</span>
The range has Scott, the Range Master, as the only employee. The range is not it's own department under the County Commission any more. It is under the Recreation Dept. It is to be maintained by the County Maintenance Dept.
<span style="font-weight: bold">New Hours:</span> (don't yell at me!!)
After January 1st, the range will be open only on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Winter Hours</span>
October 1st to March 31st
10 am to 6 pm
<span style="font-weight: bold">Summer Hours</span>
April 1st to September 30th
Thursday and Friday 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
(Stop yelling at me please)
<span style="font-weight: bold">County Maintenance</span>
I met with the head of the County Maintenance Dept. (since he caught me maintaining the LE target system and preparing it for LE training the next day). He was very nice. I explained that I have volunteered to do this for the last 5 years. There was no big problems. I could see some<span style="font-weight: bold"> real issues</span> if the County only has so much in resources to maintain all the county facilities.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Concerned Citizen Meeting</span>
Two days later, I went to a concerned citizens meeting where a couple dozen people were meeting to discuss the issues of County facilities. Reps from hotels, restaurants, rodeo, motocross, FHA, shooting sports and many other event coordinators were represented.
For a off the cuff meeting that nobody seemed to know who's idea it was, it was very civilized and went very well.
Bottom line was “if” the County did not have the resources to keep up some of the venues, there were volunteers offering to do the work. But the county did not want the liability of having a non-county employed person working. I will verify this at the next meeting but I think the problem was with non-county persons using “equipment”.
Some event coordinators have been having problems. The venue not kept up to the event organizers' needs so they can have the safest event possible and draw in the the most participants. Rodeo and motocross to be exact. Some of these events bring in hundreds of participants at a time and are being told by the county they don't bring in enough money to the county.
So everyone is doing there homework crunching numbers, learning about laws, funding, liabilities, rules, etc. I have been contacting other shooting ranges. My “Utah Shootouts” club liability insurance policy already includes any volunteers. It seems like a non-issue to me, but not for the county.
In the future there will be calls for people to email commissioners and or attend a County Commission Meeting.
It was agreed upon that the best way to approach this situation would be a <span style="font-weight: bold">“combined effort”</span> and to “be civilized”.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Range Closing???</span>
From the people I talked to from the range, maintenance and recreation departments, I couldn't find anyone who had plans to close the range or even say they wanted it closed. So I am planning a full schedule for next year. I did not talk to any County Commissioners. There will be a lot of work to do I'm sure.
Any information I get of a coordinated effort of volunteers to maintain the range I will let everyone know on my email list because the maintenance will be of highest priority.
In January they will get a new commissioner. Then there will be a lot of new evaluation.
Nobody has questions and concerns more than I do <span style="font-weight: bold">(except for the people that got laid off, I'm sure)</span>. If you know or learn anymore of what is going on please let me know.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Plan B:</span>
Many years ago I sat down with the BLM - Director over the West Desert area of Utah. I Told him the idea of doing a shooting match and found out all the BLM requirements for such an event. It was not real cheap. But who wants to trade nice heated, lighted, hot and cold running water bathrooms for porta-potties?
<span style="font-weight: bold"> If you have questions or want to be notified of the next community meeting when I hear about it, email me.</span>
Thanks,
Clint
