CONEJOS — Grant money is available for a shooting range near Capulin, the Conejos Board of County Commissioners learned Aug. 9.
Capulin area resident Chris Quintana told the commissioners a group of people are working on a shooting range at the old dump area and a planned fence and gate could stop people from going there without approval and dumping trash.
The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has some federal money available, including small grants for shooting ranges, a representative said.
Quintana noted that the property is there and community support is needed.
An early BOCC concern involved the county retaining ownership of the property while the range is built there. Vehicles will leave tracks in and out, it was observed.
Commissioner Steve McCarroll said his concern was about liability.
Two groups exist in the Capulin area, he noted, while Quintana acknowledged this.
“With everything happening in Capulin, people are afraid of organizing, to back each other.”
The DPW is helping get the area into a position to seek grant funds and high on the list is a gate. There will be tracks at the facility, but a gate will cut the traffic.
Commissioner Carlos Garcia said he supports the idea and was joined by Chairman Mitch Jarvies, who added comments to the effect that people need to know work is being done on a range.
Jarvies said lessons are to be learned from the existing range that was built in the county several years ago, especially where buffers are concerned.