WakeRange.com: December 2019

Leave Comments for the Commissioners

In an effort to get as much information to the Commissioners as possible, please post a comment in the Comments section below. Your thoughtful words will be collated and given to the Board members on Jan 6th. Please be respectful. Remember, we're the class act here.

12/27/19 - Great Info for the Commissioners Meeting 1/6/20 if you're going

CLICK HERE to RSVP to the Board of Commissioners Meeting 1/6/20 at 5 pm.

     January 6th is a critically important date for you to reserve on your schedules. In response to a huge public outcry the Wake County Board of Commisioners will be hearing public discussion regarding the future of the Wake County Firearms Education & Training Center. It is vitally important for our elected officials to see the faces behind the almost 7500 citizens who responded to the petition calling for the range to remain accessible to the citizens of Wake County for whom is was built.

     Will attendance be problematic? Because it is downtown and the meeting starts at 5:00 it could be troublesome but anything worth doing demands diligent effort. Let's make time to fill the room with the taxpayers who paid for this public facility. Our core group of organizers have prepared comments to deliver to the commisioners. As time permits additional comments may be afforded, each limited to three minutes. Though time will be limited we encourage "all attendees" to prepare written comments to be given to the commisioners. You should prepare nine (9) copies of those and we will see that they are given to the seven commissioners, county legal representatives and the secretary recording the meeting discussions.

     We earnestly request that all attendees maintain a professional and courteous demeanor throughout the entire evening. Inflamed discourse will cost valuable speaking time and will only detract from the civil discourse we have sought to maintain all along.

Parking is Available in the Wake County Parking Deck at 216 W. Cabarrus St.

Location

Wake County Justice Center - Room 2700
310 South McDowell Street
Nash Square Entrance
Raleigh, NC 27601

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Here is a link to the petition if you have not been made aware of this debate:

http://chng.it/w5BYZPRS

HT: Mark Valletta

Where we are right now...

12/26/2019 - We are not out of the woods yet. The county has taken control of the range but, the decisions regarding management and reopening to the public remain. It is important that all interested parties continue to reach out to the commission and show up for the Board meeting.

The next Wake County Board of Commissioners' meeting is 1/6/20, 5:00 p.m. According to the site, public comment period is 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

12/26/2019 - Ammoland details our plight

Influential gunwriter David Codrea has written a piece on our situation for Ammoland. Find it here:

https://www.ammoland.com/2019/12/sheriff-unilaterally-closing-nc-gun-range-undermined-gun-safety/#axzz69ENnlxNe

How cool is that!

HT: Herschel Smith, The Captain's Journal.com

12/23/2019 - Wake Sheriff responds

December 23, 2019

WCSO Responds to Issues Surrounding Wake Firing Range

Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker, today, responded to comments by Wake County Manager David Ellis and Wake County Board of Commission Chair Greg Ford that would reverse the Sheriff’s plan to close public access to the Wake County Firearms Training Center.

Last week, the Sheriff’s Office announced the cancellation of the contract with Range Safety Management (RSM) LLC, effective January 15, 2020, due to RSM’s lack of management profitability and intent to provide additional training space for law enforcement agencies.

“While senior team members and I are surprised by the response from our County partners, we do acknowledge that while it is not a requirement to notify the County, we should have extended the courtesy to the County staff advising them of the specific date of the contract’s cancellation,” said Sheriff Baker.

“Similarly, the County should have extended me the courtesy of responding to me regarding my decision, to cancel the contract.”

As stated in a letter provided to RSM LLC, dated December 16, 2019, the decision to cancel the contract was based on numerous issues of concern.

Financial Issues

Upon review by County finance staff during the contract renewal period, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was made aware of RSM’s continued pattern of increased expenses and decreased revenues, during the period of 2010 to 2017.

RSM was contracted to received $250,000 from the WCSO budget, with an expectation to generate revenues to cover costs of the contract, while providing revenue to assist in the upkeep of the facility.

An examination of financial records indicates that from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, point-of-sale revenues generated by RSM was only $220,278.75. An examination of financial records indicates January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, point-of-sale revenues generated by RSM was only $182,570.52.

The actual costs of the contract had been exceeding the amount allocated to the contract for over seven (7) years (currently and while under contract with the previous administration), with the WCSO absorbing the overages each year, averaging over $200,000 per year.

This information was presented in detail to County staff during the Fiscal Year 2021 Business Plan Meeting on October 11, 2019.

Based on the October 22, 2019 email from County finance staff, offices and agencies were instructed on finding capacity for new needs in the existing budget with departments first looking at their base budgets to evaluate where resources can be realigned.

In accordance with this directive, the WCSO decided that after an evaluation of the RSM contract it was determined it a was a financial liability to the office’s base budget.

Safety Issues

On November 17, an RSM Range Safety instructor accidentally shot himself in the leg but failed to report the incident in a timely manner, and when it was reported false information was provided.
WCSO alerted RSM officials on November 25, for a second time, for not adequately providing range safety officers in the facility, which showed another example of safety violations, therefore a breach of the contract with WCSO.

Contract Analysis

After a review of the financial inconsistencies and safety concerns and lack of accountability, transparency and consistency, the WCSO provided a letter to RSM operators informing them of the cancellation of the contract, effective thirty days from the date of the letter, December 16, 2019.

12/21/2019 - RSM News Update

Members and Students,

You are receiving this email because your are either a member or student at Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center.

As you probably know by now, earlier this week the Wake County Sheriff notified Range Safety Management, operators of the public range activities, their intent to terminate their contract as of January 15, 2020. This action effectively closed Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center to the public.

When this occurred, a group of committed individuals came together and began a campaign to keep the range open to the public. Over this past week there has been a lot of action, including a petition on Change.Org and conversations with both the Wake County Manager and the Chairman of the Wake County Commissioners. It appears that the hard work as paid off as late yesterday afternoon we received an email from the Chairman stating that Wake County is taking control of the facility back from the Wake County Sheriff.

The email further stated: "The firearms facility and training center was built with taxpayer dollars by Wake County Government for its use by law-abiding gun owners and law enforcement professionals. It is a community asset and Wake County commissioners and staff will work to ensure that the facility is again made available for the community’s use as soon as possible."

While at this time we do not know the final outcome, we are hopeful that a quick resolution is in hand. As additional information becomes available, we will send it out. In the meantime, if you have not signed the petition on Change.Org, please click on the link below and do so.

http://chng.it/5z98GtzJZt

Also, take a moment to reach out with a thank you email to Greg Ford, Chairman, Wake County Board of Commissioners. He has been extremely supportive and we would like to show our appreciation. His email is Greg.Ford@wakegov.com.

Thanks for your support of WCFETC.

John Neblett, Instructor and Range Officer WCFETC

12/20/2019 - Commissioner Ford Facebook Statement

Greg Ford for Wake is at Wake County Justice Center.

December 20 at 2:54 PMRaleigh, NC

This afternoon, Wake County Manager David Ellis notified Sheriff Gerald Baker that the County will revert control of operations of the Wake County firing range and training center back to the County. In this afternoon’s memo, Manager Ellis assured Sheriff Baker that County staff will work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to ensure a smooth transition for the County-owned building. Officers will continue to have access to the training facility in the interim for skills development.

Since the Sheriff dismissed the vendor with the contract to operate the center for the public, Wake County staff and the Board of Commissioners will review options for reinstating public access as soon as possible. The Board will review these option at an upcoming meeting early in the new year, once details are available.
The firearms facility and training center was built with taxpayer dollars by Wake County Government for its use by law-abiding gun owners and law enforcement professionals. It is a community asset and Wake County commissioners and staff will work to ensure that the facility is again made available for the community’s use as soon as possible.

“Wake County to take control of shooting range from Sheriff’s Office”

https://www.newsobserver.com/…/wake-c…/article238560118.html

https://www.facebook.com/gregfordnc/posts

12/20/2019 - N&O Article - County takes control

Wake County to take control of shooting range from Sheriff’s Office

By Anna Johnson

December 20, 2019 06:15 AM

RALEIGH

This story was updated at 5 p.m. Friday.

Wake County will take control of the county’s firearms training center away from the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.

The county will determine the “appropriate balance of use between the public and law enforcement,” according to a memo sent to Sheriff Gerald Baker Friday afternoon from Wake County Manager David Ellis.

“We will work with you and your staff on a transition plan to ensure law enforcement has the appropriate use of and continued access to this facility for training purposes,” the memo said.

The Sheriff’s Office abruptly ended its contract with Range Safety Management (RSM) because of the company’s “lack of profitability” and cash handling concerns, according to a Wednesday news release from the Sheriff’s Office. RSM manages the part of the center that is open to the public.

More than 5,000 people signed a petition to keep the center open to the public.

Moving too quickly?

The chairman of the Wake County commissioners says Sheriff Gerald Baker acted too hastily in announcing a plan to close the county’s firearms training center to the public.

“It’s important to note that the county owns the facility, and the Sheriff’s Office operates it,” Commissioner Greg Ford said in a statement late Wednesday. “Based on this joint partnership, it’s reasonable to assume that we would reach an agreement on a decision of this magnitude together before making an announcement. That was not the case (Wednesday).”

There was a 2008 agreement between the county and the Sheriff’s Office stating the sheriff would oversee the management of the firearms center even though the county owns the property. Friday’s memo states the county will now oversee the management of the center.

“The Sheriff’s Office is, essentially, a tenant of the building the county owns and given the tenant has canceled the contract with the vendor, and is not acting in good faith as a partner with the county as intended, we are reviewing all options,” Ford said Wednesday.

The Sheriff’s Office had agreed to honor classes for the public through Jan. 5.

“It is never helpful when you are in a relationship or partnership and one party is making a significant decision and not letting the other member of that relationship know about it in advance or even discussing it with us before making an announcement,” Ford said. “This is not about party or politics, this is about public service.”

Conflicting statements

The Sheriff’s Office’s news release stated county staff “agreed with the decision, after reviewing what amounted to a lack of financial stability, resulting in the sheriff’s office subsidizing the private company’s sustainability, for the past seven years,” according to a WCSO memo.

Ford said that is not true.

“The sheriff’s statement clearly says there was collaboration between his office and Wake County government staff and that is, unfortunately, not the case,” he said.

No Wake County staff members who “would normally be involved” were contacted or knew closing the center to the public was a possibility, Ford said.

In a phone call Thursday, sheriff’s spokesperson Eric Curry said the statement’s reference to “the decision” that county staff had agreed to was actually about the county’s awareness of the financial concerns.

“In the statement, it was (that) the county staff was aware of the accounting inconsistencies, but in regard to the decision making, (the) decision of canceling the contract was solely the sheriff’s,” Curry said.

When asked if county staff knew the center would be closed to the public before the news release was sent out, Curry said the sheriff made the decision with input from his senior staff and staff members at the training center, but he wasn’t sure whom Baker spoke with

Ford also called the “findings” about handling money insignificant.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article238560118.html

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article238560118.html#storylink=cpy

12/18/2019 - N&O Story - RSM responds

Wake County to close shooting range to the public in January amid financial concerns

By Anna Johnson

December 18, 2019 02:15 PM

RALEIGH

Wake County will close its firearms training center to the public in January.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office ended its contract with Range Safety Management (RSM) LLC’s because of the company’s “lack of profitability and a review that fees and funds collected by RSM were not accounted for accurately,” according to a Sheriff’s Office news release Wednesday.
“To the responsible gun owners who use the facility, I understand your concern,” Sheriff Gerald Baker said. “This decision was not made in haste. We will continue to review how to use this training center that works in the best interest of all citizens, while saving taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the current agreement only met the needs of a few.”

The Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center, located near Holly Springs, is used by the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies for training, and has been open to the public for shooting and classes.

Mark Valletta is a member of a pistol league and shoots at the range twice a month. He started a Change.org petition demanding the center remain open. It had gained more than 1,100 signatures in under 24 hours.

“We will have nowhere to go,” he said. “We will have to try to find other facilities, if they even exist.”

Center finances

Questions about how much money the center was getting from the sheriff’s office and the public were not answered by the Sheriff’s Office or the county Wednesday afternoon.
But Fred Stough, one of three partners of RSM, said the sheriff’s statement was inaccurate.
The center was opened to the public from the beginning as part of a compromise over the county’s gun ordinance and was never meant to be profitable, he said. The county prohibits people shooting a gun within 100 yards of a home without permission of the homeowner and within 100 yards of a “public building” likely to be occupied. Giving the public access to the then-new firearms center gave people a chance to practice their shooting.

A resident has to complete a range safety class before being allowed to shoot at one of the ranges, which include 50 yards for pistols and rifles, and 100 yards for rifles. More than 25,000 people have completed that course and become members since the range opened in the early 2000s, Stough said.
Some people shoot regularly and others come once a year to check their rifle scopes before hunting season.
Memos sent to the Sheriff’s Office from Wake County this summer outlined a number of concerns within the sheriff’s department including how “both the firing range and general WCSO offices” were not following the county’s policy of handling cash. The sheriff’s office recently rebutted those memos with nearly 200 pages of his own documents.
The county’s cash-handling policies were recently revamped after the former Wake County Register of Deeds was charged and found guilty of embezzling money from her department.
Wake County did have concerns about how money was handled at the firing range, but none was ever missing, Stough said. The firing range doesn’t have an office, and the money for classes is collected from an off-site post office box and processed at RSM’s office, also off-site.

“We understand they had some concerns and talked to us about it, but they did a full accounting every month,” he said. “There was never a nickel missing when it was supposed to be there.”
Last month a civilian firearms instructor at the center accidentally shot himself in the leg while putting his gun back into his holster, The News & Observer reported.
It was the first accident where someone was shot in nearly 20 years, Stough said, adding he didn’t know if the incident contributed to the sheriff ending the contract.
“It’s not a matter of if, but when there is an accident,” he said. “Firearms are dangerous.”

Future plans at the center

There is a need for more training space for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, according to the Sheriff’s Office news release.
“We are living in dangerous times,” Baker said. “We need to have an ability to provide increased training opportunities for our officers, so that they are prepared to face the dangers that may await them every day they protect our neighborhoods.”
This year’s budget includes $100,000 to study whether a “simulation training facility” could be added to the Wake County Firearms Training Center.
“The Sheriff ’s Office has requested the construction of a training facility that will allow their employees to conduct real life training in a simulated live ammunition environment that would include configurable interiors for various scenario training,” according to the budget approved by commissioners this year.
Simulation buildings and projectors are frequently used as training tools for officers, including when there is an active shooter threat.
A “simulation building” at Wake Technical Community College’s Public Safety Education Center was part of a $349 million bond approved by voters in 2018. Officers already use a room that looks like an apartment to investigate mock crimes like shootings and domestic violence crimes.
Wake Tech’s proposed simulation building would allow for a mock city with streets, first-floor apartments, kitchens, police and fire stations, The N&O previously reported.

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article238507413.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article238507413.html#storylink=cp