UPDATE 2/18/20 - End of the interregnum

And there it is.  The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allow the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission to run the public (non-law enforcement) operations of the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center for up to a year.  This means that there is now a definite glide path to the range opening back up as advertised on March 15.   You have to be impressed with the speed at which this whole thing blew through several local and state bureaucracies.  In the column on the right side of the page is the email address of each Commissioner.  It might be a nice gesture to ping them a quick and tasteful thank-you for their prompt action in restoring public use of the range. 

The VIDEO of the Monday meeting is now available HERE and below.  The pertinent parts start at 01:49:53 and end at 02:16:19.    

There’s been a facile little verbal sleight-of-hand going on here that might ought to be discussed.  There’s a cadre of folks who are frankly livid that their Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights have been taken away from them.  On those nights there were generally Leagues (like Action Pistol and Bullseye, Marksmanship and Ladies leagues) going on and, even though it’s classified as a “special” event by some and not tallied in official public documents, it is in fact the public (non-law enforcement)  who’s populating those hours too.  Thus, those folks are not wrong that the “public” has actually lost hours at the range and are thus properly peeved but let’s look at a couple of numbers, shall we?

     0 

        The number of weekly public hours at the Wake County Range since January 15th

28

The number of weekly public hours at the Wake County Range after March 15^th

This is a win for the smile. If you’re a shooter, you know that smile – when a new shooter shoots a gun for the first time – that great big smile. For those among us who were desirous of restoring the smiles to the Wake County Range this is unquestionably a win.  No one has said that there will NEVER be any training at the range again so there’s no reason that in the days ahead we shouldn’t continue the push to restore the training and education part of the use of the range.  It can be done. In the meantime how about let's enjoy a little quality time with our shooting buddies again.

Make plans now to be at the re-opening of the Wake Range on March 15^th.  It should be a good time for the shooting family of our area.  More details to follow as more is known. 

See ya there.

Oh, and BTW, apparently refund checks for unused WCFETC annual memberships should be mailed to you by the county sometime around March 9^th.  They already have the list so no need to call.  More info to follow soon. 

#Macsalmostback

2/14/20 - Valentine's Document Dump

The Agenda for the Wake County Board of Commissioners regular meeting set for 2pm on Monday, February 17th is posted and has all kinds of interesting information in it.  Item # 20 is of particular interest.  If you click on that, it takes you HERE. As you'll see, that page has ALL the pertinent docs - WRC Contract, WCFETC SOP's, even a floor plan.  There are 9 documents in total, some of which you've proably seen before. Check them out and please put any observations, praise or gripes in the comments and we'll pass them along. And don't forget to cross your fingers that this actually happens. Just sayin'...

Range Four

UPDATE - 2/12/20 - Video and half a loaf

The video of Monday's Commission Work Session was posted earlier this morning.  It went pretty much as expected based on the presentation included in the agenda.  The pertinent parts run from 15:25 to 36:59.



So, public hours will tentatively resume on March 15th.  The public hours will be

Friday 5p to 9p

Saturday 9a to 7p

Sunday 9a to 7p

Monday 5p to 9p 

Like a lot of ranges these days, you’ll have to watch a video, sign a waiver and get a card. It's thought that all 4 ranges will be open but nothing concrete on that front yet.  Also nothing concrete on the training programs and leagues.  It's hard to have an Education and Training Center without education and training but know that it will take some time to re-build that part of the business at the range.

And yes, it will be FREE to the public just like all the other Wildlife ranges. 

At this writing it's been 28 days since the public last fired a shot in the WCFETC but as of now, in less than 30 days there is a plan on the table involving State and County agencies to open it back up. Commissioner Holmes notes (26:03) that this is "particularly for government, exceptionally quick turnaround".  She's right about that.

2/11/20 - Still on track

Not yet having to been able to view either the livestream OR the archive video, many of us are still a little in the dark on the actual happenings at Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.  All reports are that the proposed plan to re-open the range to the public is proceeding and that the proposed opening date of March 15 is still on track.  Like a lot of ranges these days, you’ll have to watch a video, sign a waiver and get a card.  More details will follow as they become available. 

The next and possibly final bureaucratic hurdle for awhile is the Commissioners next week.  It’s projected that the necessary contracts and agreements will be agreed to and signed at that meeting. Once all that's behind us, the work of putting the public hours and training schedules back together again will begin in earnest. We’ll know more in the days ahead.

Good news it seems. 

2/9/20 - LIVESTREAM and archive video of 2/10 WCBOC work group

Hopefully we'll get a first glimpse of what re-opening the WCFETC to the public looks like. 

You can find the  LIVESTREAM and ARCHIVE VIDEO HERE. The meeting begins at 2pm on Monday.

Please try to watch it live if you can.  If not, the archive video will be posted on that same page a little later.

Cross your fingers...

UPDATE – 2/4/20 - Important Board of Commissioners Work Session next Monday!

It is anticipated that the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will be presenting their plan to re-open the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center at a work session of the Wake Commissioners on Monday Feb 10 at 2pm.   You can certainly swing by but this is a work session – there will be no public speakers and very few seats.  Better to show up in force at their regular session on the 17^th where it is hoped something substantial like the Wildlife plan will be approved.    

You can find the Agenda and ultimately the LIVESTREAM and VIDEO HERE.

Range denizens will probably want to tune in to the LIVESTREAM next Monday afternoon as it could be the first and most hopeful presentation of our way back to public hours at the range to date . As you can see above, it's been awhile.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

UPDATE - 1/21/20 - Keeping the faith - Video

There was another meeting of the Wake County Commissioners that was open for public comment and the shooters of Wake County were heard (again) and well-represented by over a dozen speakers.  The particulars, agenda etc, are available HERE.  VIDEO of the meeting is HERE and below. The speakers for the WCFETC start around 1:03 and end at 1:44. 



Three themes emerged in the comments:

1)  It is important to have the public represented as a stakeholder in all  further discussions.

2)  A reminder the the facility was in fact built for the public.

3)  The ladies would like very much to have their range and the ladies'-only programs back. 

Thanks to all of you who made the effort to be downtown early on a Tuesday afternoon to help save the public hours at Wake Range.  Special thanks to Parry Ketchmark for his deft organizational skills keeping hope alive. 

If you want to keep up with events then hit the email subscription link in the right hand column.  We'll let you know what happens as we find out ourselves.

UPDATE 1/13/2020 - Goodnight RSM - Public operations of WCFETC cease until further notice.

It's not hard, after watching the video of the work group of the Wake County Commissioners, to conclude that the fix is in and in fact has been for awhile.  RSM was treated like yesterday's news, the Sheriff is the highest priority for most if not all the Commissioners, the NC Wildlife Commission rode in on a white horse to save the day for the public except they're going to have to find out from the WCSO which days they can save first.   Further, it's not clear whether or not the Wildlife Commission will be teaching CCH classes, NRA classes, hosting leagues or even fielding the "1 RO per range policy" that RSM adhered to.  Does my WCFETC card still get me into the range during whatever public hours are allowed? What about my annual membership payment - do I get a refund? When and how will I know when the range is again open to the public? So many questions...

One thing that as of this evening is clear, the thousands-member family that was the Wake Range and RSM is over.  The range as most know it will cease operations tomorrow, Jan 14th at 9pm. Damn shame that.  Those people, that place, those times constituted a sense of community that those who are fond of publically preaching about "the community" can only aspire to.  Respectful gratitude is due to Fred, Fritz and Eric, the owners of RSM, for (almost) 20 years of service and fun for the shooters of the entire region.

ABC11 is reporting that Kyle Briggs, deputy director for N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has made the following statement:

"A partnership is truly a joint activity where we're not being paid for our services. We're providing this to the public," said chief deputy director for NCWRC Kyle Briggs. "Obviously, our shooting ranges that we operate are always free to the public to use. So that would be our goal in this partnership."

If we are to take Sheriff Baker's requirement that the public hours be profitable to the county seriously, charging the public $0 an hour as opposed to the $12 an hour the range get's now (that's cheap btw) is going to be an accounting nighmare for someone. Should be interesting...

There will of course be more to report over the next several weeks (and probably months) as we learn how and when the range will again open to the public.  If you want to keep up with events then hit the email subscription link in the right hand column.  We'll let you know what happens as we find out ourselves.

UPDATE: 1/10/20 - Monday's Agenda-" direction on future use of the facility"

Work Session Agenda 01-13-2020.pdf


MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Chairman Greg Ford

I. Update on the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center
Kelli Braunbach, General Services Administration

On December 18, 2019, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office announced its intention to close the Firearms Education and Training Center to the public. Beginning in January, Wake County government will assume responsibility for operating the firing range. Wake County staff have been evaluating short-term and long-term options for reopening the range. Commissioners will receive the information and provide direction on future use of the facility and staff proposed recommendations.

Attachments:
1. Presentation

More HERE

UPDATE: 1/8/20 - Comments from Commission Chairman Ford and BONUS CONTENT !

Chairman Ford would like to make any interruption to the public short-lived and at least mentions the possibility of working with the existing vendor.



HT: Holden Kurwicki

BONUS CONTENT:

Former Wake County deputy files wrongful termination lawsuit against sheriff, claims retaliation

Just a misunderstanding I'm sure.   

UPDATE: 1/6/20 - Commissioners Meeting

The room was full.  There are reports the "overflow" room was pretty full too.  A low-key Sherrif Baker was in attendance. 33 speakers , couple of hours, the range effort acquitted itself well.  County Manager Ellis let it be known that the range is to be closed temporarily and more will be known about the future of public access to the WakeRange at the meeting on the 13th.  Keep an eye on this and watch the livestream of the meeting on the 13th.

I gotta say as an observer that is was fun to watch.  Everyone was respectful and on point.  First, a large and uncontrolled Atta-Boy! to the Commission.  We said the Pledge of Allegiance and then prayed. I kinda' wasn't expecting that.  Also unexpected was the Commissioners going well beyond the customary time limit for public comment.  And all that done in a warm, professional style.

If you're a WakeRange denizen as I am, it should come as no suprise that our side handled themselves admirably.  Lot's of facts presented by people who have a reason to know the facts.  The WakeRange/RSM family can (and should) be proud.  

And it wouldn't be right not to give a shout-out to this lady:

She was there to talk about their effort to stop the development of the Odd Fellows tract and took the time to urge the Commissioners to save the public access to the Wake Range. It was epic!

THIS IS NOT OVER! It should be pretty quiet on this front for the next week or so but it seems we will certainly know more - perhaps much more - on the 13th. As they say, stay tuned.

URGENT: Commissioners UPDATE : Livestream Links

A message from Wake County Government:

Because of your interest in this issue, Wake County would like to update you on the next steps with the Firearms Education and Training Center.

• Monday, Jan. 6 – The training center will not be a formal item on the agenda at the Wake County Board of Commissioners meeting. However, residents can come before the board to speak about any topic during the public comment period, which will occur around 5:30 p.m. Residents are asked to sign up to speak prior to the 5 p.m. meeting start time. The county will also live stream the meeting online at https://wake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
• Monday, Jan. 13 – County Manager David Ellis will update the board during its 2 p.m. work session regarding the timing of reopening the range and the options under consideration for a range operator. There will be no public comment period during this meeting; however, you can attend or watch the live stream on our website at https://wake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks so much!
Dara

Dara Demi

Communications Director

Wake County Government

Communications Office

HT:

John Neblett

WCFETC Instructor and Range Officer