Despite objections from six different public speakers, the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved moving forward Monday, Aug 28, on a real estate purchase agreement to create a new gun practice and training range near Moscow that would be used by both the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Muscatine, as well as other law enforcement personnel
The unanimous action included the execution of a 28E agreement between the city of Muscatine and the county to help buy the rural property located about five miles south of Moscow that objectors say is neighboring a habitat for an endangered species, the Illinois Mud Turtle, as well various other waterfowl wild animals.
Objectors, which were mostly neighbors of the property who weren’t officially informed of the change until mid-August, will get an opportunity to voice their concerns again on Thursday, Sept. 7, at a city of Muscatine meeting before also having that opportunity at the Muscatine County Zoning Commission meeting on Friday, Sept. 8, beginning at 10 a.m., to be held at the Muscatine County Administration Building, 414 E. Third Street in Muscatine.
Speaking out against the proposed $22,000 per acre real estate transaction was Ted Dickey of 1702 Tipton Road, Dave and Dee Ann Reed of 2460 155th Street, Chad Holladay of 1571 N. Isett Avenue, Todd Kraklio of 2505 155th Street and Clara Clevenger of 2516 150th Street,
County vice chair Jeff Sorenson said the county had decided “a couple months ago” to work with local law enforcement to seek properties within the county suitable for a gun practice range after officers had been shooting on a farm owned by the late Frank Nelson.
County Attorney Jim Barry said two ideal locations were identified (the second site was not disclosed due to an agreement with the property owner). Only 20 acres of the 49+ acre property purchase would be purchased for the shooting range and training facility, located adjacent and north of County Highway F-70 (155th Street) in “parts of the SW quarter of section 34T78N-R2W, Parcel #03-34-300-007, containing approximately 49.95 acres.”
Sorensen called the acquisition a “process” and said the county would come through with $420,000 from taxpayer funds to buy the property from J & S Deahr Farms LLC, based in Iowa City. The property purchase did not include the creation of berms and other safety measures that would have to be completed before the area could be used.
‘Not next to me’
Neighbors pointed out they raise and graze livestock in the area and were concerned about ricochet bullets, something law enforcement said did take place from time to time.
Adjoining property owner Todd Kraklio of Wilton said he’s lived in the area 15 years and said he’s all for law enforcement having a place to practice, but not in his back yard. “I support the police department, but there’s got to be a better place,” he said.
“I’d really like someone to sit with me on my porch and listen to the peace and quiet.”
He said that’s not going to happen if officers are using the range 30-40 times a year as proposed, mostly during the nighttime under special lights.
He believes the acquisition could disturb ground water and said ducks, geese and other birds migrate to the area and could also be a danger to his grandchildren, who come to visit. He said his land was intended for “farm ground, not for shooting,” and called himself an “Iowa farm boy true and true” noting he bought the property because it was good farm ground, “not a shooting range next to me.”
Another spokesman, Clara Clevenger, questioned whether wildlife had been considered and said she understood the facility was needed, but noted the Isaac Walton League already has a nearby gun range, causing a lot of disturbance when in use. “You wouldn’t want this by your house,” Clevenger said.
After the meeting, Kraklio explained a conservatory was started neighboring the property upon the death of 90-year-old Helen Greimger to preserve the endangered mud turtle and create an area for waterfowl and wildlife amidst mature white oak trees.
He said the area is tiled and area fields provide water flow to a stream in the area, feeding the conservator.
A 30-foot berm is being planned for the rear of the property, next to a hunting timber ground area owned by neighbor Charlie Lewis, who says he was planning to eventually build a new home on the property, which he presently uses for hunting ground.
Another shooting range in the county is just south of West Liberty, the West Liberty Gun Club, which is a private member only range. Officers said the new range would be used possibly twice a week and maybe more, pending agreements with other law enforcement agencies to use the range.
Concerns over price
Dee Ann Reed questioned the cost and asked if cheaper property could be obtained somewhere else in the county. She encouraged officials to keep searching.
Sorenson said the process actually started several years ago when the county anticipated losing their range due to Nelson’s death, finding a spot south of Muscatine, but outside the county. He said a spot discovered about four years ago considered for the range was ruled “unsuitable” by authorities.
Notices for the meeting were also sent out to the Nature Conservancy in Des Moines as well as other neighbors and neighboring property owners.
Sheriff Quinn Riess said there would be dozens of officers using the range. He did not get back to the Index/Advocate News for comment or to answer questions before deadline.
Anyone is welcome to attend the zoning meeting on Friday or may contact the zoning commission office at 563-263-0482 to request additional information or express their views.
“This is not the place to build this,” said Kraklio, who promises there will be a lot more protesters at the Friday meeting. “Taxpayers have no idea what’s going on.”