The Lake County Sheriff’s Department received approval for a feasibility study of its indoor shooting range to review ventilation, electrical and structural needs.
The Lake County Board of Commissioners approved in a 3-0 vote Wednesday to retain services from FGM Architects Inc. for the feasibility study. But, commissioners raised a concern about the process of securing the company to complete the study.
Sheriff’s department officials have spent the last six months talking to “various vendors” about a feasibility study, and FGM Architects Inc. was the best company to hire for the task, said Lake County Sheriff’s Department Chief of Police Vincent Balbo.
Commissioner Jerry Tippy, R-2nd, said he would’ve liked more information about the feasibility study before hiring a company to complete it.
“I know we have a problem with that shooting range, and I know that it’s something that we need to get fixed. I just think technically we should have some type of proposal from them that we are approving,” Tippy said.
The information was sent to the commissioners about two weeks ago, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said.
Commissioner Michael Repay read through a summary of the company’s proposal included, like a conceptual floor plan, conceptual budgets, findings, recommendations and other elements.
“I think in the future we would want to be consulted when we are soliciting professionals to do stuff with the building that we own,” Repay said.
“Understood,” Balbo replied.
Martinez said the shooting range, which was built in 1975, is located in the basement of the sheriff’s department.
It is used for firearms training and qualification for police officers and other personnel with guns, including Lake County judges’ bailiffs, court security officers and correctional officers, he said.
The feasibility study will look into ways to make the shooting range fully functional and safe, Martinez said, as well as address structural, ventilation and electrical problems.
“Overall, the equipment is dated and some is inoperable. We want to make sure any and all ventilation issues with the shooting range are addressed,” Martinez said.
The feasibility study will cost $32,400 and will come from the sheriff’s department budget, Martinez said.
akukulka@post-trib.com
