By Tim Douglass

tdouglass@pctribune.com

Glenwood City Commissioners heard a request from a local 4-H club to use the city’s pistol range or the Pope County Fairgrounds as a practice shooting area for youngsters in a shooting program using air rifles and pistols, BB guns and archery.

The commission seemed receptive to the idea, but wanted to look at providing an area and a time slot at the local pistol range rather than at the fairgrounds in Glenwood. The 4-H club, who currently practices at the shooting range in Douglas County, would like move to Glenwood to attract more local families and participants to the program, it was stated at the meeting.  

“Obviously, being local, it makes it easier for people to participate. So we’re really looking forward to asking you if there’s a space where we can use within the city,” said Stephanie Grimes who made the request along with Benjamin Grimes, Matt Radil and three young 4-Hers. 

Grimes also stated that they had approached the Pope County Ag Society Board about setting up a practice site at the fairgrounds and “they were open to us doing that.”

City Administrator Dave Iverson, however, said he thought setting the practice area up at the city’s pistol range would be best and workable, but wanted to make sure it didn’t conflict with other events going on at the range.   The 4-H Club practice times would be once a week (likely a Monday, or a Wednesday or a Friday  from 6 to 8 p.m.  Commissioner Todd Gylsen said he thought that would be workable noting that the public was used to the range being closed on certain nights or events.

The commission talked about safety and liability waivers and the Grimes said that the program provides rules on safety and gear and the shooters are supervised during the practice sessions and the power of air rifles and pistols are regulated for the program.  The commission was told that the guns make little noise, except for the air being expelled from the gun.

The city attorney, who was not able to be at last week’s meeting, did send an email that commissioners received just before the meeting that addressed some legal liability concerns as well as cautioning the commission about setting a precedent for minors shooting within the city.  The commissioners wanted to provide more information about the program to the city attorney and give him time to advise the city on more clear guidelines at the range and develop a formal agreement between the city and the 4-H shooting program.

At that point city commissioners tabled the issue until April to give the 4-H club members more time to review and answer some legal questions and for the city to get more information on the shooting practice program from the Minnesota Extension service.

In other businesses, the commission:

• Reminded commissioners of the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday April 16.  Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meetings are held annually by townships and cities between April 1st and May 31st. The purpose is to address the concerns of property owners who choose to appeal their current property assessment, year’s valuation and/or classification.

• Approved a gambling permit for the Glenwood Waterama Board to conduct a raffle on July 27 at the Band Shell.

• Approved a request from Tracy Beyer/MAS Community Ed to reserve the city’s courts for a pickleball youth camp on Jun e 2-6 from noon until 2 p.m.

•Approved a Temporary Beer License for American Legion Post #187 to operate a beer garden in conjunction with Waterama on July 24-27.

•Accepted and acknowledged the “unfinished project status report” from administration.

•Approved a resolution approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids for 2nd St. SE and utility improvements.