(Editor’s note: The Wyoming State Shooting Complex Joint Powers Board’s monthly meetings generally allow time for public comment. The next meeting is 10 a.m. March 12 at the Yellowstone Regional Airport conference room. )

Dear editor:

I am writing with serious concerns about the Wyoming State Shooting Complex. We have seen the articles about successful financial wrangling, and are being told how great this will be for Cody and Park County. I wonder how many actually know where this development is taking place, or what the public is losing in this deal.

From its inception there have been NO public meetings — public in the sense of the proposal being impartially presented, with an opportunity for on-the-record public engagement. There was one meeting last fall in Cody, which turned out to be a progress report by promoters, with no opportunity for public discussion. This project will benefit a small constituent of well-heeled shooters, politicians and the gun industry. The public is losing many square miles of formerly undeveloped wildlife habitat and multiple use land, with the likelihood of much more development in the future. 

The location is squarely between the Meeteetse Highway and Diamond Basin. Draw your own conclusions about real estate speculation. The proposed facility will house events of 500-700 attendees. Plans include an event center, lodging, food services, RV campgrounds and motorized trails. The public has devoted time and resources to many meetings about updating our Land Use Plan. The vast majority want to regulate development to along existing infrastructure corridors, and have public input into major proposals. This project got none of that. It is being built on State of Wyoming land, which exempts it from many — but not all — county regulations. If it had gone through the planning and zoning process it would not have been permitted.

In conversation with Park County Planning and Zoning, and with the Park County commissioners, I have gotten confused and conflicting responses to my questions. What about water and sewer and new power lines? What about nighttime lighting, fencing and contamination from lead ammunition? How will the loss of critical habitat for mule deer and sage grouse be mitigated? The county has already built the gravel road to the property line at public expense — what will it cost to maintain that road year round and provided services, as to any other outlying major subdivision? What will it cost the public to support the facility if it doesn’t meet expectations, or in months when events can’t take place? What about ongoing statewide taxpayer cost, funneled though the Legislature? What power does or should a county, or public opinion, have regarding projects on state land?   

I have requested that the PCC schedule a public meeting about the shooting complex, presented by those who do not have vested interest in the project. The public has the right to know the true magnitude, benefits and costs of this major commercial development in our backyard. Oh yeah, by the way, this landscape is drop-dead gorgeous. Go see it while you can. 

Sincerely,

Linda Raynolds

Cody