Residents press county to act on Full Mill Road gun range noise, cite public-nuisance law and recent tax appeals

Residents living near a shooting range on Full Mill Road urged the Randolph County Board of Commissioners to treat repeated gunfire as a public nuisance and to pursue corrective action at the county level.

The appeals came during the board’s public-comment period. Isaac Hoffman, who identified himself as a resident and said he represents neighbors who have collected more than 40 signatures, argued the volume and frequency of firing meet the standard for a public nuisance and that the county, rather than individual landowners, should initiate action. "Having this many complaints about the nuisance constitutes a public nuisance," Hoffman said.

Another resident, Amy Wang, told commissioners she and her husband took a successful tax appeal to the State Board of Equalization after the county declined their claim. Wang said the state board ordered a 25% reduction on her family’s entire land-home appraisal because of the range’s effects; she estimated the ruling will require the county to grant additional property-value reductions totaling roughly $915,065 and that at least 24 properties now have reduced appraisals with more appeals likely.

Why it matters: Residents told the board the dispute already has fiscal consequences for Randolph County because state-level appraisal reductions reduce the county’s property-tax base and because quieter rural residential uses are being affected on private property. Speakers asked the board either to file a public-nuisance suit on behalf of the county or to amend the county’s gun-range ordinance to add noise limits.

What was discussed: Commenters pointed to North Carolina law during public comment. Hoffman cited general statutes addressing public nuisances and the county’s ordinance-making powers and urged the board to act; he referenced the state statutes numerically during his remarks. Wang described the state appeal outcome in detail and quantified the appraisal and tax impacts as she calculated them for the board.

What the board did: No formal motion or vote on enforcement or an ordinance change was taken at this meeting. Commissioners did not announce a next step in public session; the board moved on to other agenda items after public comment.

What remains unresolved: Commenters asked the board either to file suit on behalf of the county or to adopt a noise standard for shooting ranges. The transcript shows the appeals and legal citations were raised during public comment, but the board did not adopt a policy or action at this meeting.

Ending: Commissioners heard the speakers and proceeded to the regular agenda; any formal response or follow-up by county staff or an agenda item for ordinance changes was not recorded in the transcript of this meeting.