Rogers County approves $35,050 to complete electrical work at sheriff's firing range

Rogers County commissioners on the morning of the meeting approved a $35,050 transfer from use-tax funds to pay for electrical work and associated concrete for a sheriff's firearms range.

The funding was requested by county staff overseeing the range. County staff member John told commissioners they had originally sought $300,000 to complete the project and that recent outside bids for hauling and shaping dirt totaled about $79,000. "That came out to around $79,000 and so we are shy of our goal of 300,000 for this specific project," John said during the presentation.

The request covered electrical conduit and concrete work that must be installed together; the county had delayed the concrete contract until the electrical bid could be completed. John said the remaining major item is the commercial turning-target system, which is still under review and may require an additional funding request.

Commissioners approved the $35,050 transfer by voice vote. The motion to approve was seconded and recorded as carried.

Background: county staff said the fence, initial dirt hauling, berm shaping and electrical poles are in place and that, with or without the commercial target system, the range could be used in a limited way once the concrete and electrical work are in place. The presentation noted that county crews had been expected to perform some work but were not available, which increased contracted costs.

The board provided no specific timeline for installation of the turning-target system or an upper bound on future funding requests; staff said they are still evaluating bids for that system and may return with another request.