Residents press board over proposed Bentonville sheriff’s firing range, raising safety, noise and water concerns
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the board to reconsider a proposed sheriff’s firing range at Bentonville, saying a 67‑foot setback is unsafe, may violate county noise rules and risks water contamination; board members said the proposal is under Planning Commission review and additional analysis will be made public there.
Several residents told the Warren County Board of Supervisors they opposed a proposed county sheriff’s firing range at the Bentonville Transfer Station site, arguing the location, setback and testing record fail to protect neighbors.
Drew Baggerly said the site's 67‑foot buffer "is not safe" and that testing and documentation should be shared publicly: "We've conducted the sound test ... with 1 rifle and 3 pistols" and he said the county should show formal test results and standards used to pick the site. Jeff Baggerly said the level of activity described in county materials — tens of thousands of rounds over multiple days — would be disruptive to nearby residents. John Jenkins questioned whether a range is a necessity and noted outstanding reviews from DEQ, public works and the health department.
Board members replied that the matter is currently before the Planning Commission and that additional analysis and criteria will be released through that review. A board member said he had met with Sheriff Klein and Deputy Roy and was satisfied there is underlying structure and criteria to the site selection, but that the planning process would provide visibility and opportunity for public dialogue.
No formal board decision was recorded at the meeting; several speakers asked the board to consider alternatives such as expanding existing ranges or using other county‑owned parcels. The Planning Commission review and departmental reports (health, DEQ, public works) were identified as the next procedural steps.
