County reviews shooting‑range operational rules; indemnity pool urges clearer group-use rules and waivers

Daggett County commissioners on Nov. 26 reviewed a draft set of standard operating procedures for the county shooting range and asked staff and the range committee to tighten language about group use, insurance and waivers.

Johnny Miller of the Utah Local Government Indemnity Pool told the commission the draft was a solid start but should distinguish ‘‘general public use versus event use’’ and explicitly require documentation of liability insurance or signed waivers when an organized group uses the facility. "I'm not telling you what you can and cannot do. I might tell you what the statute says," Miller said during his presentation, noting that state law limits civil claims for inherent risks but creates different obligations for improved or charged facilities.

Committee chair Gary Boyd and other volunteers described a largely volunteer-run operation that has grown and attracted daily recreational use. Miller advised commissioners to clarify when a county‑provided range officer is required and to make it clear in the rules whether the county or a group provides that officer for organized events. He also recommended keeping incident forms and data collection minimal to avoid triggering data‑security obligations: if personal identifiers are unnecessary, don’t collect them.

Commissioners asked staff to work with Miller and county counsel to fold statutory citations into the document (the discussion referenced Utah Code Title 47, Chapter 3) and to add event‑specific provisions—such as insurance documentation, waivers and signage—so users understand responsibilities. The range committee will revise the draft and return with updated language and implementation steps, including public‑meetings training for committee officers and a clarified process for scheduling group events.