Parks staff propose fee increases; shooting‑range users ask for more input and improvements

Parks and Recreation staff presented a package of proposed fee changes Nov. 24 to standardize rental rates across county parks and partially offset rising maintenance costs. Proposed changes include modest increases (typically $5; up to $15 for larger pavilions), creation of two reservable ranges at the county shooting range with tiered fees, a special‑event permit for groups over 60 people, and authorization to add a historic pavilion rental at 5 Mile.

Bryce, parks staff, explained the shooting‑range changes were intended to provide fairer weekend access (allowing reservations Saturday or Sunday to count against a group’s monthly allotment), split the large group bay into smaller reservable units and require special‑event permitting for very large gatherings. He said most increases are conservative compared with nearby municipal fees.

Several shooting‑range users led by Pat Brower (Iron Mountain Training Group) thanked staff for improvements but urged the commission to pause and solicit more community input before finalizing fees. They sought clarity on how increased revenue will be spent and requested targeted investments (drainage/culverting to prevent bay flooding, additional bays or relocation onto privately offered land, covered concrete pads, dedicated equipment storage and improved scheduling). Parks staff said they have completed fencing and weed removal, have engineered requests in their budget for a concrete pad and awning, and noted safety constraints regarding expansion near law enforcement training areas. The commission voted to present the proposed fee changes to the public for final consideration.