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Volunteer raises safety and communication concerns at Weber County Shooting Complex
Summary
At the April 28 Weber County Commission meeting, longtime volunteer Joseph Bowman urged improvements at the county shooting complex, citing poor manager communication, worn equipment, inadequate cold-weather gear and concerns about lead dust; commissioners pledged follow-up and asked staff to meet with volunteers.
Joseph Bowman, a longtime Ogden resident and volunteer at the Weber County Shooting Complex, told the county commission on April 28 that volunteers have experienced poor responsiveness from on-site management and face equipment and safety shortfalls.
"I sent an email approximately four to five months ago to the manager out there, Jamie Rodriguez...never heard back," Bowman said, recounting spare-parts and apparel requests that went unanswered. He said the facility issues include worn rakes for collecting spent casings, insufficient cold-weather shirts for volunteers, and settling joints in paved areas that need caulking. Bowman also raised worries about lead dust on firing ranges and said volunteers feel "disgruntled" and could quit, potentially forcing a temporary closure. He estimated weekend revenue for the 50-yard range at about $1,200 per night, and offered to buy replacement rakes himself to resolve the problem.
Commissioner Jim Harvey thanked Bowman for his service and acknowledged a communication failure, saying Marty Smith, director of culture, parks and recreation, was present and would follow up directly. "They are getting things done," Harvey told Bowman, noting that a new trolley for the 50-yard complex has been ordered and that the range will close for about a week for installation. He asked Bowman to meet with Marty Smith so staff and volunteers could reconcile outstanding equipment and safety concerns.
Marty Smith was identified in the meeting as the department director responsible for the shooting complex; commissioners said staff would continue to work through volunteer requests and report back. The commission did not vote or adopt any formal policy at the meeting on the shooting complex; commissioners described the matter as operational and directed staff to follow up with the volunteer team.
The commission's follow-up steps as stated on the record were: a direct meeting between Bowman and Marty Smith to clarify outstanding items (rakes, apparel, joint caulking), confirmation that the trolley equipment has been ordered and will require a short closure for installation, and staff review of volunteer communication practices.
What happens next: commissioners encouraged the volunteer and management to exchange contact information at the meeting and said staff would report back as needed. No new budget appropriation or formal directive was recorded during the session.
