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Weaverville police defend range operations, outline lead remediation and training needs
Summary
Police Chief Summer and range master Detective Sergeant Brandon Paris described range history, lead‑mining remediation and training requirements, saying the department follows EPA and state standards and that alternatives (offsite ranges or new indoor facilities) carry much higher costs.
Weaverville Police Chief Summer and Detective Sergeant Brandon Paris briefed the Town Council on June 22 about operations at the department’s outdoor firing range, describing its history, safety upgrades and ongoing lead‑reclamation work while addressing neighbor complaints about noise.
Chief Summer said the range — originally a landfill — has been used as a training site since the 1960s and is maintained to meet state and federal guidance. Staff have undertaken lead reclamation from the berms (more than 9,000 pounds removed during recent work), installed perimeter fencing, rebuilt a 100‑yard rifle platform, added an observation shelter and planted 180 tall, fast‑growing trees around the perimeter to reduce sound transmission.
The chief detailed state‑mandated training standards and the department’s higher internal thresholds: while the state had a minimum qualification, the department uses a smaller, more difficult target and more stages to ensure proficiency. She described changes in training to include decision‑making under stress rather than simply firing on static targets, noting low‑light qualifications are required for many scenarios.
Chief Summer emphasized the legal protections and operational constraints: the NC Sport Shooting Range Protection Act prevents outdoor ranges from being declared nuisances solely for noise; the range is grandfathered regarding zoning; and any offsite alternatives are constrained by scheduling, distance and cost. The chief said the nearest available alternative ranges are booked far in advance and that building an indoor range would exceed $15 million to $20 million in today’s dollars.
Detective Sergeant Brandon Paris described technical lead‑removal methods used on the berms and the multi‑stage qualification process for officers, and he answered questions about scheduling, perimeter security and public notification. The department provides a live calendar of range bookings to town staff and has restricted operational hours (no live fire Sundays and generally aiming to conclude sessions by 10 p.m.).
Councilmembers asked about encroaching development and potential greenway routing near the site. Staff said options under consideration include routing trails away from the range, installing gates that close when the range is active, posting clear signage, and public notification of training days. Chief Summer proposed expanding outreach and including a range day as an information stop on the Citizens Academy to improve public understanding.
The chief also asked the council for help in public education about the range’s role and protections and in directing complainants to staff materials explaining training frequency, environmental mitigations and interagency cooperation the range enables.
