There was a lengthy discussion at last night’s Washington County Board Meeting last night about an approval of an ordinance to allow a concealed carry firing – training range in the County.  At the January meeting, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended the Board not approve the ordinance to allow On Target Firearms Academy range, but the Board voted against the Zoning Board and allowed the range.  A resident in the area, Matt Meinert was accompanied by about 10 supporters, and he made a presentation to the Board on safety issues of the range, as he says it faces his property and home.  He presented some guidelines and suggestions from the National Rifle Association, which are not laws or regulations.  The NRA Sourcebook has recommendations that the backstop or berm is to be 20 feet high with side berms to be 8 feet high.  He said this firing range’s backstop is only 8 feet high with little to no side berms.  He also said there should be safety baffles to limit visibility to the target area only, but there are no safety baffles.  Meinert said he is not against the range, but doesn’t feel it is safe.  He asked the Board to modify the ordinance to cover the NRA guidelines, but to shut it down until the changes can be made.  He also wants any future ranges to follow the new guidelines.  Washington County Zoning Administrator Rick Greten said there has been some investigation already, but there are no federal or state laws on these types of ranges.  Board Chairman Dave Meyer wasn’t sure what the Board could do, as the ordinance was voted on by them at last month’s meeting and this is a very unique situation.  There was a motion by Board member Dave Ibendahl to reopen the case and send it back to the Zoning Committee.  It was seconded by Board member Leo Barczewski.  This was done in the event that the Board can amend or modify an ordinance, but that is unknown at this time, as they were going to check with State’s Attorney Heath Hooks today, as he was not at the meeting.  If this is legal, the Zoning Committee will meet soon and if they can legally do anything, they will bring a recommendation to the Board in a special meeting.  Meinert’s concern is that there are classes on various weekends in the next few months already taking place, including this weekend.