Steve Wright and Lt. Andrew Payne briefed commissioners on Nov. 17 about finishing the county gun range north of the highway department on State Road 32. Wright said a 2019 contractor estimate to complete the range totaled roughly $370,000, with dirtwork alone about $250,000. He said operators' union apprentices and local firms have offered in-kind labor, equipment and fuel to build berms to industry standards with minimal out-of-pocket cost to Delaware County taxpayers.

Lt. Payne said the range is used more than 180 times a year and emphasized liability risks from inadequate training facilities; he noted the NRA recommendation of 25-foot berms for dynamic training and said the current backstop is about 15 feet. Commissioners discussed transport logistics for heavy equipment and asked staff to pursue agreements with donating firms and to consult county legal counsel. A motion to approve the project, conditioned on counsel review of any agreement, passed on roll call.

Staff said the builders expect to start in spring due to contractor scheduling and that seeding/erosion-control costs will be requested at a later date. The commission asked highway staff to evaluate whether county equipment could help transport excavators or whether local contractors could donate transport services.