Cover Photo: Grandview citizens interacted with police and sound reduction experts at the Open House for the Grandview Shooting Range Sound Resolutions. Photo by Kathy Feist
Noise resolutions recommended for Grandview Shooting Range
By Kathy Feist
Several Grandview residents showed up February 20 at The View Community Center expecting a meeting to voice complaints regarding the new shooting range. Instead, they found themselves mingling among sound experts and city staff at an Open House for Sound Resolutions for the Grandview Shooting Range.
Exhibit tables lined the walls and experts greeted visitors with facts and research regarding findings over the past few months to help reduce the sound decible level coming from the newly built shooting range located off Main St and Arrington Rd.
Andrew Von Feldt, a consultant withAvant Acoustics out of Lenexa, KS, admitted that shots echoing from the new shooting range are 10 decibals louder than from the former shooting range, located in the same vicinity. Part of the reason for the disparity is due to the bare, reflective metal surfaces at the new shooting range. His research recommends: constructing a new 12-ft high barrier on the north end of the range where there is currently a chain fence. (A reduction of 8-10 dB) and adding acoustical absorption to the concrete wall, sidewalls, front and rear baffles, and underside of the canopy. (2-3 dB reduction for each)
A sample of the sound barrier panel, the SonoGuard Perforated Fiberglass Sound-Absortive Sound Barrier, was on display.
Colleen Melchier, who lives across the street from the shooting range, says reducing the noise is only part of the solution.
“We could tolerate the noise coming from the old range because it was only used a couple of times a month,” she says. “Now it will be that times 10!”
When the 10-lane shooting range does reopen, it will eventually be used three to four days a week, including one or two days open to the public.
Most residents prefer to have the shooting range enclosed or relocated. But according to Chief of Police Charles Iseman, enclosing the facility would cost $3 to $5 million. The facility has already cost Grandview $1 million. There was no projected cost available on the recommended sound reduction, but should the added sound barriers be ineffective, it would only add to the cost prior to possibly moving or enclosing it.
The new shooting range opened in September for a couple of days before the City shut it down due to noise complaints from neighbors. It remains closed and will not reopen until the City Administrator presents a cost outlay to the City Council. That date has yet to be set. In the meantime, Grandview police use the old shooting range for target practice.