Agenda 09-03-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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2 1 appeared in Michigan Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Crab Orchard Review, The Hollins Critic 2 and other journals. She has performed her poetry and fiction at venues ranging from Why There 3 Are Words in Sausalito, California to Symphony Space in New York City. With her partner, John 4 Yewell, she offers Writeaways writing retreats in France, Italy, New Mexico and North Carolina. 5 Mimi Herman read three short poems: "All of the Lost Words"; "How to Say No"; and "On 6 the Importance of Explanatory Text". 7 8 2. Public Comments 9 10 a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda 11 Kit Wienert provided a handout to the Board of County Commissioner (BOCC), and said 12 he is here to speak about loud and repeated target practice gunfire near his home. He said 13 noise has gone on for five years, and has been told the current County noise ordinance offers 14 no way to intervene. He said if the ordinance cannot be altered to address target practice 15 shooting, he would propose that a new ordinance pertaining solely to target practice gunfire on 16 private property be created and implemented. He said such an ordinance should take into 17 account the type of weaponry, distance from other residences (with more stringent standards in 18 the Rural Buffer, and more lenient standards outside of it), number of allowable targets, time of 19 day, etc. He said this is not a second amendment issue, and he would like to see a tougher 20 ordinance in the Rural Buffer that correlates to population density. 21 Ann Crawford said she is also speaking against gunfire/target practice in her 22 neighborhood, and is greatly worried about her safety. She asked the Board of County 23 Commissioners to revisit the present noise/gun ordinance, and echoed the comments of the 24 prior speaker. 25 Kelly Hogan spoke against the shooting range in her neighborhood. She said they live 26 in the Rural Buffer, where density is increasing. She asked the BOCC to enact ordinances to 27 prevent or control this. 28 Carol Osredkan said she is against the shooting range near her home on Stoneybrook 29 Lane, and is fearful of being hurt by a stray bullet, despite an existing firewall. She said she 30 does not find her shooting neighbors to have concern for her safety, and has found her 31 communication with law enforcement to be lethargic. 32 Peggy Jennings said when the guns go off in her neighborhood, her children are 33 frightened, and asked for the BOCC to do something about it. 34 Brian Hogan said the rights of gun owners are trumping the safety of his family and his 35 home. He said he has no issue with gun ownership, but is concerned that the discharge of 36 firearms is excluded from noise ordinances. He said he can be cited for playing classical music 37 over 60 decibels after 8:00 p.m., but the discharge of firearms is lawfully permitted until 10:00 38 p.m. He said rifles range from 130-170 decibels. He said his neighborhood is full of children, 39 those who work from home, Veterans, etc., and the use of firearms is negatively affecting their 40 quality of life. He said this deceptive firing range in his neighborhood was created without 41 consultation of the residents, and when residents reached out to the owner, they were met with 42 aggression. He said he does not want to hear that the hands of the BOCC are tied, but rather 43 wants the ordinances changed. 44 Riley Ruske said he wanted to talk about fiscal responsibility, and feels the budget this 45 year is a burden on taxpayers. He said the budget has a spending increase of$10 million, 46 resulting in a property tax increase of 2%. He asked the BOCC if it would reconsider its 47 spending plans, and help citizens live within their means. 48 Steve Hall said next week Carrboro will be considering annexing a portion of Highway 49 86, and he is concerned about the impact to Duke Forest. He said this area contains the 50 Meadow Flats Natural area, and it is also the site of ongoing federal research, and this