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Weber County Sheriff Sgt. Lane Findlay, Deputy Eric Jones and Public Affairs Director Holin Wilbanks converse on one of the county's two recently acquired 50-yard gun ranges.

Cathy McKItrick

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This file photo shows the 300-yard rifle range, part of the Weber County Sport & Shooting Complex, will be retrofitted to permit public use.

Cathy McKitrick

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OGDEN — Weber County’s government-owned gun range has received a $400,000 federal grant to help retrofit the police- and military-training facility for public use.

Weber County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Jones, who oversees the facility’s shooting ranges, said Tuesday that the Division of Wildlife Resources grant will help bolster hunter safety education and concealed weapons training.

“We’ll finish up retrofit of the 50-yard range with part of this money,” Jones said. “Then the bulk will go to the (300-yard) rifle range.”

According to the Memorandum of Understanding approved by Weber County commissioners Tuesday, Utah’s DWR has identified the shooting range development as a high priority in recruiting and retaining hunters and shooters.

The $400,000 grant will help fund $1.1 million in planned upgrades to the Weber County Firearms Training Complex at 2520 N. 1500 West. Formerly part of the Swanson Tactical Training Center owned and operated by the Swanson Family Foundation, the facility’s gun ranges and simunition village were purchased by Weber County last year for $3.8 million using a mix of state and county funds.

“We’re excited about this project, it’s starting to come together,” said Weber County Commission Chairman Kerry Gibson, adding that readying the ranges is taking longer than he’d hoped but “it’s coming together right, and that’s what we care about. We’re looking forward to having it open to the public.”

One of the facility’s two 18-lane, 50-yard pistol ranges will be outfitted with shooting benches, ballistic safety lane dividers and automated target retrieval systems for public use. Enhancements will also include a cement floor to mitigate ricochet potential, ventilation and lighting upgrades, security cameras, radiant heaters, and telephone/internet access.

The facility’s 300-yard rifle range will also be similarly outfitted with shooting benches and stools, ballistic safety lane dividers, a cement and steel roof enclosure for all but 50 yards, heating system upgrades and access doors at its shooting and target lines.

According to the MOU, interest in shooting sports and self defense is on the rise but practice space has become scarce with population growth along the Wasatch Front.

To gauge potential demand, Weber County’s Gun Range Board commissioned a study that identified a potential group of 3,800 customers during peak months and 1,700 during low-use months. In addition, Utah’s Bureau of Criminal Identification listed 119,325 concealed weapon permit holders within a 35-mile radius of the facility.

While the complex is currently open to law enforcement 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, the public components are expected to serve customers Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rates for individual use will range from $5 per hour for the 50-yard range to $8 per hour for the 300-yard range.

Retrofits are also intended to muffle noise that attracted complaints from some area businesses, the MOU said.

These 50-yard and 300-yard ranges upgrades are expected to finish by mid-summer.

Future enhancements include adding an archery range and 22-caliber-only shooting range for beginners.

According to the MOU, the Weber County Sheriff’s Office is charged with managing the facility, and staffing needs include one full-time range manager, one full-time range master, two full-time maintenance personnel and one full-time receptionist. Volunteer range safety officers will also be utilized.

Weber’s gun range also received a $389,000 RAMP award to help fund the public retrofits. Last November, Weber County voters renewed RAMP — which stands for Recreation, Art, Museums and Parks — for another 10 years. RAMP is fueled by a one-cent tax on every $10 spent on non-food purchases in Weber County.

Holin Wilbanks, public affairs director for Weber County, said that they’re shooting for a soft opening of the public ranges this summer, with a grand opening in September.

“There’s been a huge volunteer effort to participate in getting the ranges open, and feedback countywide has been positive,” Wilbanks said, noting several comments on the county’s social media sites “thanking us for a place to shoot besides the mountains.”

Contact reporter Cathy McKitrick at 801-625-4214 or cmckitrick@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @catmck.